Month: August 2022

Children’s drumming lessons: Djembé weekly on Sunday afternoon (Trommelunterricht für Kinder in Leipzig) — Educational and salutary ressources for Kids / Activities

Übersetzen ins Deutsche?  These friendly and useful children’s lessons are held successfully yet for many years, beside the main elder drumming courses and African dance workshops:

Event organized by Alpha Oulare
Sundays 3–4 p.m.
Ludwig-Hupfeld-Straße 16, 04178 Leipzig, Germany
Running time: 1 hour
Public
Every Sunday afternoon drumming lessons for children led by master drummer Alpha Oulare.
Registration & further information: Telephone Alpha Oulares 0178-5634016 (also WhatsApp)

At the age of five he learned to play the drums in the national ballet in Guinea, and later he became one of the best percussionists in his country. Since 1998 he has enriched the Afro music scene in Germany. He worked as a musician and teacher in Berlin, Stuttgart and since 2016 also in Leipzig. Alpha Oulare is married husband and has several own children.

(Hear sounds from the album »Alakhawonmaly!! DIEU sera avec nous!! GOD will help us« by Alpha Oulare & Sugé — to be found here)

Form of teaching:

  • in the group
  • instruments of different sizes can be provided for the lesson depending on the age of the child, or you can bring your own drum
  • together with the children, the first rhythms are worked out step by step and practiced in the group
  • the children are treated with great sensitivity and the individual learning process is accompanied
  • different levels and previous experiences are included and promoted in the lessons
  • one-to-one lessons are of course also possible by prior arrangement, or sharing the group depending on the number of participants
  • other course dates and times on request
  • the lessons take place taking into account the current health situation

Venue: Hupfeldcenter, Ludwig-Hupfeld-Straße 16, 04178 Leipzig: Meeting point in the courtyard, staircase C — we go to the room together.

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Pour les enfants — hear also some West-African children’s songs, animation for young persons: Comptines d’Afrique

[These are Nursery Rhymes from Africa: »Welcome to the number-one YouTube channel of animated African nursery rhymes — Chain that connects and transmits — Welcoming channel where we play, cook, dance, sing, clap our hands and invent the future — Channel that puts its values into practice, benevolence, empathy, education — Welcome to COMPTINES D’AFRIQUE, African children’s songs channel — Best way for our children to become world citizens« (ibid.)]
(Click on the above images (screenshot) to find more videos of different length and theme. — Listeners and viewers of any age and early readers might learn the French language and African languages by this too. The music appears to be very tasteful. But be careful about television and new media in general, regarding the child’s mental health and natural learning, abilities!)

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(Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages, F 2005)
You should consider if to purchase this film trilogy
as digital copies from vendors for your children.

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Die Rechte des Kindes :
(UNICEF Convention on the Rights of the Child, version for children translated into german language)

Might the future of our children be peaceful and safe, this our pious wish and mission!


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Finally, for the parents another more general advertizement by Mister Oulare, as friendly reminder:


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Alpha Oulare & Rootsmanding will perform at the 20th Alafia Africa Festival Hamburg on August 27th, 2022 — 2020 A/Ou portrait photograph

»The Hamburg Africa Festival is celebrating an anniversary: 20 years of Alafia — Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Bon Anniversaire!!!«

Participation / Contribution:

[Roots Manding drumming, dancing, acrobatics and singing group (click into for the original but very dark flyer motif at Mr. Sam Jarju’s Facebook profile that is good to know).]

