Wom@ tt presents its 2nd Mama Africa on Friday 30 October, celebrating African women in music. Artists featured include Helen McDonald & Future Groove (the House Band for other soloists), Akima Paul – 2009 Calypso Monarch, Toli Nameless, Doreen Thobekile, Brown Sugar (2009 Groovy Soca Monarch) and also Francine Luce duo, Nadine Shaw, Africathy & Dj Debbie. Angela Al Hucima guests on percussion.
Helen McDonald is one of London’s most versatile music creators – composer/band leader/singer/educationalist/storyteller working with Keith Waithe , Yaaba Funk, DigiDub and many others and especially with her own bands The Descendants and Future Groove.
Akima Paul, national Calypso monarch of Grenada, is a lawyer by trade and is the third woman in a row to win the Calypso Monarch title here! Her signature tune ‘Passport Love’ had the capacity crowd in the London Calypso Tent chanting with her
Doreen Thobekile -the London Zulu is a brilliant artist with a compelling presence. She proudly shares her Zulu culture and happily fuses it with London’s sounds having fronted Trans Global Underground as well as presenting workshops for many a year.
Toli Nameless is the founder and leader of the redoubtable Femm Nameless big band – celebrating women’s musicality in the afro beat – into afropunk style. Visiting from New York she has strong UK links and is working with Helen McDonald developing a UK Femm Nameless crew.
Brown Sugar is the 2009 Groovy Soca Monarch having also held the title last year. She has a biting satire in her humorous tracks
Francine Luce has a magical voice and is known as a major improviser. She has performed her compositions worldwide and toured with Louis Moholo and Lester Bowie
Nadine Shaw makes her debut at Mama Africa with her new Afro Soul compositions
DJ Debbie plays a feisty global vibes set ("lovely selection" : Cheb i Sabaah) ;Africathy is one of London;smost popular afro djs.
The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London W11 2AY
www.carnivalvillage,org.uk, £5 Adv/Concs £8 Door
womaatt@gmail.com – sign up for mailing list
(Helen McDonald & Future Groove + Doreen Thobekile, Akima Paul,Toli Nameless, Brown Sugar + Francine Luce Duo + Nadine Shaw + DJDebbie & Africathy)
Information about the artists:
Author: World Music Central News Room
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