Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 2008

All of you who want a day out in London, how about this? As you know I have been far and wide to see Bassekou Kouyate, and have been plugging the Amazones on my radio show, all we want is some Malian weather and it will be a fantastic day... see you there!

Press release

Les Amazones de Guinea, the all women group and Guinean Army members, have their first European performance in over ten years, when they take to the stage at this year's Africa Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 1pm to 8pm
FREE ADMISSION. They will be performing on a line-up that also includes Zaire musician Kanda Bongo Man and Mali ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate.

The free event, organised by the Mayor of London, celebrates the contribution of London's African communities to the capital. The programme features music and live performance from across the African continent, plus African food and drink and stalls selling African arts and crafts. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson says: "The African continent is home to an enormous number of cultures, languages and traditions. The Africa Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square are an excellent opportunity to get a taste of Africa and its many cultures. I encourage all Londoners to play a part this year. Trafalgar Square celebrations are free to all - Londoners and tourists alike. Let's make this event one to remember".

There will be a wide range of music from across Africa. The formidable Les Amazones de Guinea are sure to get audiences dancing to their old-style Guinean big band music. The all women group enjoyed incredible success in the sixties and seventies and are now making a comeback after the launch of their successful album Wamato.

Bassekou Kouyate, winner of the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music Album of the Year (for his sensational album Segu Blue) and Best African Act categories, has been acclaimed as Mali's latest superstar. He is a talented player of the ngoni, an ancient lute found in West Africa and although it is based on the traditional, his music has a fresh and uplifting style.

Other performers include Kanda Bongo Man from Zaire with his lilting Soukous melodies; the Kaago Drummers with their traditional djembe playing from the Ivory Coast; Busi Ncube from Zimbabwe who sings in a unique style using six African languages and her mbira; and the Black Eagle Drummers. Rita Ray will be deejaying on the day, along with DJ Kirenga Eric Soul from Afrogroov. Emmanuel Jal and the Inemo Afrobeat Experience will also be performing.

The second African Day has been organised by the Mayor of London and is sponsored by the British Transport Police and Kato Enterprises. The official media partners are BBC London, African Voice newspaper and Voice of Africa radio.