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Yahael Camara Onono's epic 15-piece fuses the sounds of Mande West Africa with London's jazz scene, forging a new musical family.BALIMAYA PROJECT
Balimaya Project was formed in 2019 by percussionist Yahael Camara Onono, a second generation Londoner whose rich West African musical heritage, coupled with his musical experiences in the UK, inspired him to bridge the gap between the diaspora and West Africa.
The word Balimaya is a word from the Maninka language that means the essence of kinship. In Mande society, the ideology of kinship is engrained in the moral fabric of its people. Family ties aren’t just limited to blood relations. The concept of extended family created by marriage, cousinage, shared history within ethnicities and deeds done for one another is complex, but shared and adhered to with great pride. This extended family model is what inspires Balimaya’s repertoire and mission.
This group is built on the foundation of forging musical and cultural ties, from a place of integrity, authenticity and inspiration. Balimaya uses the repertoire of the Mande peoples of Senegal and Mali as the bridge to bring the folkloric West African music, together with Jazz and the sounds of Black London, to create something different.
Volta45
Volta45 (Bernard Johnson-Tackie) is a Ghanaian born, London based record collector, DJ, writer, archivist and creative head of the The Goldenstool Project. He travels the world digging for records which would have been otherwise forgotten in time. His musical style is heavily influenced by Jazz, and is very percussive; playing a distinctive mix of afro funk, jazz, highlife and African influenced sounds from South America and beyond, making him one of the most sought after DJs on the afro scene in London.
His ‘Doin Our Own Thing’ nights, in the East End of London, are legendary, and he has also been a regular on the European and UK music festival scene. He has over the lockdown period curated a 5-part podcast documenting the history of Highlife music from 1920 to present. The podcast was recently featured in SongLines Magazine and Music in Africa(Paris).
Volta45 has collaborated with various bands and record labels, notably Soundway Records(Konkoma), Kalita Records, Yaaba Funk, Fofoula(offshoot of Outhouse Ruhabi), Hewale Soundz(Ghana) to name but a few. He is currently working with a Ghanaian jazz outfit whose single will be out on his GoldenStool label imprint later on this year.
https://www.mixcloud.com/Volta45/funky-africa-the-dancers-talisman-the-volta45-selections-vol-4/
ABOUT THIS EVENT
This event will take place in Costa Del Tottenham's outdoor, covered, heated terrace, with social distancing observed at all times. Drinks will be brought by table-service and you are kindly requested to stay in your seats at all times. Tables of less than 6 may be asked to share a table with other smaller groups.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Costa Del Tottenham, Ashley House, Ashley Road, N17 9LZ, London, United Kingdom
Tickets
GBP 16.76