Coming up! Africa Unity Festival, October 19th 11am-6pm at The Africa Center in Harlem
Nkumu Katalay, center, at the Tribute to Lokassa Ya MBonga with members of the Soukous Stars at Silvana, April 23rd, 2023
This festival touches on the diversity of African music, dance, cuisine and community. Organizers, African Unity Parade say: “It will celebrate of our shared heritage and the vibrant diversity of African cultures. Attendees can look forward to an array of activities, including live performances from renowned artists, delicious food stalls featuring authentic African cuisine, engaging talks, and opportunities to connect with community members.”
New York based artists from across the continent will perform including Shizem (Nigeria), Hooxx(Zambia), Fadí (Niger) Nkumu Katalay (Congo), Wuza Wuza Ensemble (Ghana), Tapani Demba (Mali), Vmega (Nigeria), Les Gazelles Africaines 2 (Multinational Dance Group), Sondi Broadway (South Africa), and Gugu Makhari (South Africa)
Wuza Wuza Ensemble from Ghana will perform at the African Unity Festival
Nkumu Katalay filters Congolese Rumba/Soukous traditions through his contemporary vision. The music, which he calls, Rumbian Funk is peppered with funk, Afro-Cuban jazz and other influences.
A Multi-instrumentalist and bandleader he has an encyclopedic repertoire to draw on, making each performance unique to the configuration he shares the stage with so be ready for suprises.
Shizem performs on the heels of his new release "Tease". The singer, born in Lagos, now based in the US started out as a backup singer/dancer for Nigerian singers Sound Sultan and Weird MC and has since released a string of singles that have made him a rising star in Afropop pop circles.
Nkumu Katalay
Fadí moved to New York from Niger in 2011, She considers herself a poet first and made music for fun until her first release sung in Zarma, her dialect, went number one in Niger. The multilingual artist just launched "Sarauniya" her first album in August. It’s a fabulous collection of songs, over intriguing beats sung in English, French and Zarma.
DJ Mpiloz, from Kwazulu Natal in South Africa will perform at the Africa Unity Festival
DJ Mpiloz “Emelika” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt5qEZ264lI
The Wuza-Wuza Ensemble, led by choreographer Yawuza Alhassan, perform traditional dance and music from Ghana. The name translates as "You and Us Together" and members are trained in traditions as well as done residencies with National Dance Company of Ghana and the Noyam African Dance Institute and others. The dances come from all regions of Ghana which they have performed worldwide .
DJ Birane, from Abidjan, has been spinning in New York clubs and at African parties for well over a decade, his steady flow keeping listeners grooving to Coupé Décalé, Burna Boy, Fally Ipupa and the latest sounds from the continent.
Tapani Demba is a traditional singer from Mali, a Djeli, who performs at Malian community events here in New York City where she now resides.
Hooxx is a Zambian born New Yorker, whose latest release is "Hold Me Down", a riveting duet with Couffe Beane. We hear R&B seasoned lyrics rapped over pungent Afrobeats: "Betcha you never find another like me yet, my African vibes make you get up and sweat". His EP "Africanos Awakened" is in the works and will include appearances from Dreshie Maine and J-Songz.
Fadí, poet and recording artist from Niger will perform at the Africa Unity Festival