FESTIVAL EVENTS REVIEWS
Grammy-nominated Sister Carol showed the Festival crowd why she is one of Dancehall Reggae female pioneers. She did a great job singjaying with her beautiful voice and MC skills. She rocked the crowd and represented well all females in Dancehall as well as Reggae.
Fatoumata Diawara represented the Motherland proudly and had a memorable performance. Probably the most touching performance of this Festival with her Sultress yet soft-spoken voice. She played the guitar similarly to Vieux Farka Toure and showed her Malian Blues Singer roots. Her voice, guitar-playing and Wassoulou lyrics are very captivating and enchanting, and did a great job of conveying emotion to the mostly American crowd. She also addressed feminist issues in English with her beautiful accent. Fatoumata Diawara danced towards the end of her performance while the drummer played djembe-like rhythms on the drum set. Great great performance and addition to this World Music Festival!
This was French Reggae Band Danakil’s first performance in the US and their lead singer Balik was excited and let the crowd know about it. While Balik sang Reggae or “singjayed”, Natty Jean his Senegalese partner covered the “Raggamuffin'” parts of the songs in his native Wolof, providing a now traditional blend of Reggae and Dancehall. Balik performed an original remake of French singer Edith Piaf’s “Non, je ne regrette rien”, showing his versatility as an artist. The crowd was intrigued yet appreciated the performance.
Leroy Sibbles ex-member of the Heptones showed why he’s a legend with his powerful and beautiful voice. He sang many Reggae classics like Satta Massagana of Third World and other 70s classics. He also performed some Ska and Rock Steady tracks educating some of the younger Audience members. Nice performance!
Bombino and his crew rocked the crowd despite playing a music genre other than Reggae. They dressed in Tuareg garments and played the guitars similarly to Malian Blues guitarists. The crowd, filled with music connoisseurs who appreciate World Music, cheered and applauded as the group from Niger performed. The organizers of the Sierra Nevada World Music Festivals did a good job selecting crucial music from various parts of the World to diversify the festival.
The 20th anniversary of this three-day World Music Festival was safe and very well-organized despite overcrowding. Wolof Times reporters Bunaama Diagne (See pictures with Julian Marley, Jo Mersa Marley and Alpha Blondy) and Sunny Moore (See pictures with Damian Marley and Luciano) made sure they attended and camped on the site for three days. The Marleys (See pictures above for Damian, Julian and Jo Mersa) and entire “Ghetto Youths Crew” were the main acts but the Festival also featured Alpha Blondy (See picture), Luciano (See picture), Don Carlos, Marcia Griffiths, Ras Michael, Leroy Sibbles, Gappy Ranks and Fatoumata Diawara to name a few. Emphasis was made on diversity with the variety of performers’ nationalities. The scenery was beautiful amidst the mountains of Mendocino County.
Angelique Kidjo (Left on Bottom right picture) was in Hollywood, CA representing Benin as usual and blessed the crowd with her singing and dancing. Hugh Masekela the Jazz trumpetist (Right on Bottom right picture) was also part of the festival, representing his native South Africa . Both artists took part of the same interview, representing the continent proudly.
Sheila E. hasn’t lost a step at age “56”. The USC Marching band opened up her performance and she gave a real all-around drum clinic from the drum set to the congas. Great crowd participation, even security was dancing and both her parents as well as India Arie joined in with dancing and drumming. Sheila E. is the real deal, a real drum virtuoso/singer who rocked the crowd with her classic hits.
Leon “Ndugu” Chancler long-time music partner/producer of R&B singer Patrice Rushen showcasing his rhythmic versatility as a drummer and demonstrating why he was considered at one point one of the Top 25 drummers in the world.
Lifetime music partners Patrice Rushen and Leon “Ndugu” Chancler drumming together at the very end of the show after a LIVE memorable performance in which Patrice Rushen surprised me with her other than singing, keyboardist and now DRUMMING talents…I didn’t know 🙂
Common (Left, here featured with Press members including Wolof Times reporters Bunaama Diagne (Right-column, bottom picture) and Sunny Moore (Right-column, Right in center picture)) showed he’s a TRUE MC through his lyrics/freestyles and interactions with the crowd. He definitely puts Chicago/The Midwest on the Hip Hop map. Great live energy and hip hop education for the youth. His DJ paid tribute to many old school hip hop artists such as Slick Rick, Wu-Tang, Mobb Deep etc…
SHINE BLACKHAWK (Top Picture,Top Center), here featured with Wolof Times reporter Bunaama Diagne (Left) and other band members) rocked the stage late night with FIRE tribal music within a beautiful natural setting in the Malibu mountains with the Moon hovering over us. Her music is an original blend of Rock, Rhythm & Blues, Hip Hop as well as Native American and African influences. The Festival was cut short due to fire code violations but featured Yoga workshops, raw vegan cuisine, drumming, dancing, folk music, acrobats, club dancing etc…Wonderful camping first-time experience amidst the Malibu Mountains.
Many different Workshops which featured West African dancers and drummers from different countries (Senegal, Guinee and Congo). Definitely worth attending just to watch, the dancers were put through intensive dance classes and seemed to get both a great workout and lesson out of these dance workshops.
One of the best artists/painters from the Motherland, Senegal to be more specific, based in Los Angeles. You can see a lot of his Afrocentric art on the walls of the Zanzibar in Santa Monica. He also designs mostly female clothing which features his art. The Festival occupied miles and miles of the Abbot MC Kinney Boulevard starting from Venice Beach. It featured a huge DIVERSITY of vendors (Food, Clothing, Art etc…), artists and live DJs. Definitely a must-go every year!
Clarisa Rose (Right) is a new upcoming artist, winner of 106&Park in 2010 judged by Alicia Keys. Clarisa gave me goosebumps and almost brought me to tears with her sultress voice delivery over Hip Hop tracks. The festival featured professional and street basketball players competing in a tournament as well as performances by upcoming artists in the legendary Venice Beach setting.
WOLOF WEAR 