AfroBySoul

JOURNEY ACROSS THE BLACK ATLANTIC
FOLLOW DA GROOV NEWSLETTER NOV 09

Follow da Groov is a newsletter compiled and edited by AFROGROOV, its aim is to inform a significantly expanding and excited new audience about Afro related event…that is you Ladies and Gentlemen! Most –but not all- of the events compiled in FDG newsletter use the creative services of cultural activist DJ ERIC SOUL, these events are usually taking place all across London and in the rest of UK however we will endeavor to keep you up-to-date with worth-checking events happening abroad as well…We are part of a growing global cultural movement so in no means can this list ever be exhaustive, many other empowering afro-tastic projects, artistic collectives and initiatives are mushrooming in every cities of every countries and continents around the globe, using edgy mediums of “black” cultural artistry- may it be from African, American or ethnic origin- to channel positive energy which create an uplifting impact on various communities. Check them out, just follow da groov…

It is a good time to feel and BE African.

- A JOURNEY ACROSS THE BLACK ATLANTIC myspace.com/afrogroov_ericsoul

- DANCE THE GUNS TO SILENCE
remembersarowiwa.com

- I AM BECAUSE WE ARE
ubuntu-trading.com

- WAHALA voxafrica.com/en/wahala

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Hello all,

It’s this time of the year again, Xmas and NYE are around the corner, a good opportunity to reflect and acknowledge to good things of 09.

Since COMPONENTS, the now legendary Sunday all-dayer at the south-London venue Brixton Jamm, ended a year of 12 sessions through the year 2008. The year 2009 has seen activities on the AFRO tip multiplying and mushrooming all over the city and beyond...

What started as a tiny and self-contained cultural movement amongst people "in-the-known" has now truly evolved in a range of pro-actives afro-influenced initiatives generating a solid impact in London, waving larger circles outside its own original borders.

In a demonstration of collective consciousness, replication of that energy can also be felt in cities like Paris, New York, Bamako and Marrakech. The whole planet is grooving to the same cutting-edge Afro pulse.

As African, we always felt we had a bit of a raw deal as far as our representation in the cultural landscape been concerned but if we look deeply into the first half of 2009, unless you were hidden in a cave, the general feeling of an AFRO culture about to burst in the mainstream is almost becoming palpable in London town, congratulations are due!!!

Highlights are:

· The rise of Muntu Valdo who went on to performs his Sawa-blues style around the globe.

· The completion of Jally Keba Susso album to be released soon via a Manifesto imprint.

· Carsten Höller's temporary art installation The Double Club dominated the London club scene during a 6 month period. With a strong western/congolese music policy...a unique cultural experience, the club challenged expectations and helped re-shape music taste amongst the fashionistas, celebrities, global jet-set, industry and media type London is so found off...

· The multi-purposed community project Passing Cloud completed its transformation and currently host the best live jams with positive musicians from top bands on the regular…appearing on their stage on a weekly basis. Members of Tru Thought’s Savanna Soul to Nuru Kane via Heliocentrics and Dub Colussus, Soothsayers, YaabaFunk, Kadyaly Kouyate, One Drum Abass, Afla Sackey & Afrik Bawantu, Sofrito’s DJ’s and many more are regularly playing...

· Barefoot skirt wearer Hippy Hop artist Wanlov The Kubolor, the self proclaimed King Of Pidgin music is on the rise, jet setting the world to solidify links and collabo’s, big album and film in the pipeline...dont sleep on Da Kubolo….

· A big up to Enchanted Tunes the Momo Tuesday popularity is growing, their side project are ace!! E.T. Shepherd's Bush Festival, a show spawned over several days and venues in the West London area saw artists as diverse as Gordon Masiela, Emmanuel Jal, The Kubolor and Lyric L gracing the stage. The highlight must have been the visit of Jamel Comedy Club perform in London for the first time. Jamel is no1 French comedian and its worth noting he is in fact from Morocco....another African making it big aborad!!

· Artist such as K’naan, Vieux Farka Toure, Mulatu Astake, Ousmou Sangare, Amadou n Mariam, Youssou N Dour, Seun Kuti, Baaba Maal, etc…have become regular fixture on the live London scene, selling out London’s favorite venues such as Barbican, Jazz Cafe, South Bank, Cargo etc...

· Various initiative and promotion group have step up their games and masses of trendy Afro type characters are moving in packs from East to South, West to North to check the various nights, south to east London, all bases are covered... Afrobeat Collective, DJ Abass’s Planet Nollywood, from AFRO POP LIVE to SOFRITO via AFROBEAT VIBRATION & Wom@tt, HEADSHIGH, AFRIK KOKOA, BAOBAB and MOVIMIENTOS...even the almighty LIMPOPO was back on the front line presenting Afro live show on the west side of London...

· While the black music we find in the charts is progressively morphing into pure pop, the London over-ground scene reacted with a serious increase and proliferation of DJ’s collectives and crew working hard, pushing fresh ideas, new artists and generally help shape up new musical formats for mass global consumptions.

· Case on point, NNEKA! She beat the big boys and received the Best African Act at the MOBO 2009. Need we say more? Ok then, what about reaching the BBC Radio 1 top 20 charts with the dub-steppy rock&bass re-fix from Chase & Status…..how harder could 1 make a bigger impact with one single tune???

