If you have attended any of the previous Africa Express shows, you know they never disappoint your thirst for music. For hours and hours, they stun you with a deluge of quality acts and unexpected collaborations, not only featuring the exceptional artistry of the musicians involved but also their welcoming and open-minded attitude.
The latest chapter of the story, titled The Circus, went on scene in London on 29th March (the date when the UK should have left the EU) to celebrate Waltham Forest and its appointment as Borough of Culture 2019, and to exorcise the Brexit ghost. As happened with its predecessors, Africa Express: The Circus was another triumph of African-scented notes, featuring dozens of artists coming from all over the world only to be part of the Africa Express musical feast and show that an inclusive and welcoming world is possible.
Dobet Gnahore performs at Africa Express: The Circus as part of Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture 2019. Photo by Brendan Bell
Under the circus-like big top, set up in Leytonstone for the occasion, Leyton born-and-bred Damon Albarn and his stage partners offered a quite unique experience to the 3000-strong audience. It was an experience that maybe was imperfect and at times looking and sounding cobbled together, but still impressive considering the monumental lineup and level of interaction among the protagonists.
For example, you could be moved by Tunisian singer Mounir Troudi and his Sufi-inspired vocalises, elevating themselves over banging electro arrangements played by Django Django, and a moment later, you found yourself dancing to the warm Afro-pop rhythms played by Dobet Gnahoré. Or you could be soothed by Krar Collective’s Ethio-funk, then suddenly start head-banging to Slaves’ frantic beats.
Krar Collective perform at Africa Express: The Circus as part of Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture 2019. Photo by Brendan Bell
Africa Express: The Circus was indeed a medley of topical moments and highlights, from a rough version of “Guns of Brixton”, enriched by no less than Paul Simonon and his bass, to a dancy Afro-Luso cover of “Psycho Killer” performed by Batida, and from a momentous “Clouds Over Dover” with Blur in full force supported by the London Community Gospel Choir, to an all-female and all-star rendition of Nina Simone’s “I Wish I Knew How It Felt To Be Free” sung by Rokia Traore, Joan As Policewoman, Ellie Rowsell (from Wolf Alice) and Dobet Gnahoré and enriched by the likes of Tony Allen on the drums.
It goes without saying that you can’t make sense of such a huge and all-encompassing show, you can’t ask for perfection on and backstage, and you can’t even pretend to keep track of every single artist performing; all you need to do is lose yourself in the music, acknowledging the almost superhuman organisational effort made by everyone involved.
Rokia Traoré, Joan As Policewoman, Dobet Gnahore and Ellie Rowsell (Wolf Alice) perform at Africa Express: The Circus as part of Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture 2019. Photo by Brendan Bell
And so, the audience did for 5 hours straight, without a pause (even the incessant set changes were carried out in a twinkling), applauding and fully enjoying every single and one-off song. No matter if they were free-spirited and carefree-sounding (as happened when The Turbans were on stage), soulful and emotional (Georgia), or dancy and energetic (Onipa), every tune on the set list was an essential ingredient, integral to the Africa Express all-embracing cauldron. Because music sounds better if shared.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen and Kaladjula Band perform at Africa Express: The Circus as part of Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture 2019. Photo by Brendan Bell
Check out the new collaborative single by the late afrobeat legend Tony Allen and London-based rapper Lava La Rue extracted from the Nigerian drummer’s posthumous album There Is No End out now on Blue Note Records: https://tonyallen.lnk.to/ThereIsNoEnd “I play yours, you play mine. The music never ends.” The wisdom of…
Artists: Lava La Rue , Tony Allen
Every month, we bring you a collection of the best world music-related videos. That’s our way to give value to too often overlooked, rich and diverse artistic expressions. Listen with your eyes! Watch the full playlist:
Artists: Adekunle Gold , Alsarah And Nubatones , Ana Moura , Daniel Haaksman , Dj Dolores , El Remolón , Gary Bartz , ILe , Jaubi , Jupiter & Okwess , Little Simz , Lorenzo BITW , Philippe Cohen Solal , Tony Allen
Every month, we bring you a collection of the best world music-related videos. That’s our way to give value to too often overlooked, rich and diverse artistic expressions. Listen with your eyes! Watch the full playlist:
Artists: Alfa Mist , Ana Moura , Angelique Kidjo , Baianasystem , Balkan Taksim , Blinky Bill , BLK JKS , Branko , Dobet Gnahore , Heavy Baile , Joao Selva , Les Mamans du Congo , Magugu , Masayoshi Fujita , Matata , Natalia Lafourcade , Pascuala Ilabaca , Rrobin , Yemi Alade
Preview of the album: This Album is no longer available however if you want to receive exclusive access to a free album like this each month just sign up to our monthly newsletter by filling in the form below: [chimpy_form forms=”1] Track List: 1. Ballaké Sissoko feat. Sona Jobarteh –…
Artists: Baianasystem , Ballake Sissoko , Barzo , DJ Tudo , Dobet Gnahore , Erick Cosaque , Hoodna Orchestra , Innov Gnawa , Jaubi , Ozferti , Pahua , Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna , Sona Jobarteh
“Lève-toi” is the first of five singles anticipating Ivorian singer/songwriter Dobet Gnahoré‘s upcoming album, Couleur, scheduled for worldwide release on June 4 via Cumbancha “The album marks an energetic homecoming and exciting new artistic direction for this dynamic diva from Côte d’Ivoire… Filled with positive messages, calls for female…
Artists: Dobet Gnahore
The March episode of Rhythm Passport On Air presents you with one of the freshest names on the global beats scene. A band that is becoming ubiquitous in these times of online gigs, with new (digital) performances and participations springing up like mushrooms on a daily basis. We are talking…
Artists: Bejuco , Dom La Nena , Fantasma , Gentleman's Dub Club , Kog And The Zongo Brigade , Nilotika Cultural Ensemble , Nubiyan Twist , ONIPA
This week, Radio Mukambo takes you from Germany to Africa with Zik Zak, cd of the week by the German production duo Ancient Astronauts featuring upcoming vocalists and rappers from across Africa and the diaspora. We listen to plenty of new releases & remixes from Brazil, London, Afro-Colombia, Angola, Brussels &…
Artists: Ancient Astronauts , Azmari , Batida , ChampetaMan , Chouk Bwa and The Ångströmers , Dele Sosimi , DJ KL Jay , Eparapo , Faraon Bantu , Kind and Kinky Zoo , Lakou Mizik , Plu con Pla , Sumohair , The Fontanas , The New Mastersounds , The Soul Rebels
The first podcast of 2021 announces some exciting albums coming out in the first half of the year. Going from global afrobeat from Brazil over Chile to Japan, a few promising Belgian releases to the newest NYP Records compilation presenting Tropical Beats. By the end of the podcast, we dig…
Artists: Abayomy , Ancient Astronauts , Azmari , Echoes of Zoo , Eparapo , Hippo Sound System , Max le Daron , Newen Afrobeat , ONIPA , Sahas
Hard to believe that such a dire and dramatic year could inspire such an abundance of remarkable albums. Or maybe, on the contrary, the multitude of emotions sparked by the pandemic and our new life’s circumstances might have been the main reasons why musicians were able to write, record and…
Artists: AKKAN , Al Breadwinner , Bab L’Bluz , Chouk Bwa , Clap! Clap! , Derek Gripper , DUMA , Hugh Masekela , Khruangbin , Let Drum Beat , Nat Birchall , ONIPA , Santrofi , Son Rompe Pera , Songhoy Blues , Spoek Mathambo , The Ångströmers , The Sorcerers , Thundercat , Tony Alln
The last podcast of the year must be the best, that’s why Radio Mukambo brings you the top 15 albums of 2020. Join the groove train for a trans-Atlantic and pan-African trip that takes you from Africa to Latin America, bridges the gap between Europe, North-America and Australia, passing by…
Artists: Antibalas , Bantu , Black Jesus Experience , Carapaus Afrobeat , Chouk Bwa , Eddy & the Ethiopians , Funky Bijou , Guedra Guedra , Jungle Fire , Mulatu Astate , Mulatu Astatke & Black Jesus Experience , Ojibo Afrobeat , ONIPA , Ozferti , Raul Monsalve Y Los Forajidos , Santrofi , The Ångströmers , The Mabon Dawud Republic
