Afopop NYC Weekend Picks 7/31/02

Afopop NYC Weekend Picks 7/31/02

Compiled by "Boo" Lynn Walsh.

For a longer look ahead please click on the New York City Concerts section from Afropop's homepage.
Check out our newest concert adventure feature "Grassroots Festival Embraces Afropop" Grassroots 2002 Review. Banning Eyre hit the road north, hot on the heals of the Super Rail Band during their recent tour. If you've read his wonderful book "In Griot Time: An American Guitarist in Mali" or listened to the CD (available from our website virtual store) you know why. The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance had a spectacular lineup of performers and you won't believe the stunning photographs. Treat yourself and take a peek.

I must say that this has been a superb summer and August's schedule proves that Afrolicious madness is still going strong with smashing concerts such as on Wednesday, August 31, Angelique Kidjo will be singing up a strorm down at Battery Park. Click and read an interview with this amazing woman. Or type in another of your favorite artist's name in the "search the site" box and pull up volumes of interesting information and even sound bites from our extensive ethnomusical library.

How about a unique theatre experience? It's the last week one has to catch Jehan's Goddessdance, Tuesday, July 30 - August 4th. Goddess, goddess and more goddesses, is the theme explored, with 25 spectacular performers, sacred belly dancers, singers and musicians from around the globe, enhanced by lavish costumes, original music and choreography. I went recently and experienced a potpourri of mesmerizing, luscious vignettes. A very promising "work in progress", Goddessdance IS a sensual, intriguing spectacle, well worth an enchanted evening's entertainment. Scroll down past SHORT & SWEET
to our new ARTS & THEATRE & FILM & TELEVISION section for details and dates.

SHORT AND SWEET

Wednesday, July 31 - 7:00pm FREE

Angelique Kidjo
This Benin-born, Paris/Brooklyn-based artist crosses musical boundaries by blending a variety of styles including funk, salsa, jazz, rumba, souk and makossa with her special voudoun talent. Her newest CD, the 2002 release, Black Ivory Soul is a rich exploration of Brazilian music. "For the concept behind Black Ivory Soul, Kidjo says, "I believe music is the only way to heal pain and bring people together. It's a language beyond color of skin, country or culture. I want to inspire people to think about poverty, freedom and family on a deeper level." This woman is a firecracker that explodes with energy and is just as bad as she wanna be! Come dance the life back into downtown.
Location: Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, Battery Park City
See the rest of the schedule @ http://www.rivertorivernyc.com or contact #: 212-528-2733

Painting by David Sauvé - check out this artist's shrine to Angelique, http://members.limitless.org/~dsauve/kidjo.html - some beautiful sketches of this Benin beauty!

Wednesday, July 31 - 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. FREE

The Haitian Empowerment Center and the Caribbean Cultural and Literacy Center of Brooklyn will present a drum dance and song workshop for children (6yrs - 14yrs). Bonga aka Gaston Jean-Baptiste, a gifted teacher and performer, will be joyfully sharing these wonderful traditions. Participants will be asked to tune into to their own voices and musical abilities, while they sing melody, play rhythm, and dance. The workshop is designed to enhance their ability to work as a group, listen attentively, appreciate another culture, and have FUN!
@ Brooklyn Public Library Flatbush Branch
22 Linden Boulevard 2FL Brooklyn, NY
Trains: 2, 5 to Church or Q to Parkside
Buses: 41, 44, 49, 35
contact: 718-856-6193

From Thursday, August 1st until Saturday, August 17th

HARLEM WEEK grew out of the desire to bring the revitalization of Harlem as the world-renowned Black and Latino cultural capitol of America. The intent was to put Harlem back at the forefront of urban, cultural, ethnic, educational, political, recreational and religious leadership - as it had been in the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's. They have organized an extraordinary two weeks of film festivals, dancing, eating, art exhibits, vendors, tours and music fun for the entire family… DAY AND NIGHT. For the next two weeks Harlem is the place to drop in and stay a spell. You might just shake hands (or more) with Buba Clinton.
For more information: http://www.wnbc.com/harlemweek/1490503/detail.html

