Maisha Productions Presents: Africa Rising! Featuring: Yacouba Diarra /DJ Jeremiah and Afrobeat Nation / Art by Githinji Wa Mbire/ Host: Emmanuel Nado Cote D’Ivoire
Saturday January 1st 2011 (Afrobeat) 9:00PM $10

Africa Rising
Africa is the motherland. Besides being the cradle of civilization, the continent is also the foundation of culture. On Saturday, January 1st at Coda Jazz Supperclub, Maisha Productions celebrates Africa and its cultural heritage with Africa Rising!, a showcase of African music and Africa-inspired art.

Africa Rising! features Another Legendary this Time we are take you to Burkina Faso/West Africa: Yacouba Diarra, born and raised in Burkina Faso, West Africa. His orgins are from the Mandinca people. As a child he played weddings and other celebrations with Master drummer Dao Diarra. This was Yacouba's first of many apprenticeships At the age of 13 he decided to travel to study music. The first place he went was the Ivory Coast. There he apprenticed with his uncle, master drummer Solo Diarra and his son Issa Diarra. He continued to play weddings and ceremonies as well as playing in a band with Issa That band was djigiya meaning hope.

This music is an uplifting mix of the Ngoni, an African harp like instrument, and the modern electric sounds of funk and afro-beat. Now Yacouba's travels have brought him to the United States. Where he continues to share his music with the people.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTC9nlRiBxM&feature=related

They played together in a band called AFRA meaning Africa This was an international band with members from all over West Africa coming together as one. The band Afra also played well known venues such as alliance francais in Ghana. While still in Ghana Yacouba had the honor of playing the National Theater of Ghana for a ballet company Morgan and Tyrone. These years spent traveling throughout West Africa Yacouba was developing a style of music he calls Fato Foli or " crazy music".

They played all over the Ivory Coast in such reputable places such as the alliance francais. It was during this time that Yacouba began to play the douson'goni. Later Yacouba discovered the camalin'goni and he knew he had found his instrument of choice.

About: DJ Jeremiah
Africa Rising! also features a set of African music infused with live instrumentation by Maisha Productions President DJ Jeremiah and the Afrobeat Nation. A native of Liberia, He began his DJ career by playing music to lift the spirits premier Afrobeat, Hightlife and soukous DJ, co-creating the AfroFunk Festival and opening up for international stars such as Femi Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Alpha Blondy and Salief Keita.

Hosted by Emmanuel Nado (KKUP’s “Echoes of Africa”; KALW’s “Africa Mix”), the event features art by Githinji Wa Mbire, an Oakland-based painter and installation artist whose mixed-media creations revolve around an African theme. Githinji’s works, using wood, paper, canvas, oil paint, and other materials, all have one thing in common: the iconic, familiar shape of the African continent. By spotlighting different facets of Africa—everything from Brazilian soccer star Pele to Michael Jackson—Githinji goes beyond a surface view to reveal a deeper meaning to the culture of the African Diaspora. The effect is one of immediacy, resonance, and connection.