This Autumn, we welcome some of our favourite African artists to Band on the Wall with musicians from all across the musically-rich continent, including…
Imarhan
Saturday 8th September
Hailing from Algeria, Imarhan have been hailed as proponents of the ‘new wave of Tuareg music’, following in the footsteps of the fathers of Tuareg rock, Tinariwen. Check out their new album ‘Temet’, an eclectic mix of funk, fuzz, disco and rock.
Mokoomba
Wednesday 17th October
After a sensational performance at Band on the Wall in 2016, Zimbabwe’s most celebrated young band Mokoomba are back with their new album ‘Luyando’. Lyrical and beautifully breezy, ‘Luyando’ is a spiritual journey into the heart of Zimbabwean society, culture and tradition.
Vieux Farka Touré
Thursday 18th October
The man often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara”, Vieux Farka Touré makes a welcome return as part of a solo tour in support of his latest critically acclaimed album ‘Samba’. Much like his late father Ali Farka Toure, Vieux has been at the forefront of African music for many years.
Dobet Gnahoré
Friday 19th October
Grammy Award-winning afro-pop sensation Dobet Gnahoré sings and dances like nobody else, her stage presence radiating with unbelievable style and energy. The songs on her new album ‘MIZIKI’ were torn from the depths of this open, courageous and intensely feminine African. A student at Abidjan’s Ki Yi M’bock, like Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita and Ray Lema – she has become an internationally-acclaimed voice whom the Guardian described as “WOMAD’s best act”.
Hailu Mergia
Tuesday 13th November
We’re thrilled to welcome the triumphant return to the music business of one of the leading performers of East Africa – Hailu Mergia. Mergia is an instrumentalist who was forced into exile by a dictatorial regime hostile to the arts and ended up driving cabs for almost 30 years, before being rediscovered by record label Awesome Tapes from Africa.
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
Saturday 17th November
The crown prince of Afrobeat and son of African icon Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti heads off on a UK tour ahead of the release of his album Black Times, featuring artists including Carlos Santana, Yasiin Bey and Hiatus Kaiyote’s Nai Palm. His last show at Band on the Wall was one of our shows of the year!
Fatoumata Diawara + Témé Tan
Thursday 22nd November
One of the most talked about artists around at the moment, Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara appears at Band on the Wall fresh off the back of the release of her new album ‘Fenfo’ and recent collaboration with electronic group Disclosure on their track ‘Ultimatum’.
Tickets for all shows are available here.
