AFROBEAT and AFROFUSION
AFROBEAT
Afrobeat (Afrofunk) is a West African music genre that combines influences from Nigerian (e.g. Yoruba and Igbo music) and Ghanaian (e.g. Highlife) music with American funk, jazz and soul influences.
Afrobeats, a combination of sounds that originated in West Africa in the 21st century, is to be distinguished from Afrobeat. With various influences, Afrobeats is an eclectic combination of genres such as hip-hop, house, jùjú, ndombolo, R&B, soca and dancehall.
Although the two genres are often mixed together, they are not the same thing.
Many jazz musicians have been attracted to the Afrobeat genre. From Roy Ayers in the 1970s to Randy Weston in the 1990s, collaborations have resulted in albums such as Africa:Centre of the World by Roy Ayers, which was released on the Polydore label in 1981. In 1994, the American jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis included samples of Fela's ‘Beasts of No Nation’ in his album Buckshot LeFonque.
AFROFUSION
is a dance and musical style that emerged between the 1970s and 2000s.
This musical style invokes fusions of various regional and inter-continental musical cultures, such as jazz, hip hop, kwaito, reggae, soul, pop, kwela, blues, folk, rock and afrobeat.
As a genre and musical compositional form, Afro fusion incorporates traditional African music, alternative music as well as Afropop, blending various genres in an experimental crossover-like style. Afrofusion songs often include vocals in a range of African languages alongside other languages such as Spanish, English and French. For example English, isiXhosa, Duala and Spanish in the multilingual song "Waka Waka".
DONATIONS
Von Kulturen Lernen e.V.
"AFROBEAT and AFROFUSION"
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IBAN DE 50 4306 0967 4008 8844 00 BIC GENO DE M 1 GLS
SENEGAL
Coumba N' Doffene Diouf
Born in 1972 and raised in Dakar, Senegal. N'Doffene himself has always been a travelling musician and plays almost all African string instruments. He has worked with many artists around the world and is currently releasing his first solo album.
He himself prefers to retreat to a cosy spot with his djembe to strum, observe and try out sound sequences. His form of expression and ‘language’ is music. Having grown up in a patriarchal society in Senegal, N'Doffene processes the world he has experienced.
His lyrics in French or Wolof are critical in nature. A contemplative musician with a gentle voice. Who does not publish under his own name. And remains true to his values. Which is why he is critical of any kind of commercialisation.
The man with african string instruments
With one foot firmly planted in the past and the other resolutely ready to evolve in today's world, N´Doffene is the artist of a generation that has witnessed the breaking down of cultural barriers.
N´Doffene has a unique and highly personal approach to guitar playing. He tunes his instrument to the pentatonic scale and plays on open strings as he would on a xalam, a traditional Senegalese stringed instrument. He is also one of the rare African musicians to play the guitar, xalam and kora. Unlike the griots, his singing is reserved and intimate, with variations in rhythm and melody. Senegal has a rich and diverse musical tradition, which varies greatly according to region and local culture.
N´ Doffene brings together different genres from the different ethnic groups that make up senegal and the world in general, creating a new approach to African music that reflects his open-mindedness and interest in all types of music. N´ Doffene has collaborated with all Senegalese alternative music artists, most recently on pianist Ismael Cisse's album African Classics, released in February 2013.
In November 2012, after a rigorous selection process, N´Doffene was chosen to accompany the duo Wolfgang Seligo (piano) and Peter Strutzenberger (double bass).
And in 2013 he began a new collaboration with ZANI, a hugely talented American singer, for a fusion album
2015 cheikh baye fall wawe fall sa kawe sa kaname
This song, this spirituality, gives emotions without limits
MELOKAAN PROJET 2024
XALAM
A traditional Wolof guitar, the xalam consists of a small calabash over which a goatskin or cowhide is stretched and four strings. The bolon is a lower-pitched version of the xalam.
N'Doffene and Malick Diaw, Paris 2012
In Casamance, there is the three-stringed ekonting. There are other stringed instruments such as the riiti, a one-string violin with a body made of cheese wood and skin. The riiti is used in Fulani and Serer ceremonies.
AFRO FUSION
Fusions of various regional and inter-continental musical cultures
Incorporates traditional African music, alternative music as well as Afropop, blending various genres in an experimental crossover-like style
Afrofusion songs often include vocals in a range of African languages like Wolof alongside other languages such as French, English and Spanish.
Wolof is spoken by more than 10 million people and about 40 percent (approximately 5 million people) ofSenegal's population speak Wolof as their native language.