»Rootsmanding Band
Samstag, 27. August 2022, 16.00 Uhr
Guinea etc., traditionelle Rhythmen aus Westafrika
[more info:]
Die Musiker der Rootsmandig Band stammen aus verschiedenen Ländern Westafrikas (Guinea-Conakry, Gambia, Elfenbeinküste u.a.) und bringen die traditionelle Kunst Westafrikas auf die Alafia-Bühne. Sie mischen traditionelle Percussionsrhythmen mit den Melodien der Kora, die im Zentrum ihrer Musik steht. Logisch: keine traditionelle Musik ohne Tanz. Doundoun und Djembe legen einen tollen Rhythmusteppich, zu dem neben dem Chorgesang die Klänge der Kora herrlich kontrastieren. Großes Kino.« (Festival homepage — translation)

The Hamburg Africa festival’s finally announced musical program:

Friday, August 26th, 2022:

4:00pm Ouverture

4:30pm Simba Ci, Zimbabwe (Singer/Songwriter) — cf. official YouTube channel

5:00pm IYASA, Zimbabwe (Dance theater, children’s cultural caravan) — cf. official YouTube channel

6:00pm Nana Yeboah’s Highlife Express, Ghana (Highlife) — cf. YouTube channel of the artist

8:00pm Abdou Day, Madagascar (Reggae) — cf. official YouTube channel

Saturday, August 27th, 2022:

12:00am Manifestation

1:00pm Simba CI (second performance)

2:00pm Abdou Day (second performance)

3:30pm IYASA (second performance)

4:00pm Rootsmanding [PS 12-29-2022: click here for video excerpt!], Guinea etc. (traditional Rhythms from West-Africa) — here they are!

6:00pm Papito Chango’s Pi a Pa, Cuba (Music of the Santeria) — cf. official YouTube channel

8:00pm Les Quatro des Bakotessa, Kongo (Soukouss etc.) — cf. YouTube search results

Sunday, August 28th, 2022:

2:00pm Abdelhafid Catruat Band, Marokko etc. (Music from North-Africa) — cf. YouTube search results

4:00pm Rama N’Goni, Burkina Faso (Songs & Rhythms from Burkina Faso) — cf. official YouTube channel

6:00pm Habyba & Band, Ghana (New Pop from Ghana) — cf. official YouTube channel

 

HOPEFULLY no mishappings will occur and all logistics and transportation to and from Hamburg be fine!

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Year 2020 or earlier photograph of Alpha Oulare (from a series)

FOUND BY OCCASION IN THE INTERNET: »Djembe Kurse in Kreuzberg. Trommelunterricht: Seit Jahren unterrichte ich Interessierte in der Kunst, die Djembe zu spielen, und traditionelle westafrikanische Rhythmen. Ich beherrsche Instrumente wie Djembe, Balafon, Doundoun, Gongoma, Sangbar, Kenkeni und Maracas. Meine Kurse finden fortlaufend jeden Mittwoch in Kreuzberg statt. Weiteres erfahren Sie beim ersten Kontakt. Ich freue mich auf Ihr Kommen! Ich biete an: – Trommelunterricht Privatunterricht oder in der Gruppe – Anfänger bis Fortgeschrittene – repariere auch Trommeln – verkaufe Trommeln und Felle« (Musik-Anzeigen.com, 2020 (archived) — translation). The advertizement should meanwhile (still applicable!) relate though to Mr. Oulare’s family’s hometown Leipzig.

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As helpful external ressource: Kikoangoma – Danza y Musica Africana [African Dance and Music, 2009/2010]: Ritmos Africanicos [African Rhythms] — further thematic Blogs to be found / WordPress CMS — finally: Mamady Keïta teaches Traditional Djembé (200X, video tutorials meanwhile as public ressource)

Of course more* electronic or printed/scanned texts can be found than this one (by Kikoangoma — Danza y Musica Africana), mentioning Alpha Oulare & Sugé’s debut album as musical reference for Guinean traditional Dances and Rhythms preserved; this ressource has been found by occasion recently… [Please click (what a word!) on the before currently red-colour hyperlinks!]

Technical issue: Using the Google Inc. Internet search

Postscriptum: * common sense (to some), that you also may try the Google Inc. Internet search to find similar Blog systems that provide information, here about West-African Percussion (click link!) — Many thanks to all contributors, all good wishes to them… (We feel links like these might be helpful to Internet readers/surfers, by this creating structures more toward a true Hypertext in global result).

