Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dear all,
A cherished member of Seattle’s African music fraternity, Guinean guitarist Abdoulaye Diabate passed away this week. Abdoulaye’s band Lembema was the first to play for African Music Nites at Dahlak Restaurant in January 2011, and Edouard Souarez (of Atlantic Melody) is organizing a benefit concert at Dahlak to help raise funds for his funeral. Please tell all your friends in the African music community about this concert in honor of a fine musician and person.
Best, Claire

WHAT: Memorial benefit concert for Abdoulaye Diabate
WHEN: Sunday July 8, 8 PM until late
WHERE: Dahlak Restaurant, 2007 State St. (just south of the I-90 overpass on Rainier Ave. S.)
MUSIC:
Manimou Camara and Denbaya – Soul-soaring dance and melodic melodies from Guinea
Thione Diop and friends – Afro-groove fusion and hot Senegalese drumming
Eckaman and Super Mokako – Sizzling Congolese soukous and original Afro-funk
Atlantic Melody – Electric griot music and West African pop with Edouard Souarez

Suggested donation – whatever you can afford!

Saturday, June 23: African Music Nite at the Royal Room with Atlantic Melody and Super Mokako
Atlantic Melody 9 pm
High-energy electric griot music music of Guinea! Atlantic Melody is led by Edward Souarez, the best African trap-set drummer and vocalist this side of the Atlantic. Come prepared to dance!
Eckaman and Super Mokako 10:15 pm
Vocalist extraordinaire Eckaman and Super Mokako perform Congolese soukous music and original Afro-funk, with special guests from South Africa. If you haven’t heard them, you’re in for a real treat!

This show continues our monthly African Nites at The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave S in Columbia City. Come show your support for African Music Nites at this great new club!
Suggested donation $5-15
Produced by African Music Nites
Support live African music!

Zimbabwean Mbira with Musekiwa Chingodza and Mahonyera
June 17, 8-10 pm
Enjoy the soulful and uplifting music of visiting Zimbabwean mbira player Musekiwa Chingodza. Born in 1970 into a family of great mbira players in Mwangara village, Murehwa, Zimbabwe, Chingodza began playing mbira at the age of five. Seattle’s own Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble will open. This is music to trance to and dance to!
http://www.tinotenda.org/musekiwa_chingoza.htm


Sliding Scale Admission $5-15
Waid’s Haitian Cuisine and Lounge, 1212 E. Jefferson, Seattle
Produced by African Music Nites

The Roots of Hip Hop in Ancient Cultures
Intiman Theatre, June 10 @ 7:30 pm

An All-Ages Event, FREE Admission… featuring

MASSIVE MONKEES – world champion hip hop dance
GLOBAL HEAT – all live hip hop soul music & dance
SOULSHIFTERS – world-renowned break dance crew
ETIENNE CAKPO – award-winning African dancer/choreographer (Gansango)
MESTRE CURISCO – master of Capoeira from Brazil (Capoeira Malês)

A performance of hip hop, African dance, and Capoeira illustrating the origins of contemporary culture in traditional forms, with performers from Benin, Brazil, Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and the USA.

Hosted by Seattle hip hop favorite SUNTONIO BANDANAZ and DJ Ear Dr.Umz

Special guests include:
AUDIOPOET – BeatBoxer extraordinaire
COTY VALDEZ – Capoeira & break dance (Capoeira Malês)
DRAZE & NYA J – from Zimbabwean griot to contemporary hip hop
KAMA – top hip hop MC from Kenya (Kamalashaka)
MAMEDY MANSARE – flutist from Guinea (Les Africains Ballet)
SHANETTA BROWN – lady of soul (Tubaluba)
TAYLOR “Pretty Eyes” ROBINSON – adding spice to the mix
YAW AMPONSAH – master percussionist from Ghana (Anokye Agofomma).

Imagine the hip-hopping, spinning, flips, and flashy footwork of today’s best break dancers. What inspired those moves? Join us for a night of cross-cultural and cross-generational connection through music and dance.

This project is funded by Seattle’s NEXT 50 program. Promotional support from African Music Nites, Minuteman Press (Union), Laserquick Printing, and Seattle Night Out.

