PASS Paris
PASS in Paris: Blase Ndjehoya
Blaise Ndjehoya is a journalist and film-maker born in the Central African Republic. His films give focus to movements of the Harlem Renaissance, Présence Africaine, Manu Dibango, and the wave of writers who moved from the US to Paris in the 1940s. Conversations with Aimé Césaire, Gordon Parks, René Depestre and other notable voices give shape to his stories. Titles include: La Rive Noire (from 2013 and featuring music by Franck Biyong), Un sang d’encre (1997) and Silence (1991).
At our PASS POP-UP in Paris on Thursday, Blaise Ndjehoya will join Christine Eyene to discuss bikutsi music.
Category: News
Tags: bikutsi, Blase Ndjehoya, Christine Eyene, Congo, Congolese Sounds, PASS Paris
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PASS in Paris: Christine Eyene
The interdisciplinary work of art historian, critic and curator Christine Eyene brings together stories of contemporary African art, the lives of artists in exile during apartheid (George Hallett, Dumile Feni and others), Black Arts happenings in Britain through the 1980s, and studies of gender representation in the arts. Since 2002 she has also been visual arts co-editor of Africultures. Her most recent exhibition: All Of Us Have A Sense Of Rhythm demonstrated her mixtape of modes including sculptures by Zak Ové, …
PASS in Paris: Helmie Bellini
Born in Brazzaville, Helmie Bellini is a composer, singer and poet based in Paris. Her music fuses Congolese roots, pan African influences and jazz traditions, especially the greats who continue to inspire her: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone. In 2011, Bellini released her debut album Il était une voix. Currently she is working on Kongo Square, a project she describes as “a tribute to my ancestors taken from my land to the islands of the West Indies and the United States”. For …
PASS landing at Foundation Cartier, Paris
From 17 – 19 September 2015 , the Pan African Space Station (PASS) installed our pop-up inside the gallery of Fondation Cartier, Paris with live programming that explored the past-present-future of Congolese music cultures. This intervention featured as part of the exhibition Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko. Contributions by Bintou Simporé (Nova), Ray Lema, Afrikadaa Magazine, Helmie Bellini trio (feat. Hilaire Penda), Andy Amadi Okoroafor (Clam Mag), DJ Mo Laudi, Dinozord and David Bovée of Schengen Shegue, Pitcho, Jolie Ngemi, Boddhi Satva …
PASS in Paris: Dizzy Mandjeku
Papa Dizzy heads up the Odemba OK Jazz All Stars, a big band keeping Congolese rhumba traditions alive: “Franco style”. In the 1970s, Mandjeku joined Franco’s famed TPOK Jazz band where he honed his melodic guitar playing. As well as his TPOK Jazz years, Mandjeku has played regularly and recorded with Sam Mangwana (as part of L’African All Stars) and Zap Mama. For our PASS Pop-UP in Paris, Papa Dizzy will be present a mini-concert-lecture with Baloji.
Category: Pass Blog
Tags: Baloji, Congo, Congolese Sounds, Dizzy Mandjeku, PASS Paris, TPOK Jazz
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PASS in Paris: Baloji
Lubumbashi-born, Brussels-based Baloji has been turning heads with his wordplay and styles since joining Belgian hip-hop crew Starflam Collective as a teenager. As a solo artist he released Hotel Impala in 2008, then reinterpreted the album in 2010 with Kinshasa Succursale including collaborations with Zaïko Langa Langa, Konono N°1, and Amp Fiddler. Baloji’s latest venture saw him travel again in DRC. “Capture”, the first song released from his 64 Bits & Malachite EP, is co-produced with Olugbenga and features Muanza and …
Category: Pass Blog
Tags: Baloji, Congo, Congolese Sounds, Dizzy Mandjeku, Kongo Astronauts, PASS Paris
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PASS in Paris profile: Afrikadaa
Founded by Carole Diop and Pascale Obolo in 2010, Afrikadaa create platforms to provide virtual and physical space(s) for the exchange and development of ideas relating to “Afro Design and Contemporary Arts”. Themes to their magazine and regular events include: Anthropologismes, Is black a colour?, E-Motional, Afro-Futurism, and Visability. Their next issue, Afrikadaa #10, examines links between art and sound (read the call for contributions here). For the PASS POP-UP in Paris, Afrikadaa will present Silence Break On Air, hosted by …
PASS in Paris profile: Ray Lema
Ray Lema is a widely-revered composer, pianist and guitarist. His life in music has taken him from Kinshasa-Washington DC-Paris, moving from Gérard Kazembe’s orchestra to playing with Franco, Tabu Ley Rochereau and Joseph Kabassele, as well as leading a variety of his own bands. In recent years, Lema has referenced Herbie Hancock in his album V.N.S.P. (Very Special New Production), and performed a tribute to Aimé Césaire with his Nzimbu project. Ray Lema will join us at the PASS Pop-UP in Paris (Sept 17-19) …
PASS Pop-UP in Paris
From September 17 – 19, the Pan African Space Station (PASS) will Pop-UP inside the gallery of Fondation Cartier, Paris with live programming that explores the past-present-future of Congolese music cultures. This intervention is part of the exhibition Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko. Participating artists in the PASS Pop-UP in Paris include Ray Lema, Elikia M’bokolo, Syllart Records, Afrikaada Magazine, Baloji, Shenguen Shegue, Kongo Astronauts, Christine Eyene. Contributions will also be beamed in from New York, Montreal and Kinshasa …