Saturday, August 3 - 2:00pm until 9:00pm

Boricua Festival: Kevin Ceballo/Manny Oquendo/Willie Villegas
Sizzling salsa and Afro-Caribbean rhythms presented in collaboration with the Boricua Festival Committee… so it must be seriously G.O.O.D.
Part of Celebrate Brooklyn
(FREE but please donate generously to support these concerts)

The Museum for African Art is pleased to host SATONGE OUTDOORS! , an outdoor concert series bringing the hot energy of Africa straight to New York this summer. SATONGE! is the Museum for African Art's signature concert series meaning "event" or "happening" in a language of the Congo. The musical styles represented range from traditional African and African-rooted music to more contemporary Afro-Pop and Jazz. SATONGE! illustrates the rich cross-cultural influences of musical styles throughout the African Diaspora, featuring both new and traditional works by artists of African descent from Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, the United States, and beyond.

This week's concert for your viewing and dancing pleasure is…

Saturday, August 3rd (11AM - 7PM)

COCO SUKALI - SATONGE OUTDOORS Congolese Soukous, Rumba, and Reggae
." The music reverberates with warmth and liveliness as Coco Sukali makes rumba good all over again, and in the process offers North Americans the chance to finally discover the music that broke through language and geographical borders on the African continent to become one of the most loved style ever." - Opiyo Oloya
Jamaica Arts & Music Summer Festival - Jamaica Avenue, Queens. As part of the Museum of African Art's outreach to the Queens community, their new home, from September 2002 through Spring 2005.
Transportation: E, F, J or Z to Jamaica Center / Jamaica, Green orTri-Borough Bus Line to Jamaica Center
Or for more information, please contact Yuko Miki at (212) 966-1313 x112 or pr@africanart.org.

Sunday 8/4/02 doors 8pm shows begin at 9pm (African time)

Soukous Stars Ogo Goro opening act and The Legends of Soukous Music, with Kilimanjaro's DJ Beta. So you wanna get out an shake it until the cows come home? Check out these two bands… the just don't stop, even if you drop. Much fun and safer than s_x. @ The Lion's Den
214 Sullivan St (between Bleecker & W. 3rd. NYC)
New Africa Presents African and Reggae music with DJ @ the Lion's Den
www.africasounds.com
Price: $10

Monday, August 5- doors open about 8pm

CANCELLED!!! Los Munequitos De Matanzas will appear later this year
THE Cuban group to see and participate with. Historical, classy, sassy and mucho magic! More on this group later, but I'm telling you right now save up to go to this one… Unforgettable.
SOB's 204 Varick Street @ West Houston 212 243-4940 $20?

now through August 17th Saturday evenings

Sharon Katz & the Peace Train From what I've read, songwriting, guitarplaying, Sharon was given a special award by Nelson Mandela for utilizing music to bring people together in peace. Plus, you can chow down at this tiny hopping haven for afrophiles. @ Madiba Resturant, South African Cuisine, 195 Dekalb in Brooklyn, NY

PEEK AND PLAN AHEAD

Thursday, August 8 - 8pm

Kanda Bongo Man
OK, so he's plump, and looks like an 80's pimp… but as we know, in Africa you ain't saying nothin' unless you're chubby and dressed to kill (hence my popularity there). Plus the fact that the man is a HIT machine. He's one of my personal favorites. One catchy tune after another with that distinctive raspy, reedy voice, tight harmonies and slick guitar loops… not to mention he might bring out some of those wiggily gals from his videos. I'd check it out. PS his CD's are guaranteed party hits. BB King Blues Club - 237 West 42nd Street. Call for details