· A new TV show has landed on the screen worldwide, it is WAHALA!! A new weekly show produced and presented by AFROGROOV’s Eric Soul, broadcast every week Saturday on VOXAFRICA: The 1st Pan-African Independent TV channel, WAHALA takes you where no other show has been before, with previous guest such as Dele Sosimi, Wunmi, Keziah Jones, Daara J Family, Capleton, Ghariokwu Lemi and Simphiwe Dana amongst other….

Yes people we are truly making the necessary noise, creating the big waves we need in order to elevate our culture to its deserved position...

As someone said to me recently: " I feel this is just the beginning"...
New beginning. Yes indeed!!!

Join us as London is grooving again….
AFRICA IS THE FUTURE – FOLLOW DA GROOV – BE INSPIRED!
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SUNDAY 22 NOV 2009
From 3 Corner Of The World @ CARGO – Rivington Street – Shoreditch.

SANDBLAST-ARTS is an arts and human rights charity, working to empower the Saharawis to tell their own story, promote their culture and earn a living through the arts. The majority of the Saharawi people are forgotten refugees living in desolate camps in the harsh Algerian desert. SANDBLAST are doing an amazing job to raise awareness about the Saharawi’s, AFROGROOV suggest you investigate and get involved, current project involve music making and cultural exchanges between African and Western with the Saharawis musicians of the band TIRIS living in the desert….
The Cargo fund-raiser line up is yummy...reach!!


More info: http://www.sandblast-arts.org/
6.00pm till midnite - £10 adv, £12 otd (£10 NUS) –

tickets http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=353578&interface
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FRIDAY 4th December 2009
Extraordinary Voices - LATE @ TATE – Millbank - London SW1P 4RG

home live art presents Extraordinary Voices at Tate Britain with artists, performers, choirs and communal singing which explores the use of the voice as an instrument of extraordinary physical and cultural resonance.

The night includes live performances from a group of leading UK and European artist and performers including: Adey & Kayte from The Shout, who sing haunting songs through megaphones, in Arabic and Hebrew, on step ladders high across the cavernous Durveen Galleries. Powerful performances from the massed choirs of Maspindzeli (Georgian) and the London Bulgarian Choir. An all night set, from influential Afro Urban DJ Eric Soul from Afrogroov. Exquisite and theatrical performances by Mikhail Karikis, who crosses the Durveen Galleries like a catwalk. A durational performance by artist Geoff Fazan's busking band, who attempt to cover the entire Bob Dylan songbook throughout the course of the evening and the chance for the audience to create two new scratch choirs and perform themselves, in the galleries of Tate Britain, with The Funk Chorus (Barby Asante & Andrea Encinas) and The Feral Choir (Phil Minton).


6.00 till 22.00 FREE –
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/eventseducation/lateattatebritain/lateattate2009december.htm
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SATURDAY 5th DECEMBER
YAABAFUNK 7” LAUNCH CD @ AFRICAN CENTRE – Covent Garden – London.
38 Kings Street, Covent Garden London - WC2E 8IT

Yaaba Funk will be Launching their first single at the famous Africa Centre on the 5th December 2009. Expect a riotous live performance form yours truly (some new and classic Yaaba tunes) On the wheels of steel will be Africathy, Debbie, AJ (Afrikokoa) Volta45, Dudu Sarr and the Yaaba DJ's Eric Soul and the Wahala Crew will be there to film a special edition for his Wahala TV show. Senga K Designs will be there to help you with your christmas shopping while you Shake your NYASH!!!!!!!! Email us yaabafunk@hotmail.co.uk for a five pound guest list. YAGA YAGA YAGA YAGA YAGA.


9.00pm till 3.00am - £7- concession and g.list £5

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179062961142&ref=ts
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/yaabafunk
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SUNDAY 13th DECEMBER 2009
AFRIKOKOA XMAS FUNDRAISER @ BIG CHILL HOUSE, Kings Cross

257-259 Pentonville Road, King’s Cross, London, N1 9NL (Northern Line, Victoria Line and Thames Link, Next door to Thames link and Scala).

Afri-kokoa continue to push the boundaries of cutting edge African contemporary music with a special headline act of UK legendary dance producer and disco house pioneer DJ Joey Negro playing a unique blend of Afro-House and its funky infusions. DJ Joey Negro (aka Dave Lee) is hot property; his eclectic sound delivered in mind-blowing performances has graced many of the world's hottest nightspots on a regular basis. He is an MN2S resident DJ regularly rocking the spot at The End (London) and El Divino (Ibiza)

Also on this special night we present live the phenomenally talented afro group ‘Afrikbawantu’ led by the well known Ghanaian percussionist ‘Afla Sackey’. A brilliant and professional line up that consists of an amazing horn section plus funky bass, guitar, drums, vocals and a full set of african percussion. Their music is a dance floor filling blend of jazz, funk, afrobeat and highlife.

Music by resident DJ: Eric Soul (Afrogroov, Components) Chief Commander Yaaba AJ Kwame


Artistic visuals will be provided by Erin Sorenson -
Live Visuals by KLEM@S - Graphic Design by Mick - Arts & crafts stalls Senga Design

Amnesty International who will have their representatives from London at the event raising money with your kind donations….

Amnesty International campaign for the protection human rights across the world. They are not tied to any political party or belief: for almost 50 years Amnesty have worked to advance the human rights of all ordinary people. Amnesty is active throughout London and very happy to be supporting this exciting event.

5.00pm till Midnight - £5
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/afrikokoa

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WAHALA TV show - TRAILER #1 from NO PRODZ (Filming & Editing) on Vimeo.