An African Musical Icon and Legend Passes: RIP Cesaria Evora “Barefoot Diva”

by Nelima

I woke up this morning to see this message in my Facebook stream.

I was heartbroken! Cesaria Evora has been a long time favorite of mine (and many around the world), I really hoped that I would get the chance to see her perform live. Nonetheless I am glad to have even known of her music, she is singing with the Angels now.

African Music Ensemble Fall Concert at the UMN

African Music Ensemble

If you haven’t attended one of these you should. Watching Sowah Mensa and his protegés play an array of African instruments ranging from drums and flutes to the xylophone is a real treat! Best of all – the concert is free

Event Information

Date: 12/02/11

Time: 8:00pm – 9:30pm

Location: Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall  - Ferguson Hall

Cost: FREE

For more information click here

Ivorian Dobet Gnahore at The Dakota Jazz Club this Thursday

Grammy Award winner Dobet Gnahore will be back in Minnesota to deliver an amazing performance this Thursday at The Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant. FYI: The promotional code ‘MinneAfrica‘ gets you a discounted ticket read below.

Here’s a great description on The Dakota Jazz Club’swebsite.

Dobet Gnahore picture credit: Wikipedia

Dobet Gnahoré, a singer, dancer and percussionist from the Ivory Coast, inherited the force of the “Bété“ tradition from her father, Boni Gnahoré, a master percussionist. Dobet met French guitarist Colin Laroche de Féline, who went there to immerse himself in African melodies and rhythms, after being introduced to them by Toroma Sika in France. Having spent some time in the well-known Tché Tché dance company, Dobet decided with Colin (in 1999) to form a duo, Ano Neko, which means “Let’s create together“ in the Bété language. The duo toured widely in France (1999-2000) where they settled temporarily following the instability that unfortunately struck the Ivory Coast. In 2003, their artistic project refocused on Dobet Gnahoré and expanded when a backup vocalist and a percussionist joined them. This was when the Contre Jour label produced her first album entitled Ano Neko, making the link with Dobet and Colin’s evolving musical history. Ano Neko contains songs recorded in Abidjan and others recorded in Belgium during the summer of 2003. From Mandingue melodies to Congolese rumba, from Ivory Coast Ziglibiti to Cameroon Bikoutsi, from Ghanian High-Life to Zulu choirs, their compositions, carried along with jazz-like sounds, are varied and colorful. The sanza, the balafon, the calebasse and bongos are brought in to support the guitar, the vocal backup and Dobet’s warm and powerful voice. Dobet, who won the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music 2006 “Best Newcomer”, made her North American debut in the fall of 2006 in Putumayo Presents: Acoustic Africa, alongside Habib Koite and Vusi Mahlasela. In 2010 Dobet Gnahoré won the Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the song “Pearls” in collaboration with India.Arie.

Tickets are $30.00 – The promotional code ‘MinneAfrica’ gets you a discounted ticket.

Toumani Diabate to perform at the Cedar Cultural Center this Thursday

Internationally reknown Malian Kora player, Toumani Diabate, will grace Minnesotans with a performance at the Cedar Cultural Center this Thursday. The Kora is a traditional West African instrument similar to a harp or lute.

Rest in Peace ‘Mama Africa’ Miriam Makeba

by Nelima

Today we mourn the passing of an African Icon. For those of you who haven’t heard the news, the Queen of African music, South African songstress and activist Miriam Makeba, passed away last night in Italy  after suffering an onstage heart attack after taking part in a protest concert against The Camorra. She was 76. Her body leaves this earth, but her music, spirit and soul remain with us forever.

‘Mama Africa’ you will be missed, but will never be forgotten. May You Rest In Peace.

For those who didn’t know her, here is some of her music.