News
LIVE ON PASS THIS WEEK
GROUNATION – a tribute to the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari

“Grounation Day” marks the landing of Emperor Selassie I in Jamaica on April 21, 1966. Count Ossie (Oswald Williams), the legendary percussionist and founder of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, was among the artists who performed for the Emperor during his historic visit to Jamaica. In his yard called Rockfort at Wareika Hill on the outskirts of Kingston, Count Ossie had been hosting “groundations” (from groundings, the Rasta concept of mutual teachings) featuring musicians, poets and people from all walks …
Chimurenga presents GROUNATION

Chimurenga presents a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the release of Grounation, the seminal album by Count Ossie & the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari with a unique performance of the music of The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari. Shabaka & the Ancestors including Siyabonga Mthembu (vox), Mthunzi Mvubu (alto & flute), Kgethi Nkotsi (trombone), Gontse Makhene (Percussion), Tumi Mogorosi (drums), Ariel Zamonsky (bass) and Shabaka Hutchings (tenor & flutes), will join forces with legendary Cape Town MC, vocalist and bassist …
THE WRITINGS OF BINYAVANGA WAINAINA

We are pleased to announce the launch of How to Write About Africa, a new collection of writings by the late great Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina. Join us for a discussion between Bongani Kona and Achal Prabhala, editor of the collection. Friday, 02 December 2022 from 5:30pm at the Chimurenga Factory (157 Victoria Rd, Woodstock)
The Music Mind of Greg Tate: Sonic Syllabus for a Patternmaster

We were honoured to present a 5-hour music selection in Greg Tate’s memory on his arrival day – 14 October – live on the Pan African Space Station. The music was lovingly selected by DJ Lynnée Denise, Elisa Blount Moorhead, and dream hampton, who collectively spent hours, days, and years processing, listening, describing, and testifying about music with him. The mix is assembled and introduced by DJ Lynnée Denise. DJ Lynnée Denise Greg Tate was a jazz historian, a scholar …
LIBERATION MUSIC AT THE CHIMURENGA FACTORY – OCTOBER 2022

We are proud to present two ensemble performances at the Chimurenga Factory this October – Tumi Mogorosi’s Group Theory:Black Music and Malcolm Jiyane’s Tree-O. Group Theory:Black Music is the latest contribution from drummer Tumi Mogorosi. It continues the exploration into South Africa’s longstanding chorale tradition from Mogorosi’s debut album Project Elo. Mogorosi is joined by vocalist Themba Maseko, who directs the voices of Busisiwe Phetoe, Forunate Jwara and Brenda Thulo, as well as Andile Yenana (piano), Reza Khota (guitar), Dalisu …
we dreamt of utopia and we woke up screaming (Listening Session #2) – live on PASS – 06 Oct 2022 from 8:30pm

[Sketch by Myriam Pruvot courtesy of archive of Yasmina Reggad] With ‘Listening Session #2’, Yasmina Reggad extends an invitation to historian, researcher and performer Saphia Arezki (Marseille, France) to dive together into her sound archive gathered during the artist’ long-term research we dreamt of utopia and we woke up screaming, that investigates the liberation movements’ broadcasts aired by the Algerian National Broadcasting Company (RTA) in the 60s and 70s. Drawing on her previous polyglot and polyphonic sonic productions that echoed …
Euredice Zaituna Kala’s JE SUIS L’ARCHIVE / I, THE ARCHIVE – live on PASS – 13 Sep 2022 from 6pm

Euridice Zaituna Kala is the archive. The archive is entangled in the pores of her skin, the folds of her memory and her recollections of meetings, texts and journeys. A word/sound piece by Euridice Zaituna Kala – live on PASS, Tuesday, 13 September 2022, 6pm.
LIBERATION RADIO
Liberation Radio is an ongoing query on knowledge production via African sound worlds, and long-term research on broadcasting and cultural initiatives by liberation movements across the continent. Our research focuses on the city-studios of Cairo, Accra, Conakry, Algiers, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka and more, the so-called revolutionary capitals which hosted and generated this production through their own national broadcasting infrastructure. Through this study we would to map the circulation of ideas through these places, amidst regime changes and the shifty …
LIBERATION RADIO: DAR ES SALAAM – 14 AUGUST 2022 from 2pm

2pm – Liberation Dance: When Tarzan Met the African Freedom Fighter An ongoing exploration of struggle music – literally, music produced by and through the movements and people involved in Africa’s liberation struggle, rather than about it. “Struggle Music” is also a misnomer, it designates collective expression which, although musical, refuses to be “music” – or the process of individuation that produces it. It helps us demarcate from what is customarily called “protest music” – which, at times, may be …