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King
Marong
Gambian Master Djembe Drummer, percussionist, singer, composer, teacher
and cultural ambassador.
Born in Bakau, The Gambia West Africa, King has been performing professionally
since the age of 12. King developed his skills in the coastal fishing
village where he grew up surrounded by the griots (hereditary musicians)
and international musicians who were his mentors for Senegambian drumming
and cultural priorities. In his late teens he formed his band Kunta
Kinteh and consequently travelled with it in The Gambia, Senegal, UK
and Europe. King has built an international reputation as a master of
many African drumming styles on instruments such as the Djembe, Boucarabou,
Doundoun and Sabar, teaching percussion to students from around the
world.
Now a resident in Melbourne, he performs and teaches regularly at festivals,
ceremonies, private celebrations and corporate functions. http://www.kingmarong.com
Bec Matthews
Kora, kamelngoni, trumpet, doundoun, singer, Afro Mandinko's mover and
shaker!
Bec is a classically trained musician and singer with a passion
for West African music. She has been involved in musical and theatrical
productions ranging from theatre and classical music recital to choreographing
and performing fire performance. She has made several study trips to
The Gambia, to pursue her interest in West African string instruments.
With a focus on the Kora (twenty-one stringed African Harp) she studied
under several master Kora players in The Gambia, Senegal and Mali. She
also studied Bolong (African gourd bass) with Guinean cultural drum
and dance ensemble ‘Fatala’, Kamelngoni (hunters harp) under
Bamako based master Adama Sidube, Ngoni (African lute) and Riti (African
violin). In 2007 Bec did a 6 month residency playing trumpet with Gambian
based afro-fusion band “Lolo Lulu” (5 Star Band) on many
occasions playing for the President of the Gambia. Bec performs regularly
with King Marong as Safara’s kora and doundoun player and sings
and plays with King Marong in Afro Mandinko.
Kuukua Ackua
Dancer, singer, teacher.
Born in Accra, Ghana, Kuukwe is a professionally qualified and highly
experienced dancer and teacher of traditional Ghanaian ballet. She arrived
in Australia in 1999 with the international touring band from Ghana,
Afro Moses Oh Jah. Since finishing the tour she has settled in Australia
and has been teaching traditional Ghanaian dance in public and private
workshops for schools, government institutions and community festivals
and performs as a lead dancer and backing singer for numerous Melbourne
based bands including Safara and Musiki Manjaro. She released her own
self-titled cd in 2003 and performed as a soloist singing and dancing
in the 2003 Melbourne Millennium Choir concert, Nongoma, at the Melbourne
Concert Hall.
Michael Havir
Keyboards, composer/arranger, accordeonist
Michael Havir has worked for the past 16 years composing, arranging,
directing and performing music for theatre, contemporary dance, community
arts, film and TV, multimedia and bands. He has played and toured nationally
and internationally with Australian artists Blek Bala Mujik, Yothu Yindi,
Coloured Stone, Frank Yamma, KerriAnne Cox, ska-jazz outfit Skazz as
well as Congolese band Warako Musica featuring Passi Joe and Tchico
Tchicaya. At present he is working with Gambian master drummer Ebrima
‘King’ Marong and his ensemble Afro Mandinko Sounds, a fusion
of the traditional songs and rhythms of West Africa with a contemporary
influence.
Richmond Brain
Guitar, lap steel, teacher, recording engineer.
Richmond has been professionally involved in the music industry for
over fifteen years as both a performer, producer and educator (ranging
from primary to tertiary level education)
Over ten years performing experience as lead guitarist with Melbourne
based African band Musiki Manjaro. Performed locally at numerous festivals
and several residences at well known live performing venues. Regularly
toured interstate and completed a two month performance contract in
Singapore.
David Joseph
Kit Drums, teacher of many things.
David has worked as a multi-skilled performer, both nationally
and internationally for 20 years. He has worked as an actor (I.C.E.-
The Tower of Light, The Teratology Project, Chamber Made Opera- The
Cars that Ate Paris, Greek, The Two Executioners), a dancer V.S.O.-Joan
of Arc, a circus performer, Circus Oz, Splatto Circus, a community artist
West Theatre Co., a musician (dozens of bands), a street theatre performer
Batacuda, and a teacher Artists in Schools, Circus Oz. He has toured
extensively in Australia (all major festivals) and internationally including
Colombia, U.S.A, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and the U.K.
Conrad Henderson
Electric Bass, double bass, teacher, composer.
Conrad has been performing professionally for several years in all styles
ranging from jazz to afro and funk, Latin (Cuban) and R&B. His involvement
in the world music scene has lead him to work nationally and internationally
with several bands, notably Grand Union Band (England), Mother Gong
(England), Warako Musica (Paris and Congo), and Latin Bands Rumberos,
Pachuco Playboys and Havana Connection.
Paul Holleman
alto/soprano saxophones, piano/keyboards, teacher, composer, websites
(this one), graphic design (Cd cover)
Born and raised in Amsterdam, with its diverse population, he was exposed
to Arabic, Latin, African and Asian music at an early age and took an
intuitive interest in them. He studied piano from age 6 and took up
saxophone 10 years later. Since coming to Australia in 1981, he has
had a long involvement with MUSIKI MANJARO (central African soukous).
He recorded on two of the group's CDs (doubling on keyboards) and toured
Asia and Australia with them. Paul received Australia Council grants
to record two albums with (Al)
Jadida. "Gypsies
in an Urban Desert" and "World
Confusion". His compositions for JADIDA combine his Latin,
African and Asian influences with his love for Arabic music He has performed
with African musicians Carlos Panguana, Kojo Owusu and collaborated
with Melbourne Flamenco artists Kieren Rey and Nella Randone. Paul teaches
piano and saxophone. |
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