On February 4th, CBC Toronto presented A Celebration of Black History month at Trane Studio in Toronto.
It was a double bill featuring Amai Kuda as well as singer-songwriter Kae Sun.
To listen to excerpts from Amai Kuda’s set, click on the song titles below.
From the Earth -Live at the Trane
Mikey-Live at the Trane
Lay it on the Ground -Live at the Trane
Woman -Live at the Trane
Down in the Delta -Live at the Trane
Welcome to my blog! This is a space to find out a little more about me and my music.
Using the page links above you can:
- Read my bio
- View some videos -“All My Fine Shoes” is the only official music video, the others are just fun ways to experience a few of my other songs
- Download my CD or some favourite tracks
- Read some of the media commentary
- Find out about upcoming concerts -if I remember to post them
or just contact me by email
My first ever blog entry! hmmm…..not sure what to say to the world. let’s see… how about “Is Rob Ford for ******* real!??!?!” Like really, is this a joke being played on the city of toronto?!? and in a few months a proper mayor will come along and say….”April Fools! we were pulling your leg. just wanted to see how long you’d put up with utter nonsense in the place of leadership.” But then again, Bush was real, or at least the bombs he dropped on I-raq were. (Remember how he used to pronounce it?)
ANyways…i think i was supposed to be talking about my album, right….. so my album is about to be launched. I’m trying to fight the urge to curl up under a rock and say “sorry. it was all a big fat lie. I don’t sing. can’t perform. leave me alone”. yes, i have stage fright issues. (blog confession #1)
but really, i’m happy that it’s happening in many ways and I’m really moved by all the support from friends and family. the show’s being produced by the R3 artists’ collective, which is a group of artists committed to resisting colonial oppression and supporting Indigenous peoples to reclaim lands and lifeways. they also happen to be wonderful friends of mine. i’m in the group too, so it all works out rather beautifully ;p
And in addition to working with great friends to produce the show, we’ve got Billy Bryans (yes, the drummer from the Parachute CLub. wut! wut!) on publicity. i’m pretty honored and feeling blessed right now.
so about the album…. i guess in many ways this album is my offering to the world. it’s one of my small contributions to shifting the balance. it’s full of songs for and from my ancestors, the trees and such. it’s full of righteous political statements (some may say obnoxiously so ;p, but i made certain lyrics in-your-face for a reason.). It’s got songs that i made to help us dance, chant and stomp our way to freedom….to remembering ourselves….returning to our birthplaces and harvesting the seed- the goodness that our ancestors have to offer.
so it’s an offering.
i was ever hesitant to make it cause I’m an aspiring luddite and the idea of mass producing something is not appealing to me. But …my people told me to do it, so I did it. not sure if i’ll do it again. i really just wanna move to the bush and sing for the trees and whoever else is around…..but in the meantime (while i’m working on the exit plan) i shall share some tunage. i hope you enjoy it.
ASE
R3 presents:
“Amai Kuda CD Launch Celebration”
Friday October 7
The Tranzac
292 Brunswick Ave
also featuring performances by
lal
sonny b
Izzy Mackenzie
Sedina Fiati
and Amai Kuda with full band
advance tickets $10
$20 with CD purchase
Singer/songwriter Amai Kuda launches her debut CD Sand From The Sea with a special concert
October 7 at The Tranzac, 292 Brunswick Ave in Toronto. Doors open at 9pm.
Amai Kuda will be performing music from her new album with a full band. Please visit amaikuda.com for further details.
Sand from the Sea is the work of a young music artist determined to match her creative instincts with her strong feelings about the world she lives in.
Beginning with the sound of her drum, and what NOW Magazine’s Benjamin Boles called her “powerful, soulful” voice, Amai Kuda has created an album of music that doesn’t yet fit into any category.
Infectious, dynamic, and highly original, this 13 song CD mixes diasporic blues, Caribbean, continental african, soul and gospel with the flavours of hip hop and electronica.
From the more poetic lyrics of ‘Down in the Delta’ to the super direct political statement’s in ‘So Confused’ , Amai Kuda’s songs reflect the life and times of an activist and songwriter who is learning to trust the power of the poetry in her songs.
The name Amai Kuda means “mother to the will of the creator” in the southern African language Shona. As the daughter of an internationally awarded writer, Nourbese Philip, who has used her work to speak out about all kinds of injustice, Amai Kuda grew up attending demonstrations and listening to her elders passionately discuss the history and future of African peoples.
Aside from her work as a musician and songwriter, Amai Kuda co-founded and co-coordinates three organizations, Moyo Wa Africa, Seven Directions and R3, dedicated to the decolonization of African peoples and to indigenous solidarity respectively.
Sand from The Sea will be released on October 7, and will be available through iTunes, Amazon and in hard copy at Soundscapes on College St.
The CD Launch is presented by R3: (Roots Rhythms Resistance), an artists’ collective recovering indigenous roots and resisting colonial oppression through music, dance, visual art and theatre for and by marginalized peoples, with a particular focus on Queer Indigenous and Queer communities of colour.
http://www.r3artists.com
Sponsors
Toronto Arts Council
Toronto Women’s Bookstore
No One Is Illegal Toronto
Media Sponsor:
Rabble.ca
This is the new blog for Amai Kuda.
Promise to have some info here in the next coupla days
