The weekly club, Afro Funke', was the brainchild of African Afro Roots Reggae star, Rocky Dawuni, who realized LA's need for a night dedicated to African music, culture and art and it's far reaching legacy around the world. Dawuni, who's based in LA and his native Ghana, together with producer and photographer Cary Sullivan created Afro Funke', bringing on board resident DJ and partner Jeremy Sole. Each week Afro Funke' presents guest DJs, live performances, dancers, record release parties, fundraisers, art installations, crafts and more while Sole spins his unique Musaics, or sound collage-blends of hip hop, jazz/funk, dub reggae, afro beat, and remixed world beats; pieced together with tribal breaks, and uplifted by dubbed-out turntable manipulation and live instrumentation. Afro Funke's profile has been greatly enhanced by its unique photo based flyers which feature Cary Sullivan's cutting edge photographs of West African life.
Dawuni has long considered the pioneering Nigerian superstar Fela Anikulapo Kuti as a profound influence and proudly continues Kuti's tradition of fighting for the rights of common people through his own music. Kuti died on August 2, 1997 from complications due to AIDS, but his contribution to music lives on and his signature 'Afro Beat,' sound is an integral component of Afro Funke's focus. Dawuni best describes his vision when stating, "Afro Funke' seeks to create a sonic pipeline that will connect funky Africa and the African Diaspora and at the same time, serve as a convergence point for progressive souls." DJ Jeremy Sole reiterates, "The intention of Afro Funke' is to seamlessly blend the native rhythms of every culture into one groove, reinforcing the fact that we are part of a global family. I am honored that we can help our family members on the other side of the globe through the many fundraising events we do at the club!
Please check out the LA Times 1.2.10 review of Afro Funke' New Year's Eve @ Zanzibar! http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-afro-funke2-2010jan02,0,7678185.story
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AFRO FUNKE' : Weekly Funk Invocation
Thursdays @ Zanzibar
1301 5th St. Santa Monica, CA. 90401
9pm | 21+ | 310.451.2221 | $7-$10
www.zanzibarlive.com
www.afrofunke.com
AFRO FUNKE' IN ACTION:
AFRO FUNKE' IMAGES:
http://www.saynight.com/gallery/7061977_FnAq3452437238_wzkHz
AFRO FUNKE' ON LA2DAY.COM:
http://www.la2day.com/music/an_afro_funke_affair_nickodemus_brings_the_sun_people_out_to_party_in_santa_monica
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Past guest DJs:
QUANTIC | RHETTMATIC (Beat Junkies) | OSUNLADE (Yoruba Records) | EGON (Stones Throw) | GARTH TRINIDAD (KCRW-Chocolate City) | RICH MEDINA (Jumpn'Funk NYC) | MARQUES WYATT (Deep) | VIKTER DUPLAIX (KissNGrind) | DJ RASHIDA (Prince) | B+ (Mochilla.com) | InI SOUNDSYSTEM (Shakespeare & Aurelito) | J-ROCC (Beat Junkies) | CAROL C (Si Se / NYC) | JAMIE STRONG (Ubiquity) | J.BOOGIE (OM Records, KUSF) | DJ DREZ (Aceyalone, Abstract Rude) | JOHN BELTRAN (Ubiquity, Samurai) | ARGYLE (Beathackerz) | FRANK(e) (Beathackerz, Fresh Air) | CARLOS NINO (Ammoncontact, Build An Ark) | SLOE POKE (Rootdown, Sonido, Descarga) | ERIC COLEMAN (Firecracker, Mochilla) | CUT CHEMIST (Jurassic 5) | AL JACKSON (Soul Children) | DUSK (Rootdown, Descarga) | MILES TACKETT (Breakestra, Rootdown) | CARLOS NINO (Ammoncontact, Build An Ark) | ALFRED HAWKINS (Firecracker) | IAN FROST (Eclectic Lounge, AZ/TX) | DJ NUTS (Sao Paolo) | DJ SESQUI (Listen Clothing) | MEXICAN DUBWISER | DJ JEDI (Def Poetry Jam) | JHRAMATIC SOUND (Damon Bell & Haycock) | DANNY HOLLOWAY | JUN (bossa:nova, Umoja Hi-Fi) | VANKA (Misturada, SF) | DJ RASHIDA (3121, Plantlife) | DJ DON GUAPO | DJ GLENN RED (NextAid) | DJ CARLOS MENA (Ocha Records) | BASTARD JAZZ|MAGA BO (Brasil)| DJ LADY SHA (Lioness LA) & many many more.
Past performers:
STEVIE WONDER! -Harmonica/Vocals! | ROCKY DAWUNI and the REVELATION PROJECT | ZAP MAMA - Vocals | REMI KABAKA -Percussion (Osibisa, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones) | FUZZBEE MORSE - flute, guitar | TODD SIMON -Trumpet (Breakestra, Antibalas) | NAJITE -Percussion (original Fela Kuti band member) | SHEILA GOVINDARAJAN - Vocals (Sahaja Uprockers) | DERF REKLAW - Percussion (Pharoahs, Build An Ark) | ALAN LIGHTNER - Steel Drums | SANDRA IZSADORE -Vocals (Fela Kuti friend/vocalist) | SATNAM RAMGOTRA -Tablas (Alien Chatter, Sting) | AZIZ FAYE -Senegalese percussion & dance | TITA LIMA | l'ESPIRIT d'AFRIQUE | SWING BRAZIL | CHUCK PRADA -Percussion (Breakestra, Black Eye Peas, Greasy Beats) | many more.
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AFRO FUNKE' DISCUSSION GROUP:
for more info on the guest DJs & live players,
photos, songlists,Top 10 picks and more:
http://groups.myspace.com/afrofunke
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Supported by:
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