1 FREE ENTRY + 1 FREE DRINK + 1 FREE CD when you buy
1 FOCUS TSHIRT

http://www.focusorganization.com/#!shop--cart/c1nuy
https://www.facebook.com/FocusAfricaClothing?ref=hl

Starting off the new year with a big bang, Focus and Global Local team up once again to bring you the ultimate talent among the African dance world, on 24th January at Rich Mix.
 

International dancers GASPARD ZAMBLE DANCE COMPANY (Ivory Coast), CONGO ALL STARS (Congo), HERITAGE SURVIVAL BAND and JP KAIRO are set to astound the crowd with their highly skilled, traditional and imaginative performances - turning all eyes on Africa and its wonderous charm.
It's time to get your dancing shoes on and welcome in 2014 in Focus style...

***************************************************

***GASPARD ZAMBLE***
(Zaouli - traditional Dance from the Ivory Coast)

Gaspard Zamble is the founder and director of Zamble African Dance Company. Gaspard is a highly skilled dance practitioner with over 17 years’ professional experience teaching, choreographing and performing traditional African dance.
His arrival in London in 1992 ushered in a new and dynamic era for British African dance. Drawing on a tradition largely unknown in this country, Gaspard’s performances proved a revelation to audiences. The high-octane virtuosity of Ivoirian dance, especially that of the Gouro people from which Gaspard hails, was unlike anything seen in the UK before.

gaspard zamble:
Career highlights to date include the following:
-Ten years with the National Ballet of the Ivory Coast and three years as member of Adzido Pan African Dance Company
-Performed at WOMAD Festival and MOBO Awards
-Performer at Millenium Dome Opening Ceremony in 2000
-Worked with schoolchildren of all ages across the UK, and toured schools in Isle of Man
-Run open access adult dance class at The Place successfully for over five years
-Choreographed and led dancers in St Patrick’s Day Parade, Notting Hill Carnival and Mayor’s Thames Festival.
-Jointly choreographed and performed in ‘Stormforce’ at Edinburgh Fringe Festival
http://zambleafricandance.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4jN3EE8N5Y

***************************************************

***Congo Allstars***
(Soukous - Congo)

Koko is an outstanding drummer and vocalist from Democratic Republic of Congo. He plays Djembe and congas and is the last surviving congas player from the first generation of Congolese music.
After developing his musical skills Koko joined several bands in his homeland and toured different African countries.
The musicians and bands he joined with at that time included Docteur Nico, Papa Noel and Le Festival de Maquisards of Sam Mangwana and Givano.
He has also joined bands such as Vox Africa of Jeanot Bombenga with Souzi Kaseya and Cercul Jazz of Ntunta Mamadou Edjo du Zaire and Cristoph Njaly former trumpet player of Ok Jazz.
In 1977 Koko formed the Mangelepa Band in Nairobi (Kenya). This band was very successful in Eastern and Southern Africa and they recorded 17 singles and 2 albums.
Following the breakup of Mangelepa, in 1982 he played with Samba Mapangala and Orchestre Virunga in Nairobi (Kenya) and at the same year Koko joined Orchestra Kanzako and spent nearly three years with the band, touring West African countries.
He returned to Kinshasa (DR Congo) to play briefly with Orchestra the Best. In 1985 Koko spent time in Zambia with his traditional group Kalindula.
In 1986 to 1987 Koko joined the Real Sound of Africa in Zimbabwe touring Europe. He spent year 1989 in Japan with his new band called Piga Piga Stars.
In 1990 Koko decided to settle in Britain. He taught drumming in Bristol and started the band Ngoma and played twice in Glastonbury Fesfival.
He moved to London where he formed a group called Soukous Koumbele in 1994. Over the years Koko has held drumming workshops in many different countries including Finland, Spain, Italy, USA and Australia through WOMAD Festival.
He also works with theatre-in-education companies such as Iroko and Zuriya. In October 2000 and June 2002 Koko was on tour with Mose Fan Fan’s Somo Somo.
He is also a member of The Master Drummers of Africa, a most spectacular group whose tour in November 2000 took them to Southampton, Birmingham and the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.
Koko also frequently teamed up with Abdul Tee-Jay for the band Palm Wine A-Go-Go. Koko is very much in the limelight on the African music scene as he performs with his band Soukous Koumbele at many events in Britain: WOMAD Festivals, the African Music Festival 2004, as well as on TV programs and Andy Kershaw’s and Lucy Duran’s radio programs.

The Congo Allstars
He currently leads The Congo Allstars band and with the band they performed in many big venues and festivals in UK.
With a rock solid Congolese rhythm section, Koko and The Congo Allstars is back to reclaim their crown as the finest dance band in Africa today.
Koko bring Soukous right up to date with funk rumba beats and cutting edge dub reggae creating an irresistible mix.
With leader and master percussionist Koko directing the band, expect a sizzling show that confirms why Congolese Soukous music is one of the most passionate dance music in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBki4yRcSnw

***************************************************

***HERITAGE SURVIVAL BAND*** 
(Soukous - Zimbabwe)

ZEE Guveya & the HERITAGE Survival Band are a group of exceptionally talented musicians from Zimbabwe hailing from the country's capital Harare. Their particular style of Afro-fusion draws on modern influences whilst upholding familiar traditional rhythms.

Lead singer and guitarist Zivai 'ZEE' Guveya's talent was first discovered at the age of fifteen when he began working with Dr Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo as a multiskilled musician playing the guitar, marimba and mbira. The early part of his career with Dr Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo saw him record five albums and touring throughout Africa, Europe and North America before relocating to the UK with the HERITAGE Survival Band, a compelling, insistent dance band weaving shuffling and hypnotic up-beat chimurenga songs with fast-beat sungura music. Veteran performers all who have worked with some of the great names of African music, the Band is a musical powerhouse.
http://www.reverbnation.com/zivaiguveyaandtheheritagesurvival

Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6cJvWG7w3g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7shK384c8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6PCQ3vtkNI

***************************************************

JP KAIRO DJ set: Playing the Best of African Urban Music