Fondly known as the girl with the African thumb piano, the mbira, Piwai wows audiences across the globe with her soulful voice and genre fusing melodies. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Piwai’s love of music is influenced by her multicultural Southern Africa and gospel exposure in early childhood.
At age 10 she joined the church choir and by 13 she was writing and performing her own songs.
At 19 Piwai left medical school in her native Zimbabwe to pursue a path as a biologist In the US. Although, the pull for music proved far too great during her studies.
During and after college years Piwai trained as a jazz vocalist at the Jazz School of Berkeley, studying with world renowned vocalists and instructors such as Vernon Bush, Raz Kennedy, Maye Cavallaro and Frankye Kelly. Piwai went under the tutelage of maestros and renowned percussionist, Yagbe Onilu and conguero, Butch Haynes. www.joycemcewencrawfordartist.com Phone: 408.916.7531
Kolamanjaro
Kolamanjaro & his Yoruba Heritage Ensemble is where the classic Yoruba song-meter meets the modern. It is indeed, the crossroad at which yesterday's rhythms intersect with today's sounds to propel the future of cultural arts entertainment forward.
It is a bridge that seeks to link Yoruba from the source with others far and widely dispersed around the globe and across the Diaspora. Kola Adesokan, (aka Kolaman or Kolamanjaro) describes his music as Juju-Fusion, a style which he branded Rhythm-N-Groove™ of Afrika, which is another variety of Afro-Beat genre founded by Fela Kuti of Nigeria. Kolamanjaro is a jazzily rhythmic sound whose soul is deeply rooted in authentic Yoruba heritage experience.
Realkola@gmail.com Phone: 520-384-9349
Akanke
Akanke is a vocalist, songwriter, producer, voice-over talent and inspirational speaker. She is also the founder and CHA (Chief Healing Artist) of Akanke Voice, a company that offers Healing Performing Art, specializing in Anger Management and Wellness.
Akanke’s energizing performance evokes a rhythmically warm spirit that radiates like the sun which at the same time envelopes calm mellow grooves like the sound of the ocean waves. Her music enlivens Jazz, Folk, World Beat, Reggae and whatever flourishes from the depths of her soul. Hence, she branded her sound as Ra Omi Soul™. Contact 510-499-9349
Inna Tribe
Luis Marroquin is a Bay Area multi-media artist who uses his art as a tool to support community. He channels his creativity through a process he calls Inna Tribe which describes going back to the roots of living in a supportive community which was art, spirituality and the focus on the tribe as a whole as opposed to the individual.
Expressing his truth and being inspired by the creative souls around him as well as the different mediums he encounters drives the creation of his paintings, sculptures, and carved skateboards. Experimenting with a variety of mixed media creates the broad scope of his artistic work. www.mahea.com; info@mahea.com 510-387-9814
Sankofa Akili Esemble
The Sankofa Akili Dance Ensemble exists to cultivate, in Black Youth, the appreciation and mastery of the dances, music, songs and folklore of the African Diaspora.
We are also committed to creating an awareness among all people of the value of African history and culture,
therby promoting harmony and a sense of pride, particularly among the youth!
The Ensemble derives its name from two sources: the Adinkra Sankofa Bird symbol of the Akan People of West Africa, and Ms. Akili Denianke, founder and director of the Harambee Dance Ensemble. More info at calirocksun@gmail.com or calirocksun@gmail.com or call 510-866-1056
Phat Luv band
Through her eyes, Blooma Berry (vocalist and manager of Phat Luv Band), sees her band mate and long-term partner, Phil Rapier, as a “big ol’ humanitarian,” a “wanderlust man with a huge, huge heart.” Standing six foot, seven inches, Phil (founder/bassist) walks humbly. As any humble human would, he is always looking for new ways to grow.
