Tag: Claudia Kästner

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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ROOTSMANDING did not (!) perform at the Rudolstadt Festival in 2022 due to difficulties; review on African-music artists there

»Sie hat das nicht verdient, die westafrikanische Bechertrommel Djembe, die bei uns zu einem allüberall zu hörenden Esoterik-Instrument verkommen ist. Zuhause begleitet sie Tanzmusik ebenso wie Die Jalis, die zu Koraklängen ihre alten und aktuellen Geschichten erzählen. Daran knüpft Djembéfola Alpha Oularé aus Guinea mit seinem Ensemble an.« (She didn’t deserve it, the West African goblet drum Djembe, which has degenerated into an esoteric instrument that we can hear everywhere. At home she accompanies dance music as well as The Jalis, who tell their old and current stories to the sound of kora. Djembéfola Alpha Oularé from Guinea builds on this with his ensemble — this year’s Rudolstadt announcement for the ensemble is not a citation by Mrs. Claudia Kästner as stated at the festival website.)

As well the intended line-up »Alpha Oularé, Mohammed Sylla [!], Ocas Sylla [!], djembe, voc; Sam Jarju, kora, voc; Diehi Tanguy Franck, dundun, voc; [then apart:] Mario Wiedemann, sangban« could not attend the festivities due to logistical, personal and financial problems during the preparations; a travel and stay to/at Rudolstadt could not be realized. The ensemble, beside, had been enlisted only as part of the Street Music festival and, we must admit, not been considered as payed artists in this year’s festival program. Artists and audience regret, after year-long participation, not to have been able to meet each other; Alpha Oulare is very sorry about that and feels his reputation at Rudolstadt to have received damage.

Anyhow, here a list of this year’s other Africa-music performers at Rudolstadt for your review, they’re only three representatives:

Groupe RTD, Mélissa Laveaux and Ezé Wendtoin: beside the absent Rootsmanding the only other African musical artists at Rudolstadt in 2022 — could there be more next year?

Groupe RTD (Ensemble from Djibouti) — The Dancing Devils from Djibouti,

Mélissa Laveaux (Singer, Songwriter from Canada / Haiti) — official Google Inc. YouTube channel.

Ezé Wendtoin (Singer, Songwriter from Burkina Faso / Germany) — official Google Inc. YouTube channel.

Wonder how, that has been all, nothing more! We feel for this, that ROOTSMANDING seriously have been missing, looking forward to next year’s accreditation, respectfully, under ordinary conditions.

You can phone-call Mister Alpha Oulare on this…

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ROOTSMANDING at the Africa Festival in Ingolstadt / Bavaria, June 24th, 2022

INGOLSTADT / BAVARIA. On June 24th Alpha Oulare and the Rootsmanding ensemble attended once again a public concert performance at the Bavarian Africa Festival at Ingolstadt, this time accompanied by a performance of the African Acrobats. Here some photographs from that day:

IN OLD UNITY THESE THREE MUSICAL ARTISTS AND FRIENDS
The West-African Ensemble Rootsmanding are in core: Alpha Oulare – Diehi Tanguy Franck – Sam Jarju, here in Ingolstadt, June 2022
 
( From the Ingolstadt Festival website )

Other Impressions from the 2022 Ingolstadt Africa Festival … It had been rather cold this year…

HERE A LONG OSTINATO FOR THE SKILLFUL AFRICAN ACROBATS FROM GHANA …
Guests and in background the stage
Festival stage during a sound-check
Other performers at night time
The Festival stage during sound check / end of another concert performance

Next german Africa Festival concerts of the Rootsmanding ensemble:

RUDOLSTADT / THURINGIA. On two days the Rootsmanding ensemble will grant public performances at the famous Rudolstadt Roots, Folk and Worldmusic Festival (July, 9th and 10th, 2022, in the evening hours). We thank Mrs. Claudia Kästner for her sympathy, support and concrete help.

( From the Rudolstadt Festival website )

Postscriptum: Alpha Oulare and the Ensemble Rootsmanding finally did not perform at Rudolstadt in this year 2022 — read here for more explanations and a review of else participating African musicians.

LEIPZIG / WEST SAXONY. We use the opportunity to advert also for the two-day International Inter- and Sociocultural Africa Festival 1000 DRUMS at Leipzig, on July 30th and 31st, 2022. Alpha Oulare will be present on both days, performing with the Rootsmanding ensemble and directing / introducing into the Free Interactive Community Concert of the 1000 Drums jam session all guest are invited to bring own instruments with them for. This festival had been established in 2019 and is supported by the Cultural Office of the City of Leipzig.

(German-Language information from the YILP International Festival staff — click onto text to read the festival website blog 1000 Drums)

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