DATHLIAD CYMRU AFFRICA 2024 (Friday): The Zawose Queens + more

Bloco Sŵn & The Tone Cords

A North Wales Carnival band led by percussionist Colin Daimond, Bloco Sŵn was founded in 2012 on the “Bloco” model of Brazilian Carnivals – a core group of drummers playing a variety of distinct carnival styles and many original compositions. The Tone Cords are a newly founded Bangor-based African and Caribbean group promoting African/Caribbean heritage across the continents. Both groups are involved in promoting the Welsh Language within creative and educational projects. This special collaboration will blend the cultures and voices of African talking drums, traditional Welsh tunes, Brazilian carnival percussion and the Yoruba-Welsh communities of Gwynedd.

 

Ayoub & Ffion

Ffion Campbell-Davies is a multidisciplinary artist and Associate Director of House Of Absolute. Born and raised in Wales, Ffion is Welsh speaking, nonbinary genderfluid with mixed Grenadian heritage. Originally trained dance professional, Qigong practitioner and vocalist, bringing holistic modalities into performance and ritual. Ffion works with film, sound design and performance art using voice, text and poetry within the context of activism and healing.

Ayoub Boukhalfa is a queer Moroccan singer known for Moroccan Chaabi music. He leads the Oasis One World Choir and sings with the Coronation Choir. He has worked with National Theatre Wales and Sherman Theatre. Recognised as a top emerging  LGBTQ+ figure in Wales, Ayoub uses his music to promote inclusivity and support  marginalised voices.

Together Ayoub and Ffion created Moroccan/Welsh fusion song ‘Achkid Awa’. This innovative song harmonises Moroccan Amazigh, Darija, and Welsh languages,  resonating as a cross-cultural masterpiece that bridges diverse artistic horizons, showcasing the beauty of unity in linguistic and creative diversity.

 

Justin Adams & Mohamed Errebbaa

Justin Adams, the venerable UK electric guitarist is most known for his work with Jah Wobble’s Invaders of the Heart, to collaborations with Robert Plant, Tinariwen, Rachid Taha, and Juldeh Camara, his connection with the trance music of North Africa has always been an integral part of his sound. This new project sees him team up with Errebbaa, who began performing with traditional Sufi brotherhoods in Rabat, Morocco aged ten, and received the title of Maalem, (master of the Gnawa tradition) in his 20’s. His initiation into the Gnawa tradition took 10 years. Gnawa music connects elements of the Arab music of the North and the music of sub-Saharan Africa with Sufi mysticism.

Their music harnesses the deep trance power of the Gnawa repertoire as well as drawing from Adams’ back catalogue, bringing elements of desert blues and heavy grooves to lift the spirits and make you want to move!

 

The Zawose Queens

Pendo and Leah Zawose – The Zawose Queens and their band showcase the singing and rhythms of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania, they are joining us on their UK tour. The most famous exponent of this musical tradition is the late, great Dr Hukwe Zawose (Pendo’s father and Leah’s grandfather).

There is spirit and fire in their music, there’s the vibrations of the ancestors, coming through on traditional instruments — soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter and thunder — and voices that go deep, high and out there. There’s the connection to nature, to ceremony and ritual, in their dance-inspired fusion, their blend of the organic, harmonic and modern-day electronic. There are lyrics that tell, in their native kigogo, of the passion for music, the wonders of life. Of pride in environment, in tradition. In their East African roots. Their debut album Maisha marks the first time that women from this famous musical family take their place as lead vocalists and performers. They have performed at Glastonbury, Africa Oye and WOMAD this year and we are excited to add them to our weekend of mainly women-led acts.

“The sheer vocal power of the duo is arresting, a shifting polyphony primarily addressing family and domestic affairs; this is the first time women in Gogo music have been allowed to write their own stories… Stirring Stuff” – The Guardian

Cost

£20.00

Date

Nov 22 2024
Expired!

Time

7:00 pm

Organizer

Neuadd Ogwen
Neuadd Ogwen
Phone
01248 208850
Email
post@neuaddogwen.com