Batida is back with a collection of remastered tracks, unreleased mixes and lost versions on Um, a title with a double meaning as it’s both number 1 in Portuguese as “hmm”, an Angolan sound to start many words in Umbundo language, the main language spoken in Huambo, the city where…
Artists: Alibombo , Ancient Astronauts , Batida , Battle of Santiago , Cabruêra , ChampetaMan , Faraon Bantu , Radar Station , Sahad and The Nataal Patchwork , Spyda MC
Rendez-vous with Lucas Keen for an appointment to meet the little boat shaped lute played across the West African Sahel since the time of Mansa Musa. Hear the story of the djeli n’goni, get the job description for a griot, and learn where this iconic instrument which is the…
Artists: Baaba Maal , Bassekou Kouyate , Djenba Seck , Lucas Keen , Mansour Seck , Rokia Traoré![Album Review: Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela – Rejoice [World Circuit Records; March 2020]](https://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/allen-masekela-rejoice-620x620.jpg)
With the very recent passing of Tony Allen, this set of recordings has special significance. He and South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela had been planning on making a record together for years and in 2010 this finally was about to become a reality. Producer Nick Gold got the two titans…
Artists: Hugh Masekela , Tony Allen
Tributes and homages to artists who recently passed away often sound trivial or trite if done by someone who wasn’t directly connected with them. That’s why we always repeat the mantra that we prefer to let the music do the talking and ask fellow musicians, who grew up and/or shared…
Artists: Bukky Leo , Tony Allen
Here’s a brand new episode of our Rhythm Passport On Air podcast in collaboration with SOAS Radio. This month, we reached Pedro Coquenão, also known as Batida, by phone in Lisbon, and we had an intense and interesting chat about several topics. From his recent participation in Africa Express: The…
Artists: Batida
At times, we are the first to lose track of how many exciting music events happen in London each month, so we have decided to offer you some sort of “public musical service”, meant for all the locals and passers-by, with the aim of suggesting where to listen to some…
Artists: Awalé , Brother Culture , Calibro 35 , Gerald Toto , Hailu Mergia , Horseman , K.o.g And The Zongo Brigade , Kokoko! , Koral Society , Krar Collective , Lafawndah , Midori Takada , Oumou Sangare , Prince Fatty , Psychedelia , Que Vola? , Soom T , Steam Down , Terakaft , The Heliocentrics , The West African Blue Project , Yelfris Valdes
At Rich Mix, you are welcomed with warm and friendly hospitality by smiling staff, that it truly resonates throughout the evening, and throughout the venue. Saturday evening at the London Remixed Festival was no exception. The main room, Tropicarnival, (curated by the legendary Wormfood! and Movimientos), was fittingly decked with…
Artists: Animanz , Gypsy Disco , Henge , Malphino , ONIPA , Sam and the Whomp
In recent years, Turin has gained quite a reputation in the music world for its electronic/dance-oriented scene, being the host city of Italy’s largest electronic music festival, Club to Club. Nevertheless, the city has much more to offer, with new upcoming events and festivals popping up year after year. One of them is…
Artists: Amadou & Mariam , Bombino , Jeff Mills , Tony Allen![Album Review: Dobet Gnahoré – Miziki [Wagram Music; May 2018]](https://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/gnahore-miziki-620x620.jpg)
Having been raised in an environment where performing arts and African traditions were paramount, Ivorian vocalist Dobet Gnahoré has always had great artistic confidence and a strong sense of self. Her fifth album, entitled Miziki after the Bété word for music, is a true reflection of that assurance and traditional…
Artists: Dobet Gnahore
We’re guilty of rarely venturing too far west in London, but when we do we always live our days up, attending outstanding events and enjoying every minute of it. The 2018 edition of Ealing Jazz Festival was no exception. Despite the blustery weather blowing sand all over Walpole Park and…
Artists: Let Drum Beat , Tony Allen , Vels Trio , Zara Mcfarlane
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