Asheville Musicians Band Together and Launch Campaign To Rebuild West African Music Education Center & Home

Asheville Musicians Band Together and Launch Campaign To Rebuild West African Music Education Center & Home

700 years of musical lineage is in jeopardy in Ivory Coast, West Africa. Asheville musicians, led by the band Zansa, have banded together to help rebuild the Dembele family home and Djembeso Drum & Dance Education Center in Ivory Coast, West Africa after it was recently destroyed by their government. Members of Zansa, along with many other local Asheville musicians, and other supporters of Asheville’s West African community are raising funds to help the Dembele family continue to grow their musical legacy. We need to rebuild this house and music compound not just for this generation, but for generations to come.

Donations can be made to the rebuilding efforts via the newly launched Indiegogo campaign: http://igg.me/at/adama/x/3637548. Thanks to LEAF Community Arts, a nonprofit that supports arts education around the world through the LEAF International program, your donation is tax deductible. Adama Dembele has been a teaching artist through LEAF for four years, sharing his music and culture with hundreds of young people across Western North Carolina.

The Dembele household is a culturally significant resource within the community. The family has been sharing their music here for centuries. The fact that Adama is a 33rd generation musician means that his family has been passing on their musical heritage and culture for nearly 700 years. Their household, known as Djembeso, which translates to House of Djembe, has been a mecca for musicians throughout West Africa, Europe, the United States, and beyond who have traveled there to study music. Currently, the family is unable to continue passing on this wealth of cultural knowledge, and we need your help. Your generous donations will go directly to help the rebuilding process and make it possible for this legacy to continue!

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Barakissa Coulibaly and Zansa to perform at 2nd Annual Soumu: A celebration of African music, dance, food, and art on June 5 at 7pm

Lush Life and Zansa Present:
Soumu: A Celebration of African Music, Dance, Food, and Culture. Thursday, June 5th at The Orange Peel

Featuring: Zansa, Barakissa Coulibaly, Lisa Zahiya, Mande Foly, African Drum & Dance Troupes, West African Dinner, African Art.

Doors 6pm/ Show 7pm; $12 in advance/$15 day of; All ages
African food available, not included in ticket cost.
Tickets available at Orange Peel box office, or email
zansamusic@gmail.comor call 828-774-2277
More Information at theorangepeel.net and zansamusic.com
Join the event on Facebook here

On Thursday June 5, The Orange Peel will host Asheville’s 2nd Annual Soumu, presented by Lush Life Productions and Zansa. This Soumu, which is a West African term for an all encompassing party- music, dance, food, and art, will be upgrading to a larger venue this year at The Orange Peel.  At the last sold out Soumu, funds were raised for 33rd generation djembe player and now U.S. Citizen Adama Dembele to acquire his green card.

Performing live at the event will be afropop/zouglou band Zansa, featuring Ivory Coast native Adama Dembele and Ivorian dancer Barakissa Coulibaly; African drum and dance troupes featuring Adama and Barakissa’s students; Lisa Zahiya performing folk dances of North Africa and contemporary dances from Cairo, acoustic Zansa side project Mande Foly; and members of Juan Benavides Group. Traditional West African cuisine by Soce will be available for purchase (cash only), as well as Senegalese arts and crafts.

In celebrating the African arts, Barakissa Coulibaly will be performing a solo dance piece on the plight of the African woman. Barakissa is a master dancer from Ivory Coast, West Africa, and has toured, performed, and taught in almost 20 countries. Says Barakissa, “”The title of my solo is ‘Without a Shadow,’ which speaks about the revolution of African women. ‘Without a Shadow’ reveals the suppressed voice of all women who suffer in silence. As a young adult, I myself, have experienced a direct connection to this pain and suffering that all the women of Africa have endured; however, it is time to be free. It is time tospeak out. It is time to LIVE. Through each step of my solo, I speak out for all of the women around the world, ‘You SHALL, be known.'”

In collaboration with LEAF International, a portion of the proceeds raised from this event will go to benefit Barakissa’s company Mouaye in Ivory Coast. Mouaye was started in the 2000s as a safe haven for children and young adults during the violent wartime years. This refuge became a place for people to learn African drumming and dancing, and continues to be so to this day. Our goal is to connect Mouaye, Zansa, LEAF International, and Asheville to help this new partnership continue to grow.

