Floewe (Swaziland)
Floewe is a Swazi based artist who has been in the music industry for more than a decade. On the 6th of December 2013 she launched her 2nd album titled Mayibuye where she passionately sings about life, love and social issues that are close to her heart.
She has worked together with organisations like LUSWETI, UNDP, ILO to name a few. Floewe is no stranger to the corporate world as she has graced events for companies like SIPA, MTN, Select Manangement, Nedbank, FNB, Swazibank, Imbali Foundation etc. The Swazi songbird has also performed outside the boarders for the Mmino Arts Festival and Nexus Africa to name a few. She continues to shine as she promotes her new album.
Sigauque Project [Mozambique]
This Maputo based band gets audiences moving with a diverse collection of rhythms and musical styles inspired from Senegalese Mabalak, Nigerian afro beat, Marrabenta, and jazz – mixing cross continental styles in new and inspirational ways. With two singers, three horns and backed by rhythmic percussions and a throbbing bass, this band is sure to get you off your seat and dancing.
What makes this band unique is that the music was originally produced during music for social change projects across the content, and is now being performed by the band in their own unique style. This means a fusions of rhythms and styles unseen before – its great music with a message.
Akale Wube [France]
Akalé Wubé is a Parisian band devoted to the grooves of 60s and 70s Ethiopian music. Since their beginnings in 2009, Akalé Wubé have been passionately and meticulously exploring the musical goldmine of Swingin’ Addis, which they discovered through the “Ethiopiques” compilation curated by Buda Music.
After years of absorbing this unique genre, working on a sound of their own through adventurous arrangements and original compositions; after numerous collaborations, two albums, over two hundred concerts and a Ethiopian trip, Akalé Wubé today propose their personal and powerful version of a fantastic Ethiopia.
LA 33 [Columbia]
La-33, a band full of urban flavours. Its name comes from the house located on the street where they used to meet and where musicians would rehearse, experiment or just hang out. You can feel that urban flavor in their conversations, improvisations and compositions. Different ways of thinking, dressing up, and making music bring out a whole new movement where we can find compositions, musical and even graphical and audiovisual productions with a major impact in the Colombian capital city culture.
Since the beginning of the new millennium the brothers Sergio and Santiago Mejía along with a group of their friends, most of them with previous experience in Jazz, Rock, Reggae and Ska, began to study the hot rhythms that come out of the Caribbean, many of them used in what we enjoy and know as Salsa. Despite the Bogotanian Cold this 12 guys found out the potential they had to become the new ambassadors of Salsa traveling around the world with the mission of making move even the stiffest set of hips.
Mokoomba [Zimbabwe]
Mokoomba is one of Africa’s most exciting young bands. Formed in 2007 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe the band is musically distinct, Mokoomba combines traditional and modern instruments to create a vibrant sound with a rich blend of rhythms, consisting not only of Tonga traditional music but embracing the diverse music cultures of Southern Africa.
Since winning the Music Crossroads Inter-regional Festival Competition in Malawi in 2008, Mokoomba has toured more than 30 countries in Africa, Europe and Asia performing at concerts and major festivals. In 2013 Mokoomba featured at HIFA 2013 closing concert collaboration with Senegal’s star Baaba Maal in Harare then embarked on a 35 date summer tour with debut performances at WOMAD UK, Roskilde (Denmark) and Gnaoua Festival (Morocco) to mention a few as well as trips to South Korea, Kenya and Reunion Island.
They are also subjects of a documentary called Mokoomba from on river bank to another by Frank Dalmat and Francis Ducat which tells the story of Mokoomba in the context of the relationship between culture and economic development in the south and are recent winners of the Songlines Music Awards – Best Newcomer 2013, NAMA Arts Personality of the Year2013 and the ZIMAA Top Touring Artist of the Year 2013.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/apr/25/mokoomba-zimbabwes-new-sound
Qibho and Sands [Swaziland]
Qibo and Sands is a trio of young, vibrant and dynamic Swazi musicians consisting of Qibho Intalektual, Sands and Bandile. Qibho Intalektual is a spoken word/conscious hip hop artist whose style of poetry is a blend of witty, thought-provoking spoken word.
Sands is an exceptional singer/songwriter and acoustic guitarist with a distinctive voice, aptly described as airy and engaging. As the group’s lead vocalist, his unbridled energy is the driving force for the group’s spirited performances.
Bandile is a meticulous singer and acoustic guitarist with a voice described like liquid, as it takes any shape or form with every note sung. He is the back-up vocalist of the band and a mirror of the group’s humility and authenticity.
Red Five Point Star [Slovenia] Straight out of Slovenia, Red Five Point Star released their 3rd record “Worst Case Scenario” in 2011 on Megalith Records in USA and on Kapa Records in Europe. The band combines some of the best modern ska techniques, traditional rock ‘n’ roll, upbeat high octane punk rock and that full big band sound that can only be accomplished through 15 years of gigging constantly.
