Upstairs
7.15pm FILM 1:
Music Is The Weapon Dir Stephane Tchal-Gadjieff & Jean Jacques Flori. 1982, 53mins.
This documentary gives a rare insight into the life of composer, Afrobeat pioneer and human rights activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938-1997). Filmed in Lagos, Nigeria, Music Is The Weapon mixes footage of legendary performances at the Shrine nightclub with intimate glimpses of life at his Kalakuta Republic compound, and scenes of Lagos street life. This important historical work captures Kuti in both public and private environments that were most crucial to his life and work. The interviews cover his resistance to the Nigerian regime, his controversial polygamous lifestyle and an exploration of the political context of his work.
8.20pm FILM 2:
Suffering and Smiling - Dir Dan Ollman, Nigeria/USA 2006, 65mins.
Focusing on Fela Kuti and his son Femi, Suffering and Smiling depicts the impact of their politically charged music. Following Nigeria's independence in 1960, Fela used his songs to speak out against the country's corrupt leaders. Since independence the military and political elite have enriched themselves by allowing Nigeria's oil and natural resources to be stripped by multinational corporations with little benefit to ordinary Nigerians. Fela gave voice to Nigeria's disenfranchised underclass and sang of a free and united Africa. Since Fela's death, Femi has continued the legacy. Equally passionate and charismatic, he asks why the world's most resource-rich continent has the poorest people, and carries a vision of better days ahead for the people of Nigeria.
9.30pm Q&A & film discussion with Eki from ALISC and Molara Wood
Molara Wood is an independent journalist from Nigeria (www.molarawood.blogspot.com).
The African Liberation Support Campaign Network (ALISC) is a democratic organisation led by Africans fighting oppression and tyranny in Africa, and racism in the West. The ALISC tackles issues such as the ‘debt’ of African nations being outweighed by the huge profits Western nations have made from Africa, and that what remains of the so-called debt is the accumulated compound interest on non-existent capital.
MUSIC Downstairs
10.15pm: Live Performance from INEMO (Black Mango Music)
"Afro Funky Beats" OUT NOW on Black Mango Music: Inemo Samiama describes himself as representing a new generation of African musicians. From his earliest years Inemo was shaped and influenced by music. His father taught him to play, and at the age of 18 he formed the group Jah Stix with Majek Fashek. Debut album ‘Bushman’ (Mercury/Universal) mixed African melodies with techno, hip-hop, jungle, dub and ambient sounds. Following this huge success, Inemo was nominated for an RFI (Radio France Industry) Music Award as Best World Music Artist. Inemo has now decided to return to his roots. After three years of composing, recording and traveling between London, Paris and Africa, Inemo is back with a new album, Afro Funky Beats. With this album, Inemo demonstrates that his music can reinvent and enrich itself with new sounds, just like Fela Kuti, Salif Keita and Angelique Kidjo have done before him. www.inemo.co.uk
SPECIAL GUEST PA from UK Hip Hop legend BLAK TWANG (Rotton Product Records)
Over a decade has passed since BLAK TWANG'S first ever foray into the British music scene. His most recent single is the head pounding, socially driven 'Help Dem Lord' from his forthcoming album 'Speakin From Xperience'. Born to Nigerian parents and growing up in South London, he is undoubtedly a pioneer of Hip Hop maintaining an infallible recognition of his roots in cultivating his own identity.
www.blaktwang.net // www.myspace.com/blaktwang
11.30pm-12.30: DJ ILKA: German born and raised but South London based for more than 15 years now, Ilka started djing in 2005 and has since played at venues such as Big Chill House, Momo's, The Spitz and Darbucka. Her selection includes all things funky and African such as Coupe Decale, Kwaito, Afrobeat, Zouglou, Soukous and more, but also the occasional Soca, Dancehall and Champeta as well as other global beats. As a freelance music publicist, Ilka works with labels like Out Here Records (Bassekou Kouyate), Analog Africa, Afrolution Records and Because Music as well as with artists directly, targeting specialist, BME (black minority ethnic) and mainstream media. Ilka Ilka is the content editor of the BBC's African music site Africa On Your Street (http://www.bbc.co.uk/africaonyourstreet) and she manages UK-based Nigerian hip-hop group JJC & 419 Squad and Lagos- based Reggae artist African China. http://www.myspace.com/ilkamedia
Downstairs Bar til 2am: Afro-beats and grooves hosted by Kalabash Movement Resident DJs Supa Scion & Springfield