Music Crossroads

Music:

Member Since: 5/5/2007
Band Website: jmi.net
Band Members:

Konga Vibes Live!

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Music Crossroads Winners

Body, Mind and Soul (Malawi)

Body Mind & Soul is a 6 piece band from Mzuzu (Northern Malawi) led by Davie Luhanga, commonly known as ‘Street Rat’. When asked about this unusual name Davie laughs “I gave myself this name, because that’s what I see when I look into the mirror, a rat!” and adds “when you see me in the street, I move fast, just like a rat”.

The band started out as ‘Souls of the Ghetto’ playing reggae music, like many local bands; they won several local awards such as the Kuche Kuche Music Award and participated in festivals such as the Lake of Stars and Hippy Festival.

In 2005 the band felt a stronger connection pulling them towards their Malawian roots. They reflected on the importance of sharing their ancient culture in a modern time and after much thought and experimentation created a new musical concept that they are calling ‘voodjaz’. It is a subtle mix of traditional rhythms with a jazzy feel, a musical bridge between Malawian cultures past and present.

Their first international recognition came in May 2007, when they won the Music Crossroads Southern Africa InterRegional Festival in Harare (Zimbabwe). An important step in their career, as they now embark on the road to their European Tour in summer 2008.

Konga Vibes (Malawi)

Winners of the 7th Music Crossroads Interregional Festival, Kongo Vibes are the newest and most vibrant musical sensation to breach Malawian boarders. The experience they provide audiences is uniquely African combing traditional local styles of Beni, Manganje, Vimbuza and Chitererathe with deeply moving vocals emerging from their roots reggae past.

Konga Vibes has for the past year been refining their already distinctive sound, through the guidance of Music Crossroads industry specialists they have become an African outfit of international standards. Rapidly gaining a strong home crowd following the group has become an inspiration for fellow musicians and Malawian youth demonstrating that through music, anything is possible.

The band never having owned their own instruments is now set to take on Europe with their 2007 JMI European Tour, needless to say Northern audiences are in for a treat. The tour will include large scale performances at the Festival Mundial in Holland, the Amsterdam Roots Festival, the Fête de la Musique in Tournai Belgium and the acclaimed world music festival Couleur Café in Brussels, as well as smaller scale interactive meetings/performances… so don’t miss your opportunity! Their debut album entitled ‘Mwambo Wanga’ is set for release on the 15th of May 2007 and is available through JMI & MCSA Outlets.

Afrikali (Tanzania)

The Afrikali Band was formed at the end of 2003. The eight bands members are between 17 – 25 years old. They all come from different parts of Tanzania and were initially in different bands. They decided to establish a new band to join forces and experiences and expand their skills.

AFRICALI STYLE is how they describe their performances, combining traditional dance choreography with traditional instruments such as drums (ngoma) mixed with other instruments like guitars, bass and 5pcs drums set making their music very danceable.

Since the MCSA Festival 2005 in Blantyre Afrikali has been doing an intense research on Tanzanian traditional instruments and music to and will incorporate this tunes and instruments in their European tour. Their songs are about love, unity, poverty and fight against HIV/AIDS, their local communities, all in all about everyday life in Africa.

OYA Theatre (Tanzania)

Oya stands for -Opportunities for Young Artists, and the band's very visual act is based on traditional Swahili rhythms and dance. Traditional drums, steel pan drums, marimbas and shakers are the ingredients of their music.

The MCSA jury and audiences were impressed by their outstanding explosive performance. The members of the band, five boys and two girls, are aged between 17 and 21.

Tikhu Vibrations (Malawi)

Tikhu Vibrations step out of Malawi’s northern provinces to provide audiences with an explosive mix of traditional Malawi sounds and gospel rhythms. Their live performances capture audiences, with entertaining dance routines and one of a kind costume changes, and a unique blend of traditional and modern instruments accompanied by rhythms and vocals both African and Western varieties.
They went on their first tour beyond the African continent in the autumn of 2003, touring in Sweden, the UK and Norway. Shortly thereafter the band recorded its first album in Blantyre, Malawi, in collaboration with the Malawi singer Wambali Mkandawire.

Banda Azul (Mozambique)

Winners of the 3rd InterRegional Festival, this seven member afro-pop sensation from Maputo went on to perform throughout Sweden.
They continually perform across Mozambique and plan to record an album in the near future.
One of the band's member's Fanuel Macuacua is currently involved in our Couleur Solidarity PA Technician Program, progressing in the Music Crossroads' spirit of development through music.

Timbila Muzimba (Mozambique)

Timbila Muzimba is a ten-piece orchestra made up of Mozambican Xylophones (Timbila) and African Percussion fused with electric bass, drums and saxophone.
It was formed in 1997 by a group of young Mozambican musicians and dancers from a neighborhood near the Mozambican capital called “Barrio Jardim”, famous for its legendary Timbila Orchestras.
The name “Timbila Muzimba” reflects the elements of music and dance that create the identity of the orchestra; the sound of the “Timbila” and the movement of the “Muzimba” (meaning body in the Chope language).

With their unique sound, their complex and magical use of polyrhythm, melody and dance they are the pride of Mozambique and in 2004 they stunned audiences and judges alike, winning the competition with an incredible 148 out of 150 points!

Kapa Dech (Mozambique)

The first winners of the MCSA InterRegional Festival Kapa Dech were discovered by French record company (Lusafrica) who were present at the festival. They went on to release Kapa Dech's first album "Katchume" in 1998.
Since then the band has toured in Europe and South Africa and released a second album "Tsuketani" in 2001.

National icons in their home country, Kapa Dech has set musical standards for young musicians and inspired many to play. The group appears regularly in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns.

Type of Label: Indie