Increased mobility, and especially the growth of the capital Dakar, created the need for a common language: today, an additional 40 percent of the population speak Wolof as a second or acquired language. In the whole region from Dakar to Saint-Louis, and also west and southwest of Kaolack, Wolof is spoken by the vast majority of people. Typically when various ethnic groups in Senegal come together in cities and towns, they speak Wolof. It is therefore spoken in almost every regional and departmental capital in Senegal. Nevertheless, the official language of Senegal is French.
In The Gambia, although about 20–25 percent of the population speak Wolof as a first language, it has a disproportionate influence because of its prevalence in Banjul, the Gambian capital, where 75 percent of the population use it as a first language. Furthermore, in Serekunda, The Gambia's largest town, although only a tiny minority are ethnic Wolofs, approximately 70 percent of the population speaks or understands Wolof.
KENYA
CATHY MATETE
Cathy Matete is a two-time award-winning Kenyan singer, songwriter and performer based in Nairobi. For Cathy, music is like a soundtrack of life, reflecting the truth, the literature of the heart and the spirit of the times.
Cathy's music is full of passionate energy that wants to tell the African story. Her unique style is the result of a lifetime of exploring music influenced mainly by RnB, Lovers Rock, Roots Reggae, Neo-Soul and elements of Afro-Canadian sounds. A lifelong creator , she writes meaningful, relatable music full of emotion. Her unique style blends lovers rock and roots reggae with neo-soul and African languages. With her powerful, heavenly voice and dynamic stage presence, she has made a name for herself in the reggae world.
Cathy has performed at major events such as the Jamhuri Reggae Festival, SoFar Gig and the Alliance Française of Nairobi. Her hit single ‘No Retreat’ took Kenya by surprise and she has shared the stage with international reggae stars such as Queen Ifrica, Capleton, Jah 9 and Christafari Band. In 2019, Cathy was awarded ‘Best Original Score’ at the Kalasha Awards for her song ‘Woman Of Steel’ in the film ‘What's on Your Mind’.
On 11 August, she performed at the Afrikafestival in Dürwiß at the Blausteinsee, which took place for the 10th time at this great location.
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCathyMatete
https://www.instagram.com/cathy_matete
https://twitter.com/Cathymatete
GHANA
ADASAMMA
Adasamma’s music is composed primarily of Ghanaian highlife with elements of jazz, afrobeats and R&B for the enjoyment of those who appreciate real music.
We want to elevate highlife rhythms and melodies by creating a new genre called “highlife fusion”.
Band members
Keyboardist Duah Richard Sarpong
Guitarist Bright Osei Baffour
Bass Guitarist Duah Richmond Sarpong
Lead Singer Hakeem Jean
Drummer Ebenezer Arthur
Percussionist Samuel Boakye
ASI RENIE
Asi Bampoe Abu Renie born in Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America lives nowadays in Accra, Ghana.
A young and talented singer who is making waves in Ghana. As music genres in Ghana continue to grow and expand, it is always exciting to see new acts especially in genres like Soul. The talented singer had studed Engineering/ Leadership Core at the African Leadership University in Mauritius.
Her stage name 'Asi', also her grandmother's name, is her way of honoring her grandmother after she passed away while Asi was in High School.
Asi had released two singles 'Hold On’ and “Love Riddim” featuring Spacely". And 2 Extended Plays (EPs); "PIECE OF ME” and “CHAPTER V” which have received massive airplay and social media attention. She was drawn to anything Soul because she wants her fans and listeners to feel so deeply whatever mood her song carries, be it happy, sad or angry.Asi is inspired by life!
Her favorite song is so far "You Hurt Me" because it was written in a time of healing and self awareness.
Asi´s idea of a big show? The talented singer who would love to share a stage with American singer Lauryn Hill, said thsat she hopes to host a "super— intimate live session with mats, pillows and a lot of plants". The date has not yet been picked due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, ´That’s the plan!´. Asi told her fans to expect her 1st live performance outside Ghana in South Africa. "I have a strong connection to that place. My closest friend is South African and he used to share their music with me, their sound is beautiful.
She left the following beautiful message for aspiring singers:
" Just do it! There’s a completeness you feel when making music, you can’t find anywhere."
Her newest single had been released at 17. th of October 2024
CHAPTER V
Asi also recorded with the Danish-Ghanian Band TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT & ANYANKOFO one of my favorite songs
Feeling (feat. Asi Renie, Kwame Yeboah) which you also can listen to on Spotify.
Showing in the video locations in Accra and Cape Coast, Ghana. Nice memories for me having lived there for 9 months.