Did you know that there is currently a documentary being made about MenelikMusic & Education school project in the DR Congo?  Well there is and when completed it will feature on one of the prime TV channels.  This means that you may be filmed and/or even interviewed at short notice by the film maker and her crew. The filming process started in 2008 and should be completed in April 2009. Your participation is not compulsory so please feel free to say no when or if you do not want to take part in the filming.

Remember, every time you come to our gigs and dance your socks off, you are helping us keep the school project in the DR Congo going.  We see this as a perfect win win situation.

If you want to know more about the school project in Kinshasa, please visit the school website at:

  www.lmiacademy.info

tmenelik@lmiacademy.info

info@lmiacademy.info

Tel: 01223 769 300 / Mob: 07842 177 344 

 

NEXT COMING PARTY

3rd October 2008 @ St Paul's Centre

(doors open at 6.30pm)

World food available

With ROBERT MASEKO & The SONDELA QUEENS

(D.R.Congo/South Africa)

 

Come and celebrate with us the great work we are doing in the DRC.  Come and get involved!

Robert Maseko has gained the deserved reputation as one the foremost African artists working in the UK today. Originally from the Congo - Heartbeat of Africa - and of Bantu roots, Robert is a master vocalist. Classic rhumba and soukous - elegant and acrobatic vocals with lyrics in Lingala, French and English - this is African roots music at its best. Robert's songs carry the message of universal freedom.  Audiences throughout the UK, Africa, mainland Europe, Australia and Japan gained through relentless touring.

The Congolese rhythm king of England's north is backed by the energetic and rootsy CongoBeat. From the trademark East African rumba sounds of his debut album La Cremaria, to guitar-driven jit-pop from Zimbabwe, Robert's music is developing further as he bring in the diverse elements of pan-African music. Robert's voice delivers the throaty demanding lyrics of protest, berating oppression and inequality, as well as the seductive melodic searing sound of pride, love and identity.

You’re Invited to a Launch Party!

3^rd October 2008

(From 6.30 – late @ St Paul’s Centre)

 

We would like to invite you to an event where you will learn more about our activities here and in the D.R. Congo, about how you can be part of a new, ground-breaking movement that is about to get started here in Cambridge with international ramifications.  On the menu:

 

1. Photo and art exhibition

Following his recent trips to the D.R. Congo, Theodore Menelik has returned with lots of interesting pictures, capturing memorable moments with students and staff at the academy and various communities in Kinshasa, the capital city of the D.R. Congo.   Some of the pictures are featured in the attached newsletter but there are many more to see.

2. Dance classes/Drumming workshops

Theodore and Robert Maseko team up to give you some exquisite Congolese dance classes as well as drumming workshops.  Class start time: 6.30pm

3. Light talks

Key people from Impington International Sixth Form College and MenelikEducation will be introducing the partnership and give you tips on how you can get involved.

4. Live show

Live performance by Robert Maseko, one of Congo’s up and coming musicians.  Robert Maseko and the Sondela Queens band will be on at 8.30pm.

 

 

 

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Great Salsa Band (TBC)

Date: 7th November 2008

As always a great band in view, with great music and food!  Watch this space!

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KANDA BONGO MAN

Date: 12th December 2008

MENELIKMUSIC'S XMAS

Book it now!

Great show with great food! Do not miss this one as it promises to be something very special to mark the end of a fruitful year.

Kanda Bongo Man, born 1955 in Inongo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a prominent soukous musician.  Kanda Bongo Man become the singer for Orchestra Belle Mambo in 1973, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley. His solo career only started to take off after moving to Paris in 1979 where his music started to incorporate elements of then-vibrant zouk music (originating in the French West Indies). He his first solo albums, "Iyole" in 1981 and "Djessy" in 1982 were hits.

He is most famous for the structural changes he implemented to soukous music. The previous approach was to sing several verses and have one guitar solo at the end of the song. Kanda Bongo Man revolutionised soukous by encouraging guitar solos after every verse and even sometimes at the beginning of the song. His form of soukous gave birth to the kwassa kwassa dance rhythm where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips.  Like many African rumba and soukous musicians before him, Kanda Bongo Man also had an entourage of musicians he played with. Many of Kanda's musicians later moved on to start their own solo careers. Most notably was Diblo Dibala. Known as the "Machine Gun", Diblo Dibala was a vital part of Kanda Bongo Man's lineup on several albums including "Kwasa Kwasa" and "Amour Fou".  Kanda Bongo Man still tours the world and is a great asset and ambassador for the Democratic Republic of Congo.