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Afriquoi cook up fresh UK sounds to create Kolaba
Reggae | Tuesday 8th September 2015 | Annalisa
Featuring a diverse array of hyper-talented musicians from Congo, Gambia, Botswana and the UK, Afriquoi release their debut album Kolaba on 11th September via Wormfood Records.
To coincide with the release, the band will be holding an album launch at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre on Friday 11th September, including performances from African Head Charge, Kog + The Zongo Brigade, Nubiyan Twist (DJ set) and Electric Jalaba.
Drawing on fresh UK sounds (house, UK funky, dubstep, glitch) alongside traditional African melody and harmony, and a healthy smattering of raggy dancehall vocals, Afriquoi create an atmosphere and a sound that is all their own. A totally unique project, with musicians of different ages, backgrounds, styles and life experience, Afriquoi is a band of band leaders, with individual members pooling their diverse resources and life experiences to make a new sound.
Kolaba is a deep project with real roots. Rather than a one-off collaboration between musicians with no musical or personal connection, it is the product of four years intense work with the same group of people, deepening their knowledge of each other’s musical, cultural and personal histories.
Bringing in elements of Congolese soukous and rumba, Mandinka griot music, Shona mbira and marimba, Jamaican dancehall, house, garage, disco and drum and bass, Kolaba embraces styles from across the African diaspora but with its roots firmly planted in London where the band live. As guitarist Fiston ‘Papa’ Lusambo says, “This is a new music. If you miss it, you miss life”.
Get tickets for the album launch party here. Follow Afriquoi on Facebook.
