by Howard Campbell
SOUTH FLORIDA – Patrons who attend Rhythms of Africa are used to listening to music impressed by the Motherland. This 12 months was no totally different, because the packed home for each nights (March 16-17) at Miramar Cultural Heart savored eight hours of high quality leisure.
Etana introduced roots-reggae from Jamaica whereas Barbadian Alison Hinds excited with frenetic soca beats from the Jap Caribbean. There have been additionally excellent performances from vocalists Dwisdom, Nicole Yarling, Selena Serrano, Junior Jazz, Shanna Lee, Ronnie Smith and saxophonist Jesse Jones.
Willie Stewart, the grasp drummer who began the occasion in 2010, was happy with performances and viewers response on each nights.
“I’m very grateful to God Rhythms of Africa 2024, with the theme Energy Of A Lady, was an enormous success. There have been so many highlights that the entire present was one spectacular spotlight,” he advised South Florida Caribbean Information. “In every thing there are all the time challenges however we overcame them.”
On opening evening, appreciative followers heard Stewart and his band — which included an 18-member percussion unit from Miramar Excessive College — cowl genres from Brazil, Cuba, South and West Africa. There have been standout renditions of Hugh Masekela’s Upside Down, and Afrobeat instrumental by Fela Kuti.
There was additionally Yarling’s spot-on rendition of Miriam Makeba’s traditional tune, Pitta Patta; Serrano’s efficiency of Afro-Cuban legend Cela Cruz’s La Vida Es Un Carnaval, Junior Jