AfricanOz was lucky enough to interview Bassekou Kouyate (Mali) as he prepares to visit Australia with his ensemble Ngoni Ba in March for Womadelaide. Bassekou is one of the true masters of the Ngoni (West African string instrument) who has performed with Toumani Diabate, Ali Farka Toure and others. You can see some of Ngoni [...]
Jazz Up Close Samuel Yirga Quartet-ETHIOPIA Opening Act Black Jesus Experience-AUS Piano prodigy Samuel Yirga is one of the brightest talents to emerge on the Ethiojazz scene in the last decade. Auditioning for Addis Ababa’s Yared School of Music at the age of 16 by tapping out rhythms on the top of the piano with [...]
Melbourne Museum Until 7 October 2012 Did you come and see Tutankhamun last year? Perhaps you popped into Titanic? Or maybe you visited A Day in Pompeii? Well, today we’re opening our next big exhibition, The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia, which features over 170 extraordinary archaeological treasures from the world renowned British Museum. In developing [...]
The Human Rights Arts & Film Festival AN AFRICAN ELECTION MELBOURNE Saturday, 26 May 2012, 3:00 pm ACMI Cinemas,Federation Square, Russell Ct Melbourne VIC 3000 (03) 8663 2200 Australian Premiere Jarreth Merz / USA/Ghana/Switzerland / 2010 / Doc. / 89 min / English and Akan with English subtitles Sundance Film Festival 2011 International Documentary Festival Amsterdam [...]
THE HUMAN RIGHTS ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCHES FULL PROGRAM FESTIVAL OPENS WITH PAUL SIMON DOCO UNDER THE AFRICAN SKIES 15 – 27 May 2012 MELBOURNE, 16 April 2012 – The fifth Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (HRAFF) will open on Tuesday 15 May with the highly anticipated documentary Under African Skies by award [...]
The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Africa Various Rough Guide, RGNET1270, 2012 Also available on Limited Edition 180gsm Vinyl LP Includes bonus CD by Victor Uwaifo Far-out psychedelic-sounding rock mixed with a thick dollop of deep funk and soul was massively popular during the 1960s and 1970s in Africa. This Rough Guide features some hand-picked gems [...]
The Rough Guide To African Roots Revival Various Rough Guide, RGNET1269, 2012 Also available on Limited Edition 180gsm Vinyl LP Includes bonus CD by Kenge Kenge This Rough Guide spotlights the front-runners of an explosive revival of African roots music. Listen to world-class artists, such as Staff Benda Bilili and the Bedouin Jerry Can Band, [...]
From out of the Western Sahara, Tinariwen strike up a stunning and rebellious new strain of ‘desert blues’. Ripe with electric guitars and rhythms inspired by the loping gait of the camel, Tinariwen’s songs echo with nostalgia for their ancient Touareg nomadic lifestyle and rage against the indifference to their plight. Tinariwen | Tenere Taqhim [...]
Despite being handicapped by polio and living rough on the streets of Kinshasa, Staff Benda Bilili’s singers, guitarists and percussionists have become a global sensation. The pulse of their Congolese rumba echoes the sounds of Havana, Kingston and Harlem, and their energetic live performances are nothing short of joyous and inspirational. Performances:FRIDAY8:15pm – 9:30pmInternode Stage [...]
Flim Info Three young African refugees in Melbourne’s inner-west find that love is never simple – especially when they all have eyes for the same girl. Beniam, Ramsy and MJ are best friends. Hanging out at the Flemington housing commission flats they call home, the three Africans share a tight bond and a love of [...]
Director: Hesham Issawi Country: Egypt Year: 2010 Duration: 100 min A powerful account of life in contemporary Cairo. This raw drama about a pair of star-crossed lovers shines a spotlight upon the social and cultural taboos that riddle the city’s diverse population. Heralding a bold new shift for contemporary Egyptian cinema, Cairo Exit is a [...]