Ndombolo traces it’s roots to Congo in the 1960’s when the style of music and dance was known as the Congolese rumba or soukous. Since then, the style has spread and become popular all over Africa. Although there have been adaptations of it in other countries, ndombolo is still mostly danced to pop music tunes by Congolese artists. The dance style focuses on the movements of the hips and legs. You might want to wear sneakers to this class, but bare feet are also ok. The class fits all levels of dancers, but previous dance experiences of course helps – be prepared to have some fun!
Eben, Ebenezer Aidoo, is a dancer and acrobat from Ghana currently living in Finland. Already as a child he started performing with Ghana Dance Ensemble, a company specialising in traditional dances of Ghana. Later he went to get an education in circus in China. Eben has performed all over Europe in different kinds of shows and events, both live and on TV. Nowadays he also teaches dance and acrobatics regularly in Tampere and Helsinki.
Check the prices, instructions for signing up and other workshops on the workshop page!
Songhoy Blues, the newest music sensation from Mali, will step onto a Finnish concert stage for the first time, of course at Fest Afrika!
The story of this young but extraordinary band began when the members of Songhoy Blues had to flee their homes in Northern Mali due to attack of radical Islamists in the region. After reaching the safety of the capital Bamako, they decided to form a band. In Bamako, they had the chance to meet a Damon Albarn and Brian Eno who were looking for young Malian musicians to record as part of their Africa Express project. Soon Songhoy Blues were collaborating with other artists as well, and now – only few months after the release of their debut album Music in Exile – they are already touring the world!
Songhoy Blues plays an original style of edgy and electric desert blues, both their own songs and reworkings of songs from the Songhoy tradition of Northern Mali.
Zakala Musica is a multicultural band based in Stockholm, Sweden. The band was formed in 2008 around singer Marcellin Kouakoua (Yaya Sella), solo guitarist Kristian Sjöblom (Apollo), bassist Joseph Semafumu and drummer Leonce Fanou (Lee), who were joined later by Jesper Kristoffersson on rhythm guitar.
Zakala Musica plays a mix of different African pop music styles, especially dance music from Congo such as ndombolo, soukous and Congolese rumba, but mixing in influences from other styles such as coupé decalé and reggae. They perform mainly their own material, singing in Lingala and Kikongo languages. If this band does make you dance, we really don’t know who can!
Jali Madi Kanuteh is one of his home country The Gambia’s young rising singer stars. His debut album Gambia was released last year and it was received with enthusiasm. The style Jali Madi’s music is sunny and danceable West African pop, but also some more melancholy tunes are part of his repertoire.
K.O. Company, the band that accompanies Jali Madi in Finland was created in spring 2014 when the singer came to perform at Waaw Africa festival in Jyväskylä and needed a band to play with him. Drummer Keijo Koskenharju, used to playing African rhythms, put the band together and after succesful gigs they decided to continue the collaboration also in the future.