After forming in 1998, the band quickly progressed from a simple punk-rock trio, to a very diverse and energetic touring machine. The band toured all over Europe, South
Africa and USA – even opening up for legendary ska band The Toasters and in 2011 by become the 9-piece “Toasters” backing band.
In their latest release on Megalith Records, the band tackles politics from many fronts, from the artwork, to the album title and the choice of songs. So if you like your ska, red hot, full of life and with some political charge behind it, this band is for you!
Under Kontrol [France]
Under Kontrol is a French combo made up of 4 beatboxers; MicFlow, Mr Lips, Tiko and Fayabraz. Beatbox Team World Champions in 2009, the four activists have since multiplied “on stage” and “off stage” via colabs with Soweto Kinch, Laurent Garnier, Bernard Purdie to name a few.
“1” released last year is the very first album made with 100% Beatbox songs, meaning songs made with beatbox techniques only.
“These guys are like the Human Beatbox Temptations, the Four Tops of the Beatbox” – Maseo (Plug 3 from De La Soul) – June 2009
Uhuru [South Africa]
Uhuru, signed under Kalawa Jazmee, is making major waves in the SA the music scene with their fresh sound that includes a range of genres from gospel, African sounds, jazzy, and spiritual – it’s social cohesion through music. They have featured legends such as Bongo Muffin, Professor and Oskido in their songs, their latest single ‘Y tjukutja’ meaning shake yourself in ‘Pretorian Sleng’ is currently topping the local charts.
Bholoja [Swaziland]
Mbongiseni Ngubane, also known as Bholoja, is an afro-soul artist and composer who believes music is not just about making money, but rather is a calling. Bholoja is humble, unique, focused and culturally conscious- self described as a Minster through music, he addresses the issues that affect people daily.
His love of music started at Sunday school when he was a young boy and was exposed to the music of the Swazi Gospel singers, but he grew up listening to soul, country, African, jazz and rock – but soul with a distinct Siswati flavor is where Bholoja has really made his mark.
Derek Gripper [South Africa]
In his 2012 recording “One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali”, Derek Gripper arranged and performed on classical guitar the compositions of legendary Malian musicians Toumani Diabaté, Ali Farka Touré and Ballaké Sissoke. The extraordinary feat of this recording can only be imagined when one considers that this music was originally composed for and played on the kora, a 21 string African harp-lute, one of Africa’s most beautiful of instruments.
Gripper’s output extends beyond Africa to include original compositions, interpretations of the works of Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti, collaborations with classical Indian tabla, innovation of South African folk sounds, and arrangements of J.S.Bach’s solo violin works. His latest work has included an eight speaker sound installation based on elements of kora compositions for a permanent architectural installation in Stockholm which will premier at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014, as well as a new series of kora transcriptions of compositions by legendary kora masters Amadou Bansang Jobarteh, Sidiki Diabaté and Sekou Batourou Kouyaté.
Imperial Tiger Orchestra [Switzerland]
When Imperial Tiger Orchestra first started unraveling the yarn of Ethiopian Music from the Golden Age (1969 – 1975), no one expected the thread to be so or where it might end. Inspired by original albums that the band found while shopping for rare musical gems on a first visit to Addis Ababa in 2009, Imperial Tiger Orchestra released a first record in 2010, the aptly-named Addis Ababa, which explored Ethiopian music from the 70s – when traditional Ethiopian brass bands began feeding off American soul.
After three years touring Europe, Imperial Tiger Orchestra has acquired a solid reputation as a mighty groove machine. The band has also taken its acid riffs to the African continent, touring South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe back in 2010. Having been invited to Addis Ababa by the renowned producer of the Ethiopiques series, Francis Falceto, the Tigers were proud to meet many of the local musicians who work to reshape traditional Ethiopian music.
Based in and around Geneva, Switzerland, Imperial Tiger Orchestra has also worked with musicians and dancers from the Ethiopian diaspora, receiving their rewarding approval and blessing for their own original take on Ethiopian music.
Dan Patlansky [South Africa]
The word “legend” is loaded with meaning – especially when one thinks of Blues-legends. It conjures up images of seasoned older players that have been touched with a rare gift, and whose talent has been salted through the onslaught of years in the music business.To achieve legend-status as a Blues-musician at the age of 30 is almost unheard of.
In only a little over a decade on the music scene, Dan Patlansky has become one of the busiest and most respected blues artists to ever come out of South Africa. His music can best be described as vacillating between slick, soulful blues and the renegade psychedelic angst and raw emotion of Hendrix and Zeppelin – fire encased in ice…if you will.
