Alpha Blondy and Mory Kante to grace Africa music festival

By Steven Odeke

Rated by reggae fans as Africa’s best reggae export anywhere, Alpha Blondy will be one of the headline acts, alongside Guinean Kora player Mory Kante, at the first ever Africa Music Festival event to be held in Nairobi, Kenya on December 5.

The festival, with a rich history dating back 30 years, has always been held in Armsterdam and Los Angeles, becoming one of the world’s most prominent African music events.

Started by Gambian producer Oko Drammeh in 1983 with one aim of creating a taste of Africa for Africans living in Europe, the event quickly became one of The Netherlands’ biggest tourist draws, eventually subsidized by the Dutch Ministry Of Culture and the City of Delft.

Over the years, African musicians like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba (RIP) Manu Dibango, Salif Keita, Mory Kante, Osibisa, Franco (RIP) and OK Jazz, Tabu Ley, Thomas Mapfuno, Stella Chiwese, Angelique Kidjo, Lucky Dube (RIP) and so many others have graced the show.

Mory Kante

But since it was far away, majority of Africans seem not fully in touch with it. Now that the organisers have decided to bring the event closer, maybe they will flock it and make it one of the world’s most prestigious African music events. In Kenya, the event will be held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi.

In addition to music performances, the event will also feature, as has been the case in the European editions, a cultural faire and craft exhibition with vendors selling African art, fashion, jewelry, musical instruments, African food, music CDs, books and other gift items.

Blondy is a splendid reggae recording artiste from Ivory Coast whose songs, mainly politically motivated are sung in his native language of Dioula, French and some in English.

With over 20 albums to his name, songs like “Cocody Rock” and “Jerusalem” endeared him to many, while Kante has released over 12 albums with his 1987 hit song "Yé ké yé ké", that reached number-one in Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, and Spain, still a favourite for many Africans.