(Another click above to find more images and their sources)

Side note: WordPress content management system (CMS)

(Surface of the WordPress Reader section)

Maybe consider also, to create an own WordPress account, or, to install as well the WordPress application also for mobile devices, this, even if it was only as reader of existing blogs, by this receiving the opportunity to submit comments, submit own searches, receive update/news notifications and more…

(Pardon us…)

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As final contemplation watch / listen to Mamady Keïta (1950–2021): Rhythmes Traditionels di Mandingue (Traditional Mandinke Rhythms) (Beginner—Intermediate—Advanced) (200X)

We will often return to this authority, for he was one of Alpha Oulare’s important teachers and it appears to be both necessary and helpful to understand these influences of Alpha’s own music and musical teaching theory and practice.

{Mamady Keïta teaches Traditional Djembe Beginner Level. This video demonstration having been made »available to the general public so everyone searching to learn djembe from a true djembe master can have access to it. For more information about learning traditional djembe and dunun please visit [Mamady Keïta’s former] school’s website www.ttmda.com [Tam Tam Mandingue Djembé Academy]« (Mamady Keïta’s and heirs’ Google Inc. YouTube channel). May he rest in peace / may he not become forgotten! The tutorial contains these rhythms: Fankani (at 11’10”), Djabgbe (19’10”), Soli-rapide (26’50”), Kuku (33’25”), Mendiani (39’50”), Djaa (44’45”) and Moribayassa (at 50’30” — many thanks so to Alejandro S. for providing this first tracklist).} — You may try to download this video’s subtitles in several languages here.
[Mamady Keïta teaches Traditional Djembe Intermediate Level (same source: Mamady Keïta’s and his heirs’ official Google Inc. YouTube channel). Content: Background on the djembe, Greeting (at 3’11”), The instruments (4’26”); Kassa (5’30”): Dununs (5’58”), Djembé 1 and 2 (8’02”), Kassa ensemble (9’32”); Senefoli (11’50”): Dununs (12’19”), Djembé 1 and 2 (15’30”), Senefoli ensemble (16’27”); Sofa (18’35”): Dununs (19’10”), Djembé 1 and 2 (20’52”), Sofa ensemble (21’58”); Denadon (24’10”): Dununs (24’36”), Djembé 1 and 2 (26’09”), Denadon ensemble (27’04”); Djansa et solo (30’30”): Dununs (31’02”), Djembé 1 and 2 (33’08”), solo original (34’15”), Djansa ensemble (36’17”), Djansa solo (37’40”): Garangedon et solo (40’01”): Dununs (40’33”), Djembé 1 and 2 (42’19”), solo original (43’46”), Garangedon ensemble (45’30”), Garangedon solo (47’06”); Mendiani solo (49’20”): solo original (49’47”), Mendiani solo (51’30”); Soli-rapide solo (52’55”): Solo original (53’24”), Soli-rapide solo (55’28”); Farewell (at 57’06”) — thanks to Percussionworld for this more detailed track list.] — This video does not provide sub-titles.
[Mamady Keïta teaches Traditional Djembe Advanced Level (same source: Mamady Keïta’s and his heirs’ official Google Inc. YouTube channel). Content: Dunungbe (at 4’20”), Soliwoulen (10’40”), Tiriba (15’50”), Kalikambe (20’30”), N´goron (25’25”), Soko (31’40”), Koredjuga solo (36’30”) and Soboninkun (at 44’40”) — again thanks to Alejandro S. for providing a tracklist.] — Try to download the video’s subtitles here.

»We don’t just play the djembe to play a drum. We play the djembe to tell a story. Every rhythm has its story. It’s not enough to be technically good, but knowing the history of the rhythms you’re playing is very important. Where I come from, these stories are what we pass on from generation to generation. In the Manding tradition, we learn orally. We don’t write anything down. So we must memorize the rhythms and follow the way our Master teacher. A video can never replace a teacher. It is a tool to help students learn. It’s more of a key that helps students open the door to learning.«

(Mamady Keïta, ibid.)

We are thankful for this his advise and wisdom.