David Batiste Sr. once said that “Dan Patlansky is one of the most renowned and fiery blues artists in the southern hemisphere and one of the greatest I’ve ever seen.” Anyone who hears him play will agree. Meanwhile, Dan Patlansky just carries on playing and blazing musical trails across South Africa and the world, as effortlessly as a summer breeze. One might call him an enigma. Perhaps. But would one call him a legend? For sure.
Bongo Maffin [South Africa]
Bongo Maffin has been called many things, many-a-times, in many countries, and yet what they are, or do, as a band is simply this: use their voices, bodies and souls as channels to a very urgent, highly rhythmic, African spirits in the form of music.
Crafted with the guidance of Kalawa’s hit making crew, DCC, are 14 deftly created songs, complementing and varied from each other and from anything the group has done before. The music is still very distinctly dance music, essentially African, age barrier crushing and more celebratory than their previously politically agitative tone. It’s close to five years since the band worked as one whole in the studio, thus making this album a reunion album of sorts. Also it is not an album intentionally created to satisfy the fans’ – “where’s Bongo Maffin at?”- questions but a heartfelt re-gathering and sharing of creative energies for Bongo Maffin, which this year marks ten years as a band.
Songs range from 1970s type of wedding hits, village ritual songs, popular tribal house, dub reggae, township disco and soul music offerings, which sees their dance hall toaster Jah Seed’s presence prominently pronounced in this recording than ever before. They are young, creative and too ambitious to settle for iconoclasm right now. Graffitti’s been long on the walls: they are back to reclaim their crown – what’s that baby they created . . . and now so popular? Afro-Pop? With this, soul is back in the “pop.”
MuzArt [South Africa]
The five piece music making sensation that is MuzArt is ready to release their second single, The Party After, off their debut self titled album that was released earlier this year. Hot off the release of the first hit single, Jukebox, that charted on various stations such as YFM where they remained there for a consecutive 3 months. The song also charted at #5 on the Traxsource Hype chart for several weeks.
The Party After has that typical MuzArt upbeat, bouncy bassliness, and vibey vocals – made for the dancefloor and designed for their energetic live performances. Already a favourite amongst the fans! Muzart has been nominated as a finalist in the Soul Survivor Awards 2013, in the new Soul Artist/Group category, where fans can vote online to help this South Africa outfit win this international, prestigious award at http://www.thesoulsurvivors.co.uk/awards . They have also been privelaged enough to share the stage with some of SA’s best musicians, naming AKA, DJ Kent, Jubu Hotstix Mabuse, HHP, Zama Jobe, The Muffinz and Dr Malinga amongst others.
The band has been gigging excesively since the release of their debut album and it’s only getting better as the summer approaches. Keep your eyes on these guys – they’re going large.
PelePele Cultural Dance Group (Swaziland)
The multi-award winning internationally acclaimed PelePele Cultural Group, started in 2003 by Larry Mhlanga in Swaziland, is a multidisciplinary music and dance ensemble. The group is made up of a cast of 15 Swazi dancers, singers, indigenous musicians, and drummers to create a unique music and dance group.
PelePele is one of Swaziland’s greatest cultural performing artists. Their blending of Southern African traditions, including mbira, sitolotolo, Marimba, Makhoyane and traditional drumming make them one of the few genuine innovators on the Swazi music & dance scene.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa)
In 2014, Ladysmith Black Mambazo – led by founder and leader Joseph Shabalala – celebrates over fifty years of joyous and uplifting music. Within this music are the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions. In those years, the a cappella vocal group has created a musical and spiritual spirit that has touched a worldwide audience. Their musical efforts over the past five decades have garnered praise and accolades from a wide body of people, organizations and countries.
Assembled in the early 1960s in South Africa by Joseph, then a young farmboy turned factory worker, the group took the name Ladysmith Black Mambazo. A radio broadcast in 1970 opened the door to their first record contract – the beginning of an ambitious discography that currently includes more than fifty recordings. Their philosophy in the studio was – and continues to be – just as much about preservation of musical heritage as it is about entertainment. The group borrows heavily from a traditional music called isicathamiya (is-cot-a-ME-Ya), which developed in the mines of South Africa, where black workers were taken by rail to work far away from their homes and their families.
During the 1970’s and early 1980’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo established themselves as the most successful singing group in South Africa. In the mid-1980s, Paul Simon visited South Africa and incorporated the group’s rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies into his famous “Graceland” album – a landmark recording that was considered seminal in introducing world music to mainstream audiences
In addition to their work with Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has recorded with numerous artists from around the world, including Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Emmylou Harris, Melissa Etheridge,and many others. Their film work includes a featured appearance in Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker video and Spike Lee’s Do It A Cappella. They’ve provided soundtrack material for Disney’s The Lion King, Part II as well as Eddie Murphy’s Coming To America, Marlon Brando’s A Dry White Season, Sean Connery’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, James Earl Jones’ Cry The Beloved Country and Clint Eaastwood’s Invictus.