This event is co-sponsored by African Music Nites

Hope you’ve had a restful and music-filled Memorial Day weekend. Here’s the June calendar for African Music Nites. Hope to see you soon! Claire

June 10 – The Roots of Hip Hop in Ancient Cultures, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Center 7:30 PM
As part of the Seattle Next 50 program, Global Heat collaborates with Hip Hop, African, and Brazilian performing artists to illustrate the origins of Hip Hop styles in diverse traditional cultures. Confirmed music, dance and spoken word performers include Suntonio Bandanaz/emcee and host; Global Heat; Massive Monkees/break dance; Draze (aka Dumi Maraire, Jr)/hip hop emcee & event role as African griot; Etienne Cakpo/dance; Kama/Kenyan hip hop emcee; Yaw Amponsah/percussion; Shanetta Brown/dance and vocals; Mestre Curisco & Coty Valdez/Brazilian Capoeira. Free!!! Co-sponsored by African Music Nites.

June 17: Zimbabwean Music with Musekiwa Chingodza and Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble 8 – 10 pm at Waid’s
Enjoy the soulful and uplifting music of visiting Zimbabwean mbira player Musekiwa Chingodza. Born in 1970 into a family of great mbira players in Mwangara village, Murehwa, Zimbabwe, Chingodza began playing mbira at the age of five. Seattle’s own Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble will open. This is music to trance to and dance to!
http://www.tinotenda.org/musekiwa_chingoza.htm

June 23: African Music Nite at the Royal Room with Atlantic Melody and Super Mokako
Atlantic Melody 9 pm
High-energy electric griot music music of Guinea! Atlantic Melody is led by Edward Souarez, the best African trap-set drummer and vocalist this side of the Atlantic. Come prepared to dance!
Eckaman and Super Mokako 10:15 pm
Vocalist extraordinaire Eckaman and Super Mokako perform Congolese soukous music and original Afro-funk, with special guests from South Africa at this performance. If you haven’t heard them, you’re in for a real treat; the group regularly has everyone on their feet!
This show continues our monthly African Nites series at The Royal Room in Columbia City. Come show your support for African Music Nites at this great new club!

JUNE 17 at Waid’s Haitian Cuisine and Lounge, 1212 E. Jefferson
JUNE 23 at the Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave S.

LIVE MUSIC $5-15 ADMISSION
PRODUCED BY AFRICAN MUSIC NITES

MAY 26: African Music Nite at the Royal Room with Show Brazil
Saturday 9-11:30 pm
Sounds of Brazil with Eduardo Mendonça and Show Brazil!
Spicy Brazilian rhythms will reverberate in the Royal Room with this internationally acclaimed Brazilian band. Band leader Eduardo Mendonça, Brazilian recording artist, vocalist, composer, percussionist, guitarist, and musical arranger, was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and traces his lineage to a royal African family bearing the hereditary title of Mama-beka (“prophet of the royal court”). http://www.showbrazil.com/

This is our second show at The Royal Room in Columbia City, 5000 Rainier Ave S. Come show your support for African Music Nites at this great new club!
Presented by African Music Nites

Hi folks,
There are lots of exciting African and African-related music events coming up in the next couple of weeks. Here are some of them:

Saturday May 19th 7:30 pm Rumbon Party
Union Cultural Center, 803 S. King Street
Featured artists:
Silvio and FICA
Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble
The Lovely Lara of Wassa Dance
Tablas with Doug MacKenzie
Bembe Olele-Rumba, Comparsa, Orisha and Ijesa throughout the evening!
5 dollars @ the door…more if you are feeling generous!
Beer and Wine 21 and Over

Sunday, May 20th 7:00 pm Comfort Food
Waid’s Haitian House of Love, 1212 E. Jefferson St.
“Bitches Brew meets Fela Kuti” – Celebrating the music of electric Miles to the driving afrobeat of Fela Kuti!
This Sunday, keyboardist/singer/songwriter Darrius Willrich will sit in on keys/synths! http://www.reverbnation.com/comfortfood

Saturday May 26 9:00 – 11:30
African Music Nite at the Royal Room with Show Brazil
Spicy Sounds of Brazil will reverberate in the Royal Room with this internationally acclaimed Brazilian band led by Eduardo Mendonça. http://www.showbrazil.com/
This show is our second monthly African Nite at the Royal Room in Columbia City, 5000 Rainier Ave S. Come show your support for African Music Nites at this great new club!