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Percussion Courses with Alpha Oulare

HINWEISE IN DEUTSCHER SPRACHE HIER

How to Join our Weekly Percussion courses in our Rehearsal Room at LEIPZIG (two-hour workshop on Saturday afternoon)

A || O

 
Remind the necessarity students of Mister Oulare regularly to attend the workshop and submit their weekly, monthly or quarterly fee: it will help to settle the rent and cost for the friendly rehearsal and workshop rooms that are, beside for rehearsals of the Musicians’ projects, not rented or used else!

You can freely register for an introductory free first course, join the weekly series of workshops that contain demonstration, explanation, common play and exchange, excersizes/etudes in refinement of the interpretation, play and usage of several West-African rhythms, techniques, skills, moods and tempers… — Please inform me, Alpha, in advance if you will miss a workshop as friend and student fellow, stay in contact!

We will meet weekly every Saturday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm Percussion Workshop = one unit for 20 € (Euros). You can Mr. Alpha Oulare either by phone, WhatsApp or contact by social-media Facebook, dials and addresses for found here). Please tell Mister Oulare if you want to join for a first cost-free introductory session, join in general, miss one event, pause, abandon in general, or, if you wish more information or, to debate questions.

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Workshop location and address

REHEARSAL AND COURSE ROOM

Hupfeld Center

Ludwig-Hupfeld-Straße 16 C

Leipzig, Saxony D-04157

Germany

aoulare.art@gmail.com (incoming mail not instantly read)

0049 178 56 34 016 (connects to cellphone)

Whatsapp (to submit a message by protocol)

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The Rehearsal and Workshop Room are located within the Ludwig Hupfeld Center at Leipzig, district Böhlitz-Ehrenberg, and can be reached so by fast S-Train or Tram (7) respective Bus connections. The room in atmosphere is bright, interesting friendly and clean. By S-Train the ride to this place shall take only few minutes:

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Welcome and thanks to new Percussion Students — first Announcement of Weekend Workshop in Autumn 2022 — new Pricing for the Bandcamp Sugé .mp3 re-release — two Videos from the Berlin Cultural Carneval 2007/2013 — weekly Sunday Courses for West-African Dance (Afrodance at the Leipzig Hupfeldcenter 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

THIS IN SHORT: We thank all new musical students and friends that joined Alpha Oulare’s Djembé lessons on this Saturday, August, the 20st, 2022, for the first time: what mighty sound yet, when playing together in group. Now about three female and four male drum students might hopefully attend the weekly two-hour lesson regularly — — yet having been announced, but not as yet concrete in time: this Autumn’s two-day weekend workshop later in the year… Students and all interested musicians shall receive the opportunity to learn and perform special own compositions by Alpha Oulare then. Might the event become sound-recorded?

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CLICK BELOW TO CONNECT TO THE BANDCAMP PORTAL OF ALPHA OULARE. You will find the before entrance prices for the year 2000 Sugé Album now reduced to common standard. The opening track SUGÉ offered here for only 80 euro-cents. / Page description and colours have changed…

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Two Google Inc. YouTube videos from the Berlin Carneval of Cultures / Karneval der Kulturen 1996ff. (2007 and 2013)

(2007 Berlin Carneval of Cultures with drum players from Guinea)
(Six years later, in 2013, again drummers from Guinea)

Alpha Oulare himself … participated at the cultural festival in before years as member of  La Fôret Sacrée, Konkobá, Sugé [links from Alpha’s newly updated Discographies profile] and as solo performer respective in free communion with other musicians and dancers, guests of the Carneval.

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KONKOBA. By occasion another search at the SoundCloud music portal resulting in songs named Konkoba (embedding here at first Mamady Keïta, you should find also pieces by Tourmani Diabaté, Cissoko System and maybe more artists from West Africa and beyond):

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Reminder:

»Liebe Freunde der afrikanischen Musik!!! Wir starten wieder durch und hoffen, ihr habt genauso viel Lust wie wir!!! Unter Beachtung der aktuellen Coronaregelungen können wir wieder unterrichten. Folgende Kurse bieten wir für euch an:

»Djembe für Erwachsene: Samstag 16–18 Uhr

»Afrotanz : Sonntag 15–17 Uhr

»NEU!!!! Djembe für Kinder: Sonntag 14–15 Uhr (ab 4 Jahre)

»Weitere Termine und Gruppen auf Anfrage!

