Press release | Arts & Culture | 22 March 2023
African Music Days Munich at Muffatwerk, May 24 and 25, 2023 – Music In Africa celebrates 10 years
Eight bands from eight African countries can be seen on the Muffatwerk stage on May 24 and 25, 2023, to celebrate the African Music Days in Munich. The opportunity to experience so many hip African artists live is unique, some performing in Germany for the first time. From Afrobeat, hip-hop, futuristic punk to brand new sounds and African mysticism, everything is represented at this festival.
As a multicultural arts center, the Muffatwerk Munich promotes music from all over the world and African artists in particular with a series of concerts and projects. The Music In Africa platform, in turn, brings together musicians from the African continent and offers them the opportunity to network, exchange knowledge and experiences, and promote their music worldwide. Music In Africa is managed by the independent Music In Africa Foundation based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The founding impulse for the Music In Africa portal came from Siemens Stiftung and the Goethe-Institut, who have since provided strategic and organizational support.
The African Music Days Munich celebrate 10 years of Music In Africa Foundation as well as the 60th anniversary of the African Union with this special and diverse music program. Furthermore, the event offers the opportunity to meet artists and movers and shakers of the African music scene.
Journalists will have the opportunity to interview and talk to the musicians of the bands, Eddie Hatitye (Director, Music In Africa Foundation), Dr. Nina Smidt (Managing Director and Spokesperson of the Siemens Stiftung), Jens Cording (Project Manager Music, Siemens Stiftung), Prof. Dr. Carola Lentz (President Goethe-Institut), Johannes Ebert (Secretary General Goethe-Institut) and Dietmar Lupfer (Managing Director Muffatwerk Munich) before the concerts.
May 24, 2023 – from 8 p.m. Concert at AMPERE
Arka’n Asrafokor (Togo)
The band Arka’n Asrafokor from Togo stands out with its Asrafo-Core, a fusion of hard rock/metal and African mysticism. The musicians express their pride in African wisdom, tradition, faith and fighting spirit. This is how the band was able to make a name for itself in Togo, despite the fact that rock music receives little support. Profile Arka’n Asrafokor
Blinky Bill (Kenya)
The music of Kenyan DJ Blinky Bill is a blend of futuristic African beats, funk, hip-hop, pop, electronica and a touch of jazz. Blinky Bill previously achieved fame as the lead singer/songwriter of the seminal Kenyan band “Just A Band”. In 2018, he released his first solo album, “Everyone’s Just Winging It And Other Fly Tales,” including appearances by Sampa the Great, Petite Noir and Nneka. Profile Blinky Bill
Sibusile Xaba & Esinam (South Africa)
Sibusile Xaba & Esinam represent a deep connection on an artistic and spiritual level. Esinam Dogbatse is a multi-instrumentalist from Ghana who combines traditional instruments with her warm voice and flute, opening new dimensions by combining acoustic sounds and electronic effects. South African Xabas pushes the boundaries of the genre with his vocals and guitar style based on expressive picking. Together the two discover and combine their musical universes and something completely new emerges. Profile Sibusile Xaba und Esinam
Defma Maadef (Senegal)
Defmaa Maadef is an exciting collaboration between two rising Senegalese hip-hop stars. Mamy Victory is a vocal powerhouse and fixture in Senegal’s urban music scene. Defa is one of the most sought-after R ‘n’ B voices in the country. The themes and melodies of her songs are deeply rooted in Senegalese culture and history. Profile Defma Maadef
Admission from 7 p.m. Ticket price €10.
May 25, 2023 – from 8 p.m. Concert at the Muffathalle
Sholo Mwamba (Tanzania)
The artist Sholo Mwamba is a popular and award-winning artist in the Tanzanian music scene. His songs significantly shaped the Singeli, a genre-crossing uptempo music style. His energetic performances and extravagant stage outfits make him one of the most popular artists in the East African region today. Profile Sholo Mwamba
Ami Yerewolo (Mali)
Ami Yerewolo is an outstanding Malian artist who has made rap more accessible to women in her country. After graduating from high school, she began studying finance while immersing herself in the hip-hop scene, where she consistently challenged her male counterparts in freestyles. She is a voice for the women of her country and their challenges. Profile Ami Yerewolo
Fulu Miziki Kolektiv (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Kinshasa-based multidisciplinary Afro-futurist punk collective Fulu Miziki Kolektiv comes directly from a future where people have reconciled with Mother Earth and themselves. Making their own instruments, costumes and masks is an essential part of their identity. Their unique sound supports a pan-African message of artistic liberation, peace and a serious look at the ecological situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and around the world. For the Fulu Miziki Kolektiv, everything can be reclaimed and re-enchanted. Profile Fulu Miziki Kolektiv
TENI (Nigeria)
Teniola Apata, better known as TENI, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and entertainer. She was awarded Rookie of the Year at the 2019 Headies Awards and Most Promising Act to Watch at the 2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. TENI also received the Best New Artist award at the 2018 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. Profile TENI
Admission from 7 p.m. Ticket price €10.
African Music Days Munich is a cooperation of Muffatwerk Munich, Goethe-Institut, Siemens Stiftung, and Music In Africa Foundation. The event is supported by the NEUSTART KULTUR program of the German government.
Organizer:
Muffathalle Betriebs GmbH Munich
Zellstraße 4, 81667 Munich