Sunday June 10 7:30 pm
The Roots of Hip Hop in Ancient Cultures
Intiman Theatre, 121 Mercer St
Sponsored by Seattle’s Next 50 program, Global Heat collaborates with Hip Hop, African, and Brazilian performing artists to illustrate the origins of Hip Hop styles in diverse traditional cultures. Hosted by emcee Suntonio Bandanaz and featuring Massive Monkees, Soul Shifters, Etienne Cakpo, Mestre Curisco and many more artists. Co-sponsored by African Music Nites. Free, All Ages!

Spirit of West Africa After Party with Thione Diop
The Spirit of West Africa festival takes place at the Seattle Center House Saturday May 12 (free, noon – 8 pm), and the party continues Sunday at Waid’s! Special show led by sensational drummer Thione Diop from Senegal, featuring his traditional drumming group Yeke Yeke and his new fusion band Afro Groove. This ensemble fuses World musical sounds with rootsy percussion, a dynamic horn section, an urging rhythm section and spirited vocals. http://www.thionediop.com/

Live African Music at Waid’s 8-10 pm
1212 E. Jefferson, Seattle
Sliding scale Admission $5-15
Produced by African Music Nites

Naby Camara and Lagni Sussu
West African balafon (marimba) master Naby Camara brings traditional and modern music of the griots of Guinea for his first 2012 appearance at African Music Nites. Lagni Sussu, in the Sussu dialect of Guinea, means people of all different races, classes, and background working together.

Live African Music Produced by African Music Nites
Waid’s is at 1212 E. Jefferson, Seattle
Sliding scale Admission $5-15

Hi Everyone,
We have two venues for African Music Nites in May:
MAY 6 and 13 at Waid’s Haitian Cuisine and Lounge, 1212 E. Jefferson
MAY 26 at the Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave S.

MAY 6: Naby Camara and Lagni Sussu at Waid’s 8 – 10 PM
Traditional and modern music of the griots of Guinea featuring balafon (marimba) master Naby Camara. Lagni Sussu, in the Sussu dialect of Guinea, means people of all different races, classes, and background working together.

MAY 13: Spirit of West Africa Party with Thione Diop at Waid’s, 8 – 10 PM
The Spirit of West Africa festival takes place at the Seattle Center House Saturday May 12 (free, noon – 8 pm), and the party continues Sunday at Waid’s! Special show led by sensational drummer Thione Diop from Senegal, featuring his traditional drumming group Yeke Yeke and his new band Afro Groove. This ensemble fuses World musical sounds with rootsy percussion, a dynamic horn section, an urging rhythm section and spirited vocals. http://www.thionediop.com/thione/About.html

MAY 26: African Music Nite at the Royal Room – Sounds of Brazil with Eduardo Mendonça and Show Brazil!
Saturday 9 – 11:30 PM
Spicy Brazilian rhythms will reverberate in the Royal Room with this internationally acclaimed Brazilian band. Band leader Eduardo Mendonça, Brazilian recording artist, vocalist, composer, percussionist, guitarist, and musical arranger, was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and traces his lineage to a royal African family bearing the hereditary title of Mama-beka (“prophet of the royal court”). http://www.showbrazil.com/
This show is our second monthly African Nite at the Royal Room in Columbia City (see http://theroyalroomseattle.com/). Come show your support for African Music Nites at this great new club!

Save the Date: JUNE 10 – Back to the Future: The Roots of Hip Hop in Traditional Cultures, Intiman Theatre 7:30 PM.
As part of the Seattle Center Next 50 celebration, Global Heat collaborates with Hip Hop, African, and Brazilian performing artists to illustrate the origins of Hip Hop styles in diverse traditional cultures. Confirmed music, dance and spoken word performers include Suntonio Bandanaz; Global Heat; Massive Monkees; Draze (aka Dumi Maraire, Jr); Etienne Cakpo; Kama/Kenyan hip hop mc; Yaw Amponsah; Shanetta Brown; Mestre Curisco & Coty Valdez. Free!!! Co-sponsored by African Music Nites.

Live African Music Produced by African Music Nites
Shows at Waid’s and The Royal Room $5-15