Artistic Company Mouaye was created by Barakissa Coulibaly after the great violent crisis in Ivory Coast during the Gbagbo regime (2000s) as a form of contribution and recognition to the greatness of this country. Company Mouaye is composed of young artists from different villages of Ivory Coast and other West African countries, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. The fresh mix of culture, diversity, and creativity in Company Mouaye preserves the heritage and beauty of African culture and brings it to life!

Barakissa Coulibaly brings young talented artists to the stage in hopes of promoting and enhancing the value of Ivorian cultural heritage in the form of artistic expression; through the use of different masks, rhythms, songs, and traditional dance. There is now a future filled with hope in Ivory Coast and a river of opportunities for future generations.

More Information at theorangepeel.net and zansamusic.com.

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Afropop Band, Zansa, Release New Music Video “Mi Wa”

Album Release Celebration at Isis Music Hall in Asheville on Sat 9/7
Zansa CD Release Brings Cultural Music to the Mountains

Afropop band Zansa is releasing their debut album Djansa, with a live performance at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Saturday, September 7, 2013. More details about the show are here: http://bit.ly/17hTGGc.  Senegalese griot musician Diali Cissokho and his band Kaira Ba will be opening the show. Robust and rhythmic, melodic and smooth, the music of Zansa presents a dynamic synthesis of centuries’ old West African songs and modern instrumentation. Zansa is a Nouchi slang word meaning “blend,” and the group’s debut album, Djansa, meaning “dance,” delivers a dance party vibe with a folkloric storyline.

Based in Asheville, NC, Zansa is led by Adama Dembele (lead vocals, djembe, and percussion), a 33rd generation musician from Ivory Coast, whose ancestry is recognized throughout West Africa as the House of the Djembe. Along with Dembele, Zansa is Patrick Fitzsimons on guitar and vocals; Sean Mason on the drumset; Ryan Reardon and bass and vocals; and Matt Williams on violins, guitar, and vocals.

Djansa is being released nationally online (iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby) and in select record stores on September 10, 2013, with performances throughout the Southeast to follow. Pre-order Djansa on iTunes and immediately receive “Mi Wa” single for free.

Stay tuned towww.zansamusic.com for more information.

“Mi Wa” Lyrics and Translation:

Mi Wa: A love song, about love near and far, and love lost and found.

ROUGH TRANSLATION:
Light of my heart, light of my life.
Even if I leave, far away from you.
You still know without you my life doesn’t make sense.
With your love you make me happy, my natural beauty.

You’re my love, you’re my joy.
You spoiled my life with your choice.
You know without you baby my life doesn’t make sense.
Your love just makes me happy, my natural beauty.

LYRICS:

Eh, eh eh eh, mi wa, mi wa gnoh…

Lumière de mon coeur, lumière de ma vie.
Meme si moi je vie, loin de ta presense.
Tu sais bien que sans toi chèrie
Ma vie na plus de sèance, a ton amour,
Vient me rend heureux ma beaute naturelle

Eh, eh eh eh, mi wa, mi wa gnoh…

Oh toi mon amour, oh toi ma joie due
Tu a gache ma vie, par un notre choix
Tu sais bien que sans toi chèri
Ma vie na plus de sans, a ton amour
Viens me rend heuruex ma beaute naturelle

“Eh, eh eh eh…”

Oh l’enfant, “Allez yako”

Zansa
“Mi Wa”
Recorded by Matt Williams at The Eagle Room, Weaverville, NC
Produced by Matt Williams and Ryan Reardon
From the album Djansa
©2013 Zansa Music

Music Video recorded and produced by Dark Energy Pictures.

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Afropop Band, Zansa, Releases Debut Album at Isis on Sat 9/7

Afropop Band, Zansa, Releases Debut Album at Isis 9/7
Zansa CD Release Brings Cultural Music to the Mountains

Afropop band Zansa is releasing their debut album Djansa, with a live performance at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Saturday, September 7, 2013. Senegalese griot musician Diali Cissokho and his band Kaira Ba will be opening the show and their will be African inspired dinner specials created by Chef Mike Mahoney.