It was about 2011 when he picked up a bass guitar and began learning to play it on the corner of Franklin and 14th Street in Oakland, California. A passerby approached Phil and began showing him a different way to play. Overtime, Phil attracted other musicians and curious minds as he played on the street. Soon enough conversations between strangers became jam sessions between friends. Bore out of this was the concept of Phat Luv Band, a reflection of Phil’s huge heart, reaching out to all types of people. After several months, Phil had an ensemble. “They were a wild bunch,” says Blooma about the ragtag squad of bandmates who made up Phat Luv Band in the early stages. Many of the musicians who initially joined the band suffered drug and alcohol addictions.
www.skiru.com 510-684-7929
Charles Djohns
Charles djohns.....creative gifted artist, over 30 years of artistics expressions
in medias, from oil on canvas, mixed medias, graphics designs, pastels,
water colors and invention products designs.
creative ideas come from my inner spirit express as emotions in varies feelings of colors, artistics forms, through the laws of proportions, balance, perspective, rendering of the essense of the subject or models. That uplift the inner psyche of the observer. Usually...my artistic works, start by inner calmness to make various sketches through imagination, or meditation for 10 - 15 minutes . Then...transfer these ideas on to the canvas, illustration boards or computer platform . For character artistic expressions...I use pen and ink or acrylic. For Fine Art Portraits or Landscapes Oil on Canvas, Or Prisma Clolors . Clientels: Oakland Post Newpapers.....1983 to 1998, Black Business Listing Original Logo Design 1985. Book Designs for African International University 1983 to 2010. Class of Braids and Company Billboard Design for Hair Braid and Fashion Television Shows...1983 to 1991. Fine Art Portraits.....Osundu Organization, Patricia Hill Insurance, San Leandro, CA, etc, etc. For all your Visual Arts please call....Osundun Organization, Non-Profit.......510 - 517 6285.
cdjq9854@yahoo.com 510-415-8813
Val Serrant
“From Drum to Steel Drum/ From Africa to The Caribbean & Beyond, is my Solo Presentation.” Val Serrant is from the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago and have been playing music since childhood. An Adjunct Professor at UC Berkeley, Music Department, Caribbean Music Course since 2003.
He is also a Faculty Member of “Vox Mundi School of The Voice and Sound.” He is a Board Member of T&T Cultural Association off California and a Founding-member of “Riddim Time.” He has traveled and performed extensively worldwide, in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, England, Finland, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, USA, Alaska, Venezuela, Canada, T&T, Curacao, Aruba, Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and passed through Iceland and Hawaii. He is always ready to perform solo or group. Contact at: pan_ase@hotmail.com, 510-343-1895.
Saminu Adepoju
Born into the renowned Adepoju family of professional Yoruba drummers, Saminu Adepoju is a master drummer with decades of drumming experience.
He has performed as a full-time member or guest drummer of several top rated Yoruba/Nigerian traditional and pop music bands, including Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Ade, Dayo Kujoore, Wasiu Ayinde etc.
Saminu’s professional experience includes decades of stage performances and studio recording sessions which have taken him to all corners of the world outside of his homeland Nigeria, including United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, United States of America etc. Saminu is a younger brother of the famous Sikiru Adepoju (Grammy Award winner).
Tezkatlipoka Aztec Dance and Drum
Calmecac Tezkatlipoka Aztec Dance and Drum (Tezkatlipoka) is a traditional school of learning of Aztec dancing, drumming and culture and is a traditional Aztec dance circle based in San Jose
Tezkatlipoka is also well-known in Silicon Valley as a community based performing arts dance group that promotes an appreciation and understanding of pre Colombian art forms through traditional Aztec dance and music. Tezkatlipoka works towards integrating all dimensions of Meso American dance, music, and performance art while honoring the cultural traditions left behind by our ancestors. Tezkatlipoka has shown a deep commitment to the advancement of Aztec art forms by offering open weekly community classes and through delivering arts education for school and community-based cultural presentations and events. Through these cultural programs, Tezkatlipoka celebrates cultural diversity by exploring common links that bring and connect all people together in a celebration of movement, art and life.
SDOUAE (Tacuma King)
A class for intermediate and advanced percussion students—collectively known as the Sun Drummers of United Africa Ensemble, or SDOUAE—meets Sunday afternoons with Tacuma King and mentors such as actor and director Achebe Hoskins,
percussionist Kele’ Nitoto and dancer Sydney Coultier. Tacuma and his SDOUAE students have also collaborated with dance instructor Titilayo Makini, providing the music and rhythms for her Saturday afternoon West African children’s dance class. SDOUAE offers young people a unique and wonderful opportunity to develop advanced percussion skills, study with accomplished jazz musicians, collaborate with traditional African dancers and perform for the public.