African Soul Rebels

African Soul Rebels – Oumou Sangare, Kalahari Surfers, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou

Saturday 27 February, 7.30pm
£18.50/£16.50

The sixth African Soul Rebels concert series brings together Africa’s most radical artists whose use of politics, feminism, attitude and mysticism have long given listeners cause to think, while their music unites us. Soul rebel music straight out of Africa…

Oumou Sangare is Mali’s queen of Wassoulou music. Her spellbinding vocals and irrepressible live performances have made her an international icon. Her debut album, Moussoulou is a pioneering rallying cry for West African women. She has since released three more acclaimed recordings on the renowned World Circuit label and has proven that she more than lived up to the reputation set in her early years.

The Kalahari Surfers are central to the South African post-punk scene but now create a more downbeat, electronic and experimental world. Controversy surrounded them, branded undesirably and censored by the Apartheid regime they were exiled to the UK. An atypical story as the band’s founder Warrick Sony is a white African. This tour features inspiring dubpoet Lesego Rampolokeng from Soweto.

Orchestre Poly-Rhythno de Cotonou are from Benin and are one of the great African groups of the 70’s. Their James Brown inspired instrumentation, put funk and Afrobeat into voodoo. Roll on thirty years and their music became prized amongst collectors wanting to explore Afro music beyond the legendary Fela Kuti. This, their first UK tour brings them to an international audience 45 years after they were founded! Be one of the first to see this brilliant African band.

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Text supplied by third party.