sankofa artist profile
TRANSCRIPT
The History
The name “Sankofa” is an Akan (Ghanaian vernacular) word that means, "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today”. The band opted to use the name because it believes that one must return to the past in order to move forward. Musical knowledge of the past must be revisited in order to inform the future of musical ideas.
The band was started in 2005, by a dedicated and experienced team of Wits University students, who enrolled at the Wits School of Arts (WSOA). This led to Sankofa becoming the band that it has evolved into today, with a membership comprising of seven professional musicians, pursuing musical development endlessly.
The band is a four piece African Marimbas band, comprising also of African flutes (self-made), mbiras, Jaw Harp, Uhadi and other percussive instruments-agogo, cow bells, rattles, rain stick, djembe‟s, congas, bongos.
Vision
To be an excellent entertainment company that will promote and perform indigenous African musicalinstruments within the creative industry in South Africa and abroad.
Our mission
To increase the level of artistic growth
To promote and nurture the knowledge of ancient African music through music workshops in high schools in
Johannesburg.
To restore the heritage of indigenous African music and its instruments so as to produce informed musicians
To carve new musical directions in which African musical instruments can be fused with modern musical instruments (i.e.guitars, violins, etc) to form an eclectic sound.
To restore the traditional heritage of the past.
Eventually establishing ourselves internationally and sharing our music with the rest of the world, both young and old.
To infuse a mixture of other art forms such as dancing, poetry, acting and singing with our music.
Objectives
2010
Kaelo Worldwide Media: Hyundai Conference, Sandton
Wits University: WALE Opening Function
Church of Scientology Johannesburg: The grand opening of the Braamfontein Life Improvement Center
Wits University: New Hominid Species Discovery: Maropeng
Wits University Chamber of Mines: SAUPEC Conference
Mangwa Valley Game Lodge: Belinda Finch’s wedding
Previous Acclaimed Performances
2009
Johannesburg Earthdance Arts Festival
Brent Russell’s Wedding at Mangwa Valley Game Lodge
Monte Casino: Launch of website Rise Africa
Collaborating on Sankofa‟s first studio album with Bheki Khoza & Tim Kraft at the Academy
of Sound Engineering
Wits University: Judge Edwin Cameron’s Farewell Dinner Wits University Open Day Functions
Shared stage with Ringo Madlingozi at the Gallagaher Estate for Media Awards Ceremony
Apartheid Museum: Human Rights/Gay Rights Function
Recorded with Pops Mohamed for German Audio Library
Another Collaboration with Sydney Mavuso & Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph as part of the Celebration Orchestra in aconcert celebrating the State of Israel’s 60th Anniversary in Wits Great Hall
2008
Gallagher Estate: Local Government Award Ceremony
SABC 2 Morning Live Programme
Stellenbosch University‟s International Chamber Music Festival
Grahamstown National Arts festival doing our production- Echoes of Remembrance
Showcased Echoes of Remembrance in the 969 festival at Wits Amphitheatre
Collaborated with Marcus Wyatt, Sydney Mavuso & Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph as part of the Celebration Orchestra in a
production entitled Voices for Africa in Wits Great Hall
2007
2006
Stellenbosch University‟s International Chamber Music Festival
SABC Headquarters : launch of the Vukuzenzele Radio Programme
Hilton Hotel: The South African-Italian Awards Ceremony
Market Theatre- international musical production „Elephant‟
Winners of the Open Category Section in the very first National Marimba Competition in
Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Workshops
2009
Joburg Carnival Kids Music Project initiated by the Dept. of Sports & Recreation in collaboration with Sankofa (SMDA)
& Curriculum Development Program Centre of Arts & Culture (CDP)
Initiated Marimba & African Percussion Workshops project in primary & secondary schools under our NGO Sankofa
Music Development Association (SMDA)
2007
Sankofa conducted African music composition, improvisation & playing techniques workshops
at Stellenbosch University‟s International Chamber Music Festival
Worked with Pedro ‘The Music Man’ Espi-Sanchis on Vuvuzela Orchestra (ongoing project)
Discography
Demo Album (recorded at SABC RBF Studios)
Sankofa “Live” Recorded at Stellenbosch Univ. International Chamber Music Festival
www.liber8music.co.za/samples11.htm (ongoing recording with KK Diaz MD of Liber8 Records)
Videography
www.youtube.com/sankofapercussion (containing footage of workshops, rehearsals, performances, documentary clips)
DVD (Celebration Orchestra concert celebration of State of Israel’s 60th Anniversary in Wits Great Hall)
DVD (Sankofa‟s Echoes of Remembrance Theatre Production)
Samora Ntsebeza
Director
Sankofa Afro-Indigenous Band
C: 082 798 4028
Email: [email protected]
Joe Makhanza
Head: Marketing
Sankofa Afro-Indigenous Band
C: 082 934 7735
Email: [email protected]
Contact Details