Friends of World Music

King Sunny Adé and His African Beats
Thursday, June 25, 2015 | 8 pm
Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park
North Carolina Museum of Art

Doors open at 6:30 pm

King Sunny Adé was born into the royal family of Ondo, in Nigeria, and shocked his parents by embarking on a career in music. But it was a decision that made him a superstar in his homeland and took a style of Nigerian social music known as juju to worldwide acclaim.

The legendary band leader, composer, and guitarist helped pave the way for many of the great Afro-pop bands of our times, including past NCMA standouts Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, and the Mahotella Queens. Adé has been a bold innovator, adding guitars, percussion, keyboards, synthesizer, and even Hawaiian-style pedal steel to create a “gently hypnotic, polyrhythmic mesh of burbling guitars, sweet harmony vocals, swooping Hawaiian guitar, and throbbing talking drums” (Rolling Stone).

Don’t miss a rare opportunity to dance the night away with one of Africa’s all-time musical greats along with 20 master musicians and percussionists.

Watch video

Dancing encouraged in front of stage.

Get your tickets here!

The music of Zansa (a Nouchi slang word from Ivory Coast meaning “combination” or “blend”) is a synthesis of traditional and modern styles of West Africa. The Asheville-based ensemble melds modern afropop with African folk music, African drumming, and the fiery dance-oriented Ivorian street music called Zouglou. Zansa is led by 33rd generation West African musician Adama Dembele, whose family lineage is recognized internationally as “Djembeso” or House of the Djembe. With Zansa, he has continued to develop and expand his sound, now singing in French, Baoule, Bambara, and English, creating a multicultural mix of original songs, traditional stories, and impassioned music. This final night of the “Find Your Cool” Summer Concert Series is made possible in part by Friends of World Music.

Where: CCB Plaza, 201 N. Corcoran St. Durham. Rain site: The Pinhook

FREE

Africa Unplugged, led by Atiba Rorie, blends the best of traditional African music with everything that’s funky and NOW. They take the stage with all the purpose and power of Burning Spear and good times of a New Orleans brass band. Made possible in part by Friends of World Music.

Where: CCB Plaza, 201 N. Corcoran St. Durham. Rain site: The Pinhook.

Downtown Durham

FREE

Khalat Africa featuring Diali Cissokho closes out Downtown Durham’s “Find Your Cool” concert series next Thursday at CCB Plaza. The show starts at 7 PM.

Don’t miss this outstanding opportunity to see a FREE show of some of West Africa’s finest music, right here in the Triangle!