Multiple instruments, languages, and countries help define the music of Okavango African Orchestra, a Juno award-winning ensemble of eight African-born musicians who live in Toronto and Montreal.
Okavango African Orchestra brings together the traditional music and instruments of several major African cultures, to create a common meeting place and a new musical language that harmonizes different tuning systems, rhythms, and timbres. Okavango represent a continuum of traditions and cultures from time immemorial to the present day. Okavango African Orchestra looks ahead on its continuing journey to an “Africa without borders… before the borders were created”.
Okavango releases their third album titled Migration, “Our music is not static, it’s constantly evolving, and like the animals in the Okavango delta that migrate to greener pastures, the music of Okavango endeavours to reach new territory of migration and exploration. We are not just playing music, we are introducing new concepts, ideas and ways of working together.”
This album is very different from previous works, we are working more closely together on all of the songs, the last song Ngaisangane was written together and each musician put their own language and message in the song. The music arrangements were more organic, we improvised more than on our previous works. Another interesting thing about our process was that without knowing the lyrical content of each other’s songs, we were surprised that after the recording, when the songs were translated from Kassonke, Shona, Tigrinya, Kirundi and Mandingo to English, we discovered that the majority of the songs themes were the same, talking about current issues facing our homelands and our second home, Canada. Now more than ever, we are communicating messages of unity, peace, love, forgiveness and an end to racism and tribalism.
The band has really connected on a deeper level through this process, working together on this album and our recent live shows have challenged each of us to grow outside of our own musical areas and experience. Learning from each other is part of the ongoing journey, a journey that brings us closer together not only as Africans from different cultures but as fellow musicians.
Okavango African Orchestra members:
Tichaona Maredza (Zimbabwe) – mbira, guitar, vocals, composer
Kofi Ackah (Ghana) – drums, percussion, vocals, composer
Daniel Nebiat (Eritrea) – krar, vocals, composer
Sadio Sissokho (Senegal) – kora, djembe, tama, vocals, composer
Ebenezer Agyekum (Ghana) – bass guitar, vocals, composer
Assane Seck (Senegal) – guitar, vocals, composer
Aron Nitunga (Burundi) – guitar, vocals, composer
Mabinty Sylla (Guinea) – dance
Manager – Nadine McNulty
Production Coordinator – Thierno Soumare
Agent – Marilyn Gilbert (MGAM)
www.okavangoorchestra.com
www.facebook.com/okavangoafricanorchestra
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKW8U5WE2KMpLpxXcRMG-cQ
