Austin (Texas), USA – World music festival Global Harmony will take place Friday and Saturday, June 22-3, 5pm – 2am at Ruta Maya International Headquarters, 3601 S. Congress Ave. Austin, Texas. Admission is $12 per day or $18 for both days.
With the larger aim of promoting global harmony, Austin world musicians will unite with non-profit organizations in a community-building and culture-enriching event that promises to create good feelings for the heart and soul as well as for the ears and feet. Besides great music, dance, and art, participants will have a chance to meet Austin-based not-for-profit organizations whose work benefits communities in Africa as well as Austin.
Confirmed musical groups include: Afrique Djemba Kan: Austin debut and world premiere of the Sylla family group from Guinea-Konakry, West Africa — master drummer Alseny Sylla and master balafon player Aboubakar, with Sylla’s daughter and two sons, Jolie, Aboubakar, and Sekou.
Atash: Austin’s own world class international musical brotherhood, with members from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, fronted by Iranian vocalist Mohammad Firoozi — the sound of global harmony.
Djembabes: a group of Austin drummers and singers who are dedicated to the joy and inspiration of hand drumming and the possibility created by sharing music with the community in ways which allow interaction and the unfolding of a vibrant Community Spirit.
Lannaya: an extended family of dancers, drummers, and singers, led by Master Drummer Alseny Sylla, with choreography by Master Jean-Claude Lessou; performing intricate and intoxicating dances, songs and rhythms from Guinea and the Ivory Coast.
Oliver Rajamani: renowned world music artist credited with keeping alive the ancient vanishing Tamil folk music and culture, and the nomadic and devotional musical styles of India; creator of his own brand of world fusion incorporating influences from all along the Gypsy trail from India through the Middle East and North Africa to Spain.
Rattletree: a six-piece high-energy trance-dance Zimbabwean style marimba ensemble, directed by Joel Laviolette; an impressive family of different-sized hand-made marimbas and percussion , guaranteed to get the dance floor moving from the first song!
Sabaya: the captivating artistry of oriental dance from Austin’s premiere company with over 20 years collective experience performing on the international stages of Egypt, Spain, Brazil, Bolivia, Europe, Canada, and the United States.
Confirmed participating nonprofit organizations include:
African Education Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness through education and community building in Togo, west Africa. Currently, the project facilitates intensive tri-annual workshops between rural villages in the realms of health and agriculture, also building and managing construction projects that provide essential infrastructure for the region and offering literacy classes.
Amala Foundation serves and catalyzes individuals and communities to actualize a deeper life through humanitarian service, the cultivation of authentic community and sustainable peace initiatives that start from within. Those who come to study and serve with Amala Foundation understand humanitarian service as a spiritual practice and a way of life. Projects in Austin and Nigeria.
Anthropos Arts brings top-notch professional musicians and artists into Title I public schools in and nearby Austin, Texas to lead economically disadvantaged youths through a comprehensive music program consisting of concerts, workshops, master classes and lessons. Curriculum ranges from classical repertoire to jazz and world music, with guest artists from all over the world.
Austin Africa Network, a group of organizations and individuals that are participating in ways to help Africa here in Austin, envisioning a renaissance of peace, health education and prosperity while preserving the continent’s unique natural beauty and cultural heritage. Projects in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda.
Brother Brother Sister Sister helps AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe by providing medicine, food, clothing, shelter and human resources.
Mhumhi Records is a not-for-profit record label that is dedicated to preserving and sharing some of the amazing music that is happening in Southern Africa today, and to the fair distribution of revenues to the musicians involved in the recordings.
One Vote ’08 is an unprecedented bi-partisan campaign to make global health and extreme poverty foreign policy priorities in the 2008 presidential election.
TASO (The AIDS Support Organization) is the largest indigenous non-government organization providing HIV/AIDS services in Uganda and Africa, having supported over 150,000 directly since its inception.
To reserve tickets, call (512) 784-8660.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