Tuesday, Aug 13 - 9:30

Amadou et Mariam The "blind couple of Mali" Mariam Doumbia and Amadou Bagayoko have become stars in France and West Africa for their electrifying blend of traditional Malian music with rock, blues, reggae and Cuban influences. Amadou's sparkling rythmic guitar work and Mariam's powerful Afro-Arabic inflected vocals weave melodies that make the head spin.
joe's pub is actually a perfect place to see acoustic and smaller groups like these, since you're never more than a stone's throw from stage and the sound system is excellent. One drawback, there's only a tiny bit of space to dance, near the bar, but there's comfortable seating, and the venue is friendly, intimate, and attractive, with food, drinks and interesting people abounding.
joe's pub
At the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street , NYC
Tele-Charge 212 239-6200 and for dinner reservations 212-539-8778

ARTS & THEATRE & FILM & TELEVISION

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - Sunday, August 4th

Jehan's GODDESSDANCE DAZZLING! PASSIONATE! MYSTICAL! TRANSFORMING!
With original music, lyrics and choreography by Jehan Kamal, Goddessdance blends ancient and modern, Eastern and Western, tradition and innovation. Middle Eastern music, blues, Western classical sounds, trance, hip-hop and Indian ragas weave to create a unique experience. Featuring original, sensual choreography and lavish costuming and goddesses everywhere.
American Theatre of Actors, 314 W 54th St New York NY (Bet. 8th & 9th Aves.)
Shows Tuesday-Saturday 8:00 PM
Matinees Saturday and Sunday 3:00 PM Admission $30 For tickets call 718.361.9903
More info check out www.jehanarts.com or www.goddessdance.org

African party every Sunday at Nativa from 10pm to 4am

I have not checked out this venue but from the spin list, how bad could it be? DJs Chevn, Tufa, Parker - spinning rai, ndombolo, mapuka, mbalack, makossa, reggae, hip hop, zouk love, cabo & love (no sneakers sportshirts). It's sponsored by Djoniba Drum and Dance Center and ladies are FREE.
5 East 19th Street (Fifth Avenue and Broadway)
917 376-7373 646 208 6983.

Sundays - Ongoing

New Africa Presents African and Reggae music with DJ @ the Lion's Den
www.africasounds.com
214 Sullivan St (between Bleecker & W. 3rd. NYC)
Check out scenes from previous events on the cable television show voices/vision
every other Friday & Sunday in Manhattan (ch 34 3pm & ch57 10pm)
in Brooklyn last Wednesday of each month ch 35/68 2pm & 10pm

FILM

Tuesday, August 27th at dusk - FREE!

New York African Film Festival

Tuesday, August 27th at dusk
Last chance for free outdoor screenings of African and African Diaspora films. Just show up around 8:00pm for an evening that promises to transport you faraway (no visa required).
For more info visit African Film Festival for the latest in programming information and news. Or check out Imagenation
**Presented in association with OpenCine.**
Tuesday, August 27th at dusk
@ Forte Greene Park, Brooklyn
Les Malles by Felix Samba Ndiaye (Senegal, 13min)
A lyrical look at the art of recycling metal into useful items in West Africa.
AND
Orfeu by Carlos Diegues (Brazil, 110min)
A contemporary retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus & Eurydice, set in the favelas, the shantytowns in he hills overlooking Rio. A colorful tale of Carnival, music, fantasy, and gritty reality, starring one of Brazil's most beloved Samba singers.
**This screening is part of "CineMovil" presented in association with Ocularis and Cinema Tropical.**

ATTENTION CRITICS AND CONCERT GOERS

If you know of any NYC area African Diaspora music that should be considered for NYC Hot Picks,
we'd love to hear about it. Please drop us a line at intern2@afropop.org Attention:Best Concert and Events Picks.Thank you in advance for keeping us informed so we can share with our Afropop community.

If you attended a recent Afropop NYC Hot Pick concert and would like to give us your feedback or review to be considered for publication on our web site, please send those comments to intern2@afropop.org . We are willing to respond in kind with a CD, t-shirt or other Afropop Worldwide goodie of your choice.