AfroReggae - ProfilesArchive

About Me

WHO ARE AFROREGGAE?AfroReggae come from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The band was founded in the favela (shanty town) of VigÃ¡rio Geral in Rio de Janeiro in 1995. In 2001 we became the first group from a social project in a favela to sign with a major. Nova Cara (New Face) was released by Universal to widespread critical acclaim. In 2006 we launched our second album Nenhum Motivo Explica a Guerra (There is No Motive for War). UK rappers Ty and Estelle featured on the title track. We toured England in March 2006, playing two sell out shows at the Barbican centre in London and will be returning to play there again in 2007.HISTORY:In 1993, when the AfroReggae Cultural Group arrived in VigÃ¡rio Geral, the idea was to create a project against the exclusion, inequality and stigma that overwhelm the favelas. In August of that same year a police attack on innocent civilians in VigÃ¡rio Geral claimed 21 innocent victims, an incident that forever marked the lives of the inhabitants of the community and the history of the country.In 2006 AfroReggae runs 61 social projects in Rio de Janeiro. It has founded permanent cutural bases in four different favelas. It now multiplies its workshop programs across Brazil and in other countries.You can also learn about us more by watching Favela Rising, a documentary that tells the story of one of our band members, Anderson SÃ¡. www.favelarising.com

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Music:

Member Since: 8/25/2006
Band Website: afroreggae.org.br
Band Members: Our stage show currently features 19 musicians including 3 rappers/2 backing vocalists, 5 percussionists, 3 brass instruments, bass, lead guitar and keyboards. AfroReggae, the band, is one of 13 musical groups that the AfroReggae Cultural Group has created since 1993. Get our CDs "Nenhum Motivo Explica A Guerra" (Gege) and "Nova Cara" (Universal) at amazon.com "Nenhum Motivo" has been remastered and is now available as "Favela Uprising" in Europe on Mr Bongo Recordings Check out our video clips : http://www.afroreggae.org.br/sec_videos_list.php
Influences: One of GCARs first initiatives was to unite students taking part in percussion, guitar, capoeira, dance and circus workshops to create a musical band. Initial inspiration came from Olodum, a social minded music group from Bahia. The band was baptized with the name AfroReggae in 1995. They celebrated this event that changed the history of the group and VigÃ¡rio Geral together with their godfather Caetano Veloso.AfroReggae soon began to incorporate other elements and languages that come from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, such as funk, pagode and forrÃ³. They also added Hip-Hop and Ragga to the mix.
Sounds Like: New York Times, April 2004: If Rage against the Machine could drum like Ozomatli, dance like the Black-Eyed Peas and sing exuberant samba melodies and reggae tunes, America might have something like AfroReggae. Singing, rapping, power chords, wah-wah funk, turntable scratching and Brazilian drumming were all part of AfroReggaes set, and of course everybody danced. [This review was of a concert that AfroReggae took part in the Carnegie Hall, where they opened a show for Caetano Veloso.]Evening Standard, London, March 2006: Seizing the stage with a battery of rhythm and politics, the 13-strong band (including three rappers and three drummers striding the stage) belted out anti-war, pro-love songs of peace and understanding with the voice of Public Enemy...With a hyper-powered set they brought like-minded artists onstage to join them; rapper Ty, R& B star Estelle and Asian Dub Foundation who helped make the evening even more explosive. AfroReggae arenÂ´t a band, they are a force; and one to be reckoned with.
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Record Label: www.gege.com.br and www.mrbongo.com
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

AfroReggae From the Favela to the World Barbican Theatre 28 - 29 June

AfroReggae From the Favela to the WorldBarbican Theatre 28 - 29 June 8pm Tickets £7 - £26 Established in the favela of Vigário Geral, AfroReggae work within the poorest and most violen...
Posted by AfroReggae on Tue, 08 May 2007 10:01:00 PST

Anderson Sà, one of AfroReggae's rapper will be at the University of Texas

Anderson Sà, one of AfroReggae's rapper will be at the University of Texas for conferences and Favela Rising's screenings.Wednesday, January 31st ...
Posted by AfroReggae on Mon, 29 Jan 2007 04:47:00 PST