AfroMoses at BaliSpirit Festival: Feeling Good about the Future!
All eyes are on the grand finale of the BaliSpirit Festival tonight, which will feature Ghana’s International Music Ambassador AfroMoses!
I caught his band’s soundcheck this morning, and the performance by this dynamic dreadlocked showman will blow you away with his unique blend of Afro-reggae,
funk and more!
Afro Moses is a multi-award winning, international artist from Ghana, who now lives in Denmark and Australia as well (http://bit.ly/a1ooF2).
He is also a multi-instrumentalist. “I play 14 traditional African instruments,” he told me. This evening he will be playing on the talking drums,
mbira (thumb piano from Zimbabwe) and saperewa (a 12-string instrument from Ghana which resembles the kora).
“When I was a child, I had a dream that I was performing live in front of thousands of people. Today I am so glad the dream has come true,” said Moses,
who was also given the name Afro Moses as a child.
His father is an accordian player and his mother is a church singer. Afro Moses has won a string of awards for his music and was also nominated for
an Oscar. He sings in three languages.
A prolific artiste, Afro Moses has eight albums to his credit, and I picked up review copies of two of his CDs. This is his first time in Bali, and
he said he loves the energy here, and feels that Balinese are among the most hospitable people he has ever met.
In the region, Afro Moses has also played with Michael Franti at the Byron Bay Bluesfest, and in Europe at Roskilde. He has collaborated with the who’s
who of world music: Toumane Diabate, Angelique Kidjo, Salif Keta, Damian Marley and others.
Today Afro Moses will be joined by Nigerian drummer Victor Akpokodje, who has been immersed in Afro-Caribbean drumming for over twenty years. He has
played alongside notable international artists including Seun Anikulapo Kuti and Hugh Masekela.
“My music is about making people feel good,” says Afro Moses. “I am optimistic about the future, the world is becoming a better place. Most people
are doing good things for our planet, it is just a minority that is more vocal and is creating problems and get more media attention,” he feels.
Perfect sentiments indeed to end the BaliSpirit Festival 2010, see you all the grand finale – and at BaliSpirit Festival 2011!
Written by : Madanmohan Rao