Robust and rhythmic, melodic and smooth, the music of Zansa presents a dynamic synthesis of centuries’ old West African songs and modern instrumentation. Zansa is a Nouchi slang word meaning “blend,” and the group’s debut album, Djansa, meaning “dance,” delivers a dance party vibe with a folkloric storyline. Check out their high energy live-footage video announcing the show –>

Based in Asheville, NC, Zansa is led by Adama Dembele (lead vocals, djembe, and percussion), a 33rd generation musician from Ivory Coast, whose ancestry is recognized throughout West Africa as the House of the Djembe. Since the 12th century, oral storytelling musicians/historians known as griots have carried forth the Dembele name and recognition as masters of the djembe. Today, drummers from across West Africa still study under the Dembele family in the Ivory Coast. Adama moved to the United States in 2008 and has since performed alongside other West African-influenced bands, including Afromotive and Toubab Krewe. Zansa is Dembele’s debut outfit, offering songs that are influenced by modern Zouglou beats and traditional African stories, sung in French, Bambara and Baoule dialects, as well as English.

The album, Djansa, marries Adama’s West African drumming traditions with modern instrumentation and song forms. While the djembe drives the rhythmic component, the violin plays a unique role as a lead melodic instrument, echoing the soku, a one-string predecessor that originated in Mali. Electric guitar, bass, percussion, and drum set lend familiarity to foreign sounds. “Many of the songs are from old stories I grew up with, such as the legend of Donsson, the hunter,” says Adama. “We sing about love and celebration, respect and understanding, and we play hard.” This cultural and sonic mix offers an original take on the authentic music of West Africa.

Along with Dembele, Zansa is Patrick Fitzsimons on guitar and vocals; Sean Mason on the drumset; Ryan Reardon and bass and vocals; and Matt Williams on violins, guitar, and vocals. Djansa is being released nationally online (iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby) and in select record stores on September 10, 2013, with performances throughout the Southeast to follow.

Pre-order Djansa on iTunes on Aug 13 and immediately receive “Mi Wa” single for free. Keep an eye out for the debut of the “Mi Wa” music video the same day.

Stay tuned to www.zansamusic.com for more information and links to pre-order the album.

SHOW DETAILS AT A GLANCE:
Zansa Album Release Show @ Isis Music Hall
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba open the show

Doors 8pm, Show 9pm; Ages 18+; $8 adv, $10 dos
African inspired dinner specials created by Chef Mike Mahoney
828-575-2737
743 Haywood Road Asheville, NC 28806
http://isisasheville.com/events/zansa-cd-release-party-with-diali-cissokho-kaira-ba/

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SOUMU: A Celebration of West African Music, Food & Dance…featuring Zansa

On Saturday, February 25 from 6 to 10 p.m., the YMI Cultural Center at 39 S. Market St. sets the stage for Asheville’s first Soumu, or in West African lingo, a celebration of dancing, singing, food, and music. The evening will offer a dinner of flavors from West Africa, including seafood soupe kandia and chicken and vegetable mafé, plus wines and beer from Pisgah and Wedge brewing companies.

Entertainment includes West African drumming and dance demonstrations, a performance by Belle Afrique, and music by Asheville’s contemporary Ivorian afropop ensemble Zansa, featuring members of Afromotive.

Tickets are $15 at the door, $10 for ages 12 and younger, and include dinner, two drink tickets, and an evening of culture and West African entertainment. All proceeds benefit Adama Dembele in an effort to help him get his permanent Green Card for U.S. citizenship.

Adama Dembele is a 33rd generation djembe player from the Ivory Coast in West Africa, who has performed with various internationally recognized acts on three continents, including Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo, and Salif Keita. He has lived in Asheville for five years, teaching drumming workshops in town and across the country and performing with local bands, including Afromotive, Toubab Krewe, and Zansa.

Adama was a LEAF in Schools and Streets instructor in 2011. Other teaching experiences include regular drumming workshops at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, Stone Academy in Greenville, SC, and in Asheville at Rainbow Mountain Children’s School and Erwin and TC Robertson high schools. Adama is a cultural gem whose mission is to share his musical heritage. This event is an effort to help keep him here.Special thanks to our sponsors: Chef Abdoul, Pisgah Brewing Company, The Wedge Brewery, and the YMI Cultural Center.

For more details visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/218988491525299/

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