Nyodema fundraiser for The Gambia

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Kathryn Burrington

Saturday 19th November 2011
Aldwick Baptist Church
Gossamer Lane, Aldwick, Bognor Regis PO21 3DD
from 7pm
FREE entry but you will be asked to make a donation and your seat must be booked in advance on 07974 472137

I will be singing and drumming with the Nyodema World Community Choir and the Nyodema West African Drummers so if you are in the area please do come along and support us. All proceeds will go towards Nyodema’s health and education projects in The Gambia. Visit Nyodema’s website for more details.

The Nyodema West African Drummers

Photograph copyright The Bognor Regis Observer

Gambian kora player Sura Susso in Hove tonight!

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Kathryn Burrington

Just found out that African Night Fever will be hosting Gambian kora player Sura Susso and his manding trio band.
DATE Friday 28th October
VENUE The View, Kings Way, Hove
DOORS 9pm

As with most kora players Sura, (Surahata), was born into a family of Gambian ‘griots’, the cultural figures in society across West Africa who carry the knowledge and identity of the region’s people. This hereditary legacy stretches back hundreds of years, and traditionally the knowledge and history surrounding the kora are passed on from father to son. Griots are orators, lyricists and musicians who are also respected as a source of advice and spiritual guidance.

Sura started his lifelong study of the African harp, called the kora, and a range of other percussion instruments at the age of four. The family household was constantly filled with music.

Sura came to the UK at the age of seventeen and began to tour with his brother’s band The Seckou Keita Quintet. His thanks and gratitude are expressed on one particular track of his debut album, ‘Jalikunda’.

Alhaji Bai Konte

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Matt Smith

The River Gambia at dawn

Excuse the radio silence in these parts. We’re currently regenerating ourselves for the coming season and there will be plenty of content coming very soon. For now, on a humid Monday morning, what more could you want than a couple of tracks from the very wonderful Alhaji Bai Konte?

Alhaji Bai Konte – Fayunkonko

Alhaji Bai Konte – Alhaji Bamba Bojang

Fighting Poverty with Music

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Kathryn Burrington

As well as being a graphic designer for The Gambia Experience I help run the community group Nyodema based in Bognor Regis. This year’s annual festival will be another fantastic day of live music, workshops and much, much more. Headliners Planetman and The Internationalz make a welcome return having played at our first ever festival in 2007. Their infectious roots reggae sound is bound to get everyone on their feet.

Nyodema would like to thank The Gambia Experience for sponsoring the festival which is free, however, you will have ever opportunity to make a donation to Nyodema’s health and education projects in The Gambia.

Nyodema World Music & Arts Festival

Saturday 20th August 2011
The Waverley, Marine Drive West, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
1pm to 10.30pm
FREE

Live music and art from around the world in a wonderful pub by the Sussex seaside plus workshops, craft stalls and a few surprises!

Headliners Planetman and the Internationalz make a welcome return to Nyodema having played at our first ever festival 2007. Their infectious roots reggae is guaranteed to get everyone on their feet.

The festival opens with the lively rock n roll of Slim Jim and the Wildcards. Other delights include the weird and the wonderful world of Rattlin Bone, the amazing medieval/Spanish guitar playing of Claude Bourbon, flamenco and belly-dancing from Morgana Villen Castro, the authentic delta blues guitar of Slim Lightfoot and the outstanding local singer Daisy Mouatt. The line-up would not be complete with out the Nyodema Drummers bringing you traditional rhythms from West Africa and the Nyodema World Community Choir with songs from Africa, Europe and America including gospel and a spine tingling chant from deep in the Congo.

For further information and updates on the line-up please visit our website www.nyodema.org.