»Ort: Ludwig-Hupfeldstr.16 / Leipzig

»Wer kann kommen? Alle die Spaß an westafrikanischen Rhythmen haben, diese gern erlernen möchten, sich auspowern oder einfach Freude am Musizieren verspüren möchten! Es ist für jeden was dabei: schaut vorbei und probiert es aus – wir freuen uns auf euch!« (Facebook, Mai 2021)

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Konkobá (Berlin 1998 until 2006)

Alpha Oulare remembers KONKOBÁ Berlin 1998–2006 Iko Iko (beware of this song: a:world b:club c:radio). — Petit maole / M’Bo / Kola muna / Wata Pipi — Concentrate on SUGÉ then Alakhawonmal, DIEU sera avec nous!! G O D will help us!!

Beware of this song:

(Releases of the mere trival and disappointing Iko Iko version from 1998)

Iko Iko originals, here first presented instead of later cover versions / interpretations of rather different approaches:

Please allow Dr. John: Iko Iko (Dr. John’s Gumbo, 1971) as side-reference here, before:
(The Dixie Cups: Iko Iko, circa 1964)
(Natasha England: Iko Iko, 1982)
(Natasha England: Iko Iko. Logan’s Alternative Vocal Club Mix, 2021) — to end here…

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Public notification: Searching affordable recording computer equipment (August 2022)

ABOUT 40 NEW SONGS HAVE TO BE DEMO-RECORDED AS MATERIAL FOR NEXT ALBUM RELEASES BY ALPHA OULARE.

 
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»Anzeige an Musiker*innen und Förderer der Musiker
Suchen: Laptop für Musiker, möglichst mit Audio-Interface

Gesucht wird dringend ein lauffähiger, halbwegs moderner Laptop, möglichst mit Audio-Interface (FireWire möglich? mindestens zwei XLR-Anschlüsse) für einen Musiker im Bereich der World Music, der benötigte Demo-Aufzeichnungen für neue CD-Veröffentlichungen sowie Aufnahmen innerhalb seines Musikunterrichts tätigen muss. Leider sind die Beitragskosten für seinen derzeitigen freundlichen Probe- und Studioraum immens gestiegen und sein hauptberufliches Einkommen recht niedrig, die Anschaffung von neuer Hardware deshalb eine große Hürde. Wer kann und möchte helfen? Wir übernehmen im Falle eines Versandes die Versandkosten nach Leipzig und einen kleinen symbolischen Kaufbetrag. Bitte helft uns in diesem! Nähere Kontaktangaben stellen wir incl. Verweis auf die Artist Homepage auf Anfrage hin. Vielen herzlichen Dank!

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Notification to musicians and sponsors of musicians
Searching: a Laptop for musicians, possible with audio interface

A working, reasonably modern laptop is urgently needed, if possible with an audio interface (FireWire possible? at least two XLR connections) for a musician in the field of world music who needs to make demo recordings for new CD releases as well as recordings within his public music workshops. Unfortunately, the contribution costs for his current friendly rehearsal and studio space have increased immensely and his full-time income is quite low, making the purchase of new hardware a major hurdle. Who can and wants to help? In the event of shipping, we will cover the shipping costs to Leipzig and a small symbolic purchase amount. Please help us in this! We will provide further contact details including a reference to the artist homepage on request. Many many thanks!

