THIS IS WHAT I DO! AFRICAN MULTI-MEDIA MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT. . . .
BUILD INSTRUMENTS, WRITE RECORD & PRODUCE MUSIC, CREATE SHOWS, GRAPHICS, MARKET, PROMOTE then INVITE EVERYONE FOR the PARTY! ...i'm passive impatient... I scratch an idea & it looks like carving. This is how I do it...
BIG UP to my crew NAWA, SEBRINA, DJENABOU, AFROSA, BENZ, DARLENE, MICHAEL, EARL, WIDI, Eddie da Original One, OLGA, FOGAH, SHERYL, LIZIWE, DEE, NNEKA, DENTON, RICARDO, HENRIETTA, SNOWGRIOTS, www.ckln.fm, www.chry.fm, www.ciut.fm
My band is called JBOrchestra & features my 1 & only super-talented brother, KOJO > bass, guitar, keys, atenteba (bamboo flute), gyil, voice; KWANZA Msingwana > congas, djembe, percussion; SULIMAN Hasabala > saxophone, percussion;
KOFI Ackah > drum kit, percussion, keys;
DJANGO > steel pan, keyboards, voice, percussion;
LIZIWE Mahashe > voice, dance;
ZOE Ackah > voice, percussion;
ANDREW Craig > Keyboards, drums, bass, voice;
RICH Brown > bass, percussion. Other members have included Osei 'Booker T', Aron Niyitunga, Daniel Janke, Zelma Badu, Eli, Ian deSouza, Etric Lyons, Amina Rahjudah, KJAS, Michael McLarty, Tony Rabalao, Roger Williams, Israel Okeyafor...
Influences
Saka Acquaye, African Ensemble, Baba Olatunji, mostly un-named African traditional musicians/music from Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Zimbabwe, S.Africa, Sudan, Guinee, Tanzania, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Cote D'Ivoire, Zambia, Tchad, Algeria, Congo, Angola, Tunisia, HIGHLIFE oldies, GOSPEL, JAZZ, BLUES, AVANTE Garde, Euro-classical, SAMBA, Ghazals, Qawwali, Bhangra, ROCK, Debussy, Weather Report, Rush, Thin Lizzy, ELO, Fleetwood Mac, The Carpenters (OK.. my close friends are really crying by now, seek oxygen lads) Cheap Trick, The Cars, Judas Priest, Stravinsky, Brand X, Heart, Parliament Funkadelic, the Nutcracker Suite, UK (the band), Claire de Lune... the original CFNY incl. Doctor Demento show, Monty Python etc, WBLK Buffalo 1980, In Living Colour, Arsenio Hall Show, Basil Davidson Remembers, Ali Masrui, ROOTS, Watermelon Man, Porgy and Bess, Sarafina (the play), Saraouina (the film), Heritage, Sounder, Taj Mahal...tbc
I jazzed my profile usingFreeweblayouts.net Be an original
Ko - bè - na (pronounced: kaw-ben-nah?!) Needs an agent! - international/eec/usa/aus/asia . . . . . . . . .
Kobè WRITES, PERFORMS & PRODUCES EVERYTHING HEARD ON THESE SAMPLE TRACKS. He SINGS, BUILDS & PLAYS GUITARS, BASS, DRUM KIT, KEYS, GYIL & BALAFON, DJEMBE, APENTOMA, TAMA, DONDO, " except for steel pan. "i'm like www.africa." all the audio & graphic work on this site is by kobèna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Music.
Kobè is a creative catalyst. Back in high school, HIS MUSIC TEACHER CALLED HIM AN ENIGMA. He responded, "a nig-what?" he has since become a MULTI-MEDIA MAVEN IN CANADA where he is based for half of each year. The consumate performer is the founder and artistic director of MICHÈZO! INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (www.michezofestival.com or myspace.com/michezo), an annual island celebration of african games and culture. It is fitting the he was recently made music director of the TORONTO AFRICAN FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL (2009). His work in MUSIC (performance, production, promo), FILM (music & acting), RADIO (host), PRINT (writer), TELEVISION (jingles) and THEATRE (music) makes him renoun as a multi-talented specialist - "IT'S ALL THE SAME TO ME - SPIRIT, SPACE, ENERGY, TEXTURE, WORD, SOUND..... VIBES"
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Kobè is the ACCOMPANIST OF CHOICE for AWARD-WINNING ARTISTS like ANDREA HENRY (sugar jones), RUBY GORALIA (ruby), CHEKA KATENEN & SNOWGRIOTS (guinea), LIZIWE MAHASHE (s. Africa), COBA dance company, RUTH MATHIANG (sudan-kenya), DRUM CAFE and others.
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Kobè's band features toronto's top african musicians: KWANZA MSINGWANA (tanzania), SULIMAN HASABALA (sudan), KOFI ACKAH (ghana), RICH BROWN (usa), ANDREW CRAIG (can), LIZZI MAHASHE (s. Africa), WALEED ABDULHAMID (sudan), ZOE ACKAH, AMINA ALFRED, DJENABOU....
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Kobè is producing HIS FIRST DOCUMENTARY FILM and a music video shot in ghana jan2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kobè receives AN AWARD ALMOST EVERY OTHER YEAR for arts, media, music or just being a wonderful guy, "but... The greatest reward is in heaven - so i got a long way to go." he's SPICED 2 JUNO AWARD-WINNING CDS by jack grunsky "WHEN KOBÈ STEPS INTO YOUR MUSIC, EVERYTHING TRANSFORMS" ; kaleefah feat./S'AIDA SHAKURA (juno nom.); the play ANOWA (DORA). His band "panafrotix" improvised DWAYNE MORGAN'S 2003 UMAC/CUMA AWARDED ALBUM "SOUL SEARCHING," live. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Occasionally aquaa makes time to co-host SOUNDS OF AFRICA (www.ckln.fm) as the veteran host of 15 years. Through his community work he was appointed & TWICE ELECTED AS PRESIDENT/ARTISTIC Director. Of AfroFest /MusicAfrica.
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Between here & youtube, who else is going to program a African drummer/ balafonist who plays rock guitar and gospel, raps on djembe, and sings R&B?
Hey Now... I may have hit you up about this already... but just tryna remind you that MY RNB Mixtape "Mirror Mirror Vol.1" Is now available for download. If by chance you didn't know....NOW YA KNOW!! lol
Here's the link....
http://www.zshare.net/download/62300993248c75b0/
I'd love to know what you think about it! Come by and let me know!
Greetings Royalty, Sorry if you get this twice I'm trying to say hello to everyone at least once a year. Unfortunately my friends list keeps moving around in position. Have a Fabulous week FREE DOWNLOAD- I Love My Locs Magazine, store: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4396786
Don't forget to visit us : http://www.ILoveMyLocs.Ning.Com http://www.myspace.com/ILoveMyLocs
I am here. You are there. In spirit we are one. Unfortunately, the way of the force has metaphorically crippled me in many ways than one. Also, I received yet another voicemail message from your beloved brother. He's really reaching out to me. God bless him. Hope to see you soon. Much love, EMZ.
Wha gwaning aquaboy? It's official my website is up and running you're invited to check it out, give some feedback and if you like share it with your myspace friends. www.electriksexmusik.com
Ko-ko, stopped by for another listen. wow - very nice the way you slip between styles!!!... keep it coming. warm musical greetings from "bamboo pole on chin" :)
Live Love Life Large Over Stand Forever Fly Free Be You Be True See It Be Blessed Inflected Resurrected Divinely Protected Harmonized Humbled Grateful Respected Gracious Resplendent Flower Fruit Tree and Messenger [my myspace fridge magnet words]
While we are on the mutual appreciation and observation plane, I must say, I love that you - LIVE WHERE YOU STAND!!!! Brilliant!!!! Can't wait to hear what you have to say when you are able to hear my words and not just read them!!!!! If all goes well, there will some recording and pressing very soon!!! In the meantime, always a pleasure to hear from you!!!! Have a splendid week!!! Take it easy!!!!
Je te fais un gros bisou Kobèna et merci pour le message très gentil de ta part et l'amour que tu porte pour mon pays. Enjoy your sunday and thanks again for your friendship God bless you Nikki
Online Now!
