Omer Makessa - Lead Vocals and Percussion Christian de Juan - Guitars and backing Vocals Simwinji Zeko - Guitars and backing Vocals Sol Ahmed - Bass Jason Newman - Drum kit
Plus our regular 3-piece horn section. We've had the great pleasure to work with guys like:
Gary Alesbrook - Trumpet Nick Malcom - Trumpet Andrew Colman - Trumpet Nick Bailey - Baritone Sax Ben Plocki - Baritone Sax Sav Pacini - Trombone James Bateman - Alto Sax Ruth Hammond - Tenor Sax & Hammond Organ Pete Bernard - Trumpet & Fender Rhodes Dino Christodoulus - Tenor Sax
Influences
Fela Kuti / Femi Kuti / Antibalas / JuJu Music / Zouk Music / Highlife / Salif Keita / Yossou'N Dour / Kassav / Osibisa / Orquestra Baobab / Third World / Tiken Jah Fakoli / Carlos Santana / Ozomatli / Ry Cooder / Miles Davis / BB King / Bob Marley / Funkadelic / Waldemar Bastos /
Sounds Like
Mankala on YouTube Mankala on Last.fm
The UK based company Last.fm offers customized "radio stations" consisting of uninterrupted audio streams of individual tracks selected from the music files in their music library. Have a look it's a pretty cool thing. At the moment on our band page at Last.fm you can listen to some different full length tracks from our debut album not currently on MySpace.
Mankala on Unsigned.com
Click on this link to listen to the entire album "Speak Your Mind" for free!...and if you like it... hopefully you will then decide to buy it! Unsigned.com is a US based company dedicated to providing independent unsigned Artists (...like Mankala) the best outlet possible to be heard globally on the Internet. Listen to some of the full length tracks not available on Myspace!
Mankala on Garageband.com
Garageband.com is a large online community of independent musicians and music fans. The site is used by musicians to seek greater exposure and by music fans to discover new independent artists in the site's vast collection of music content.
ALBUM REVIEWS
..." Roger Omer Makessa hails from Martinique, whiles Simwinji Walubita Zeko grew up in Zambia - and it's clear from Mankala's music that this Afro-Caribbean combination informs the way the band has taken shape. The results, as heard on "Speak Your Mind" are really very impressive indeed, as ringing guitars unweave over crisp, jumping percussion in a pan-African mix that ranges from simple acoustic traditionalism ("Africa Bolingo" & "Balata") to loping Afrobeat and Juju ("Speak Your Mind"). Tracks like "With the Sun" bring out the best of this cosmopolitan mix, with a rock-reggae rhythm underpinning Omer's Fela-esque vocal and leading to a looser, jazzy bridge before clicking together for the closing verse. Happy, triumphant fusion music"...
(Tony Benjamin, Venue)
"...the album shows great breadth of repertoire - Reggae, Zouk, Afrobeat, Latin Rock - and general good-vibe groove, all played with some polish..." (fRoots)
"...Joyous Afrobeat Combo...their infectious rhythms and charismatic patter was a festival highlight..."(Venue Magazine)
"...When you find yourself screaming for Mankala to come back on stage to work their magic on your tired feet, it's a timely reminder that there are essential, soul-preserving rhythms that will always triumph..."(Venue magazine)
Mankala is an eclectic band that plays high-energy original music that we attempt to define as Afro-Caribbean-Fusion-Groove, with elements drawn mainly from Afro Beat, Highlife, Reggae and Zouk...but also from Latin Rock and Blues!. The band brings together musicians from diverse places in the world such as Martinique, Zambia, Tenerife (Canary Islands) and of course England where Mankala was formed early in 2003 in the multicultural city of Bristol and where the band is currently based.
The songs talk about the day to day things that are in the mind of a musician, like the constant struggle to make a living or the sacrifices that have to be made to accomplish our dreams. They also talk about things like the importance of sharing, giving and loving others by first loving yourself, or things like the beauties of nature and how a simple but powerful natural event like the sunrise every day, can be a source of eternal inspiration.
The name of the Band, "Mankala", comes from an ancient African game that must be among the oldest of human entertainments. It is also said that the word “Mankala” has a more spiritual meaning, which refers to "where the soul is aiming for"... but for us, Mankala means "Action through Music", a meaning that sums up the bands philosophy.
Mankala's Debut album "Speak Your Mind" can be purchased Online on this myspace page and on our main website www.mankalabeat.com. Just click on the "buy now" button and we'll post it to you wherever you are in the world! (we use paypal for secure online transaccions)
The album includes eleven of the band's original songs...blending elements of Afro Beat, Reggae and Zouk...with an urban edge...and features guest appearances from some of Bristol's finest musicians...
Mankala Speak Your Mind
Worldwide £12.00 incl p&p
But even better...why not come along to one of our gigs and buy it directly from us! We also sell Mankala exclusive T-shirts and hand out complementary Mankala badges!
The album is also available in various local independant stores:
La Maison du Zigou-Dam, 336 Gloucester Road, Bristol Rooted Records, 9 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol Oppo Cafe, 72 Park Street, Bristol My Yard, @BS8, 34 Park Street, Bristol The Beat Goes On, 24 Cotham Hill, Clifton, Bristol Drop Records, 27 Broad Street, Bath
Hey chris, good to hear from you. The video is with 'Planet Sound', a group I played with while living in Stoke. If you check them out on my friends list, you can hear me playing djembe and dundun on 'Monday' and Calabash on 'Champion'. I just recorded some drums for Phil Baxter, but the mix isn't ready yet. I did all the percussion on his other tracks, though it can be difficult to hear on the myspace versions. definately keep me posted on future gigs. Your cd is awesome - its also great for practicing World/fusion grooves. Give my best to Jason, He's agreat drummer. Respect Guys
Hey folks, I'm doing the breakfast show weds/thurs/fri 8-10am on Glastonbury Festivals official radio station, so if you fancy stopping by for a cup of tea and a chat let me know xxx
so when you comnig on my show? I'm doing Glastonbury Festivals Worthy FM - 8-10am weds/thurs/fri & 2-4 sat & sun :) must get an interview from you before to play during the week xxx
soles of our feet still ache happy from Friday night's gig! Thank you, it was an honour to share the stage with you, wishing you all the blessings you and your music deserve
For the finals of this competition Mankala played in the Pilton Working Men's Club along with the other 12 finalists, whittled down from several thousand other applications.
L to R .. Sol .. Simwinji .. Omer .. Jason (drummer) .. Chris .. James .. Nick .. Sav
Mankala didn't 'win' the competition, but as a result of their appearance they've 'won' a spot on the Jazz World Stage at this year's Glastonbury 2008.
Hey.. Lovley grooves here! Thanks for the invite to see you play.. Hope to catch the live show at some point.. Don't know how are paths haven't crossed yet, seen as you seem to have most of my lovely friends in your top friends...Xxxxx
Friday 14th March. Mankala playing at the Southbank Centre, formerly the Holy Cross Social Club in Dean Lane, Bedminster. There was lots of seating and tables, but they were soon vacated as soon as they started playing.
A view to the stage which wasn't very well-lit. The lights are on the audience, rather than on Mankala. Fortunately their uplifting sounds shone through the gloom !!
hey mankalitos. we missed your last gig but will try to make next. in the meantime hope to see you at the practice rooms. take care desde aqui compadres land.
Hello, thanks for letting me know about the gig, unfortunately I only checked my messages today! So a bit late.. but let me know of any future gigs as I would like to come along. Fran :)