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Notification aux musiciens et sponsors de musiciens
Recherche : Ordinateur portable pour musiciens, possible avec interface audio

Un ordinateur portable fonctionnel et raisonnablement moderne est nécessaire de toute urgence, si possible avec une interface audio (FireWire possible? au moins deux connexions XLR) pour un musicien dans le domaine de la musique du monde qui a besoin de faire des enregistrements de démonstration pour de nouvelles sorties de CD ainsi que des enregistrements dans ses ateliers publics de musique. Malheureusement, les coûts de contribution pour son espace de répétition et de studio amical actuel ont énormément augmenté et son revenu à temps plein est assez faible, ce qui fait de l’achat de nouveau matériel un obstacle majeur. Qui peut et veut aider? En cas d’expédition, nous couvrirons les frais d’expédition à Leipzig et un petit montant d’achat symbolique. S’il vous plaît aidez-nous en cela! Nous vous fournirons d’autres coordonnées, y compris une référence à la page d’accueil de l’artiste sur demande. Merci beaucoup!«

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»Postscriptum: Die/der Spenderin/Verkäuferin kann in Danksagungen ausgewiesen werden auf Wunsch hin. Es ist kein Betrug oder wirtschaftlicher Handel mit dem zu erwerbenden Gerät geplant. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!« Wäre auch ein Instrumenten-Tausch denkbar?

Alpha Oulare at the 4th international Inter- and Sociocultural Africa Festival 1000 Drums on July 30th/31st, 2022, in Leipzig // Request for accreditation as performing artist in year 2023’s festivals in Germany and Europe

THIS IN SHORT (video and images shall follow within the next days; the concerts themselves have been video- and soundrecorded professionally during this last weekend of July): Alpha Oulare accompanied Rama N’Goni and the ensemble Lanaya, the Sam & Reggaemandingband (with them, for the song »Minion Bah«, Korafola Jalikebba Kuyateh), gave demonstrations on the Djembé drum in the workshop area on July 30th; on July 31st he gave a concert with the Rootsmanding Ensemble and finally introduced into the Free Interactive Community Concert of the 1000 Drums. What an effort this year—the festival organizer YILP International association is very thankful against him, recognizing the final festival as successful. (Please visit this post once again to find updates!)

During first soundchecks on Saturday noon, July 30th, 2022, at the Tank Bar No. 1, Leipzig. More guests appeared later… — More photographs will follow soon.

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POSTSCRIPTUM.
All recordings from the festival
meanwhile can be found
here:

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[ We feel sorry for the external adverts below: ]

Alpha Oulare & Sugé (Berlin 2000ff.)

Here you can listen to the time-less work by Alpha Oulare and his year-2000 Ensemble Sugé : Alakhawonmaly!! DIEU sera avec nous!! GOD will help us!! —You still may purchase the album, best as digital copies of the original (!) tracks from BandCamp, by this supporting the artist and his family.

(This exclusive mix contains by intention an odd reverberation/echo effect — therefore, instead, you should consider to purchase the original tracks / whole album at fair price via BandCamp!) If the track should not be playable, we are to suppose missing Internet connectivity or a server/network problem at sides of the Internet Archive, U.S. California.
(Cover of the 2022 digital album re-release)

You will find a transcription of the album booklet’s liner notes at the referenced external webpages…

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Alpha Oulare & Rootsmanding

Alpha Oulare is also, together with ensemble founder Sam Jarju (kora, voice) and Diehi Tanguy Franck (percussions), member and current master djembé player and choir singer of the West-African ensemble Rootsmanding, that had been founded in Dresden in 2004 (then still without Alpha and Frankie), meanwhile based at Leipzig / Germany (residence of all three musicians)

»The Rootsmanding drum, dance and song group are five to eight artists from Africa. Their musical roots lie in playing the traditional rhythms and melodies of West Africa. The most important instrument of the group is the kora (African harp lute), accompanied by drums and dance.« (Ensemble leader Sam Jarju.)

Following just three videos / excerpts from Rootsmanding performances in town, the Hint to an unkown album and, more to expect, current tour and concert dates:

(Thanks to Mrs. Claudia Kästner.)

(Still available, seldom found rare debut by Rootsmanding. New albums have been recorded yet, offers from musical publishers are welcome to the Roots- and Reggae Manding founder and producer Mister Sam Jarju.)

(This Summer’s agenda… Rootsmanding attending concerts at several Africa festivals in german towns.)

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