Soul Force Project profile picture

Soul Force Project

About Me

'We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul-force….We cannot walk alone.'
(Martin Luther King Jr, 1963)
Inspired by the words of the great Martin Luther King, The Soul Force Project is a community musical movement, inviting all people to come home to the sound of peace.
Founded by Natalie Warren (UK) and Denis Inyani Kuta (KENYA) in Nairobi 2006 with the help of great friends including James Madegwa, Jacob Oketch and Ben O'Mallowah, The Soul Force Project aims to make heard, through our music and associated arts, the voices of artists that celebrate the possibilities of inner peace, freedom, acceptance and unity. With these values we are advocating for social change.
If solutions must come from our own communities, as Kenyan born Professor Wangari Maathai, Commissioner of the Earth Charter for Africa and the Middle East, advocated in her 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Speech, then we need to also be empowered to work together and trust one another. We need to unify.
The Soul Force Project recognizes the power of music and its associated arts as a unifying force in the creation of a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace.
THE SOUL FOURCE PROJECT'S DEBUT: VOLUME 1 "SALAAM ALEIKUM"
The Soul Force Project celebrates Afro-Fusion music, planted deep in East Africa and reaching out sweet musical fruits to the rest of the world.
Natalie and Denis, both singer-songwriters and instrumentalists of different musical heritage, create provocative and enchanting melodies that merge both contemporary and African indigenous sounds into a whirlpool of dynamic rhythms and emotion. The sound is progressive, exploring new landscapes of freedom that have no borders.
Composed and arranged by Natalie Warren and Denis Inyani Kuta, the following tracks are from their debut recording project that took place in Blu Zebra Studios, Nairobi in 2006. These tracks feature an effervescent cross-section of Kenya’s leading musicians, a myriad of contemporary and indigenous instruments as well as the languages of Luhya, Kiswahili, French and English.
This album is set to be released this year with Green Heart Music, Ibiza, Spain.

Denis, Natalie and Katana are currently based in Barcelona, Spain, where they are sharing their music and vision with many great new friends. We intend to set up the Soul Force Project's company here and then apply for funding and sponsorship. We are also getting prepared to take our performance to the next level with every show. We very much hope to see you celebrating what is possible with us as soon as possible!!!! Lets let the love flow!!! PAMOJA xxx

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 17/12/2007
Band Website: www.soulforceproject.com
Band Members: NATALIE: Vocals, Flute, Guitar

Natalie has worked and performed along side many brilliant artists in Kenya, England and Spain, including Drum and Bass producer and DJ, John B, raw Celtic folk singer, John Langan and Herbie Hancock's African jazz guitarist, Lionel Loueke. She directed a conscious events movement in London, named "Festival of Flight", that led onto to co-producing "The Peace Festival" in Brighton and being on the initial "Synergy Project" committee, as well as being part of the notorious artist urban regeneration project in London named "The 491 Gallery". She is a trained massage therapist, holds a Masters of Science Degree (MSc) in Economic and Ecological Development from the School of Asian and African Studies (SOAS), London, has worked with various NGOs in Kenya and Burma as well as, in Nairobi, training in African dance and capoiera, performing in ground breaking youth theatre projects and teaching English and Drama to children in Nairobi's schools and slum area of Kibera. The founding of the Soul Force Project in Kenya 2006 saw her working with UNEP's environmental agenda by planting trees in Kakamega, Western Kenya and in the ghettos of Nairobi, as well as in 2007, producing the first ever cross-tribal/cross-cultural "Unity Concert and Music Workshop", in association with Alliance Francaise and in aid of victims of rape, as well as recording her debut Afro-fusion music project with Denis Inyani Kuta.

DENIS: Vocals, Guitar, Percussions

Denis was born in the fertile rural Kakamega-forested region of Western Kenya,. He has widely travelled with different bands, playing at Wurzburg Afro Festival in Germany, Aichi Expo in Japan, Kenyan week in Paris France, played in Baltimore USA, Brussels, Zanzibar Film Festival, The Horn Festival in Djibouti, Mayotte festival and many more.

KATANA: Percussions and Vocals


Katana, hailing from the Kenyan coast, started his action in 1998 whilst doing his last year in school, travelling with the Kenyan National Theatre to various place in Africa and Europe, including France, Germany, Austria and Italy. He has recorded and performed with great musicians such as Omar Samba Mapangela, Eric Wainaina, a well known musician for his Kenyan tunes, Suzanna Owiyo, the group Milele who are based in the U.S and Jabali who are also based in the U.S.He has participated in the World Social Forum, which was held in Nairobi performing with Eric Wainaina and The Soul Force Project. He also was in the World Aids Conference in Bangkok in Thailand.He has been teaching African drums in various schools in Kenya and Europe, working with different organizations.He has performed in the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar, The African Festival in Wurzburg, Germany, Festival Mundial in Tilburg, Holland, Warner and Concrete Street Performance sponsored by the Ford Foundation Holland, as well as the Ford Festival in Norway for the talent search.He has performed in the 2004 NOBEL Peace Prize Ceremony, held in Norway for Professor Wangari Mathaai.Katana teaches workshops in African percussions, rhythms, and dance.

Record Label: Green Heart Music
Type of Label: Indie

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Posted by on Fri, 30 May 2008 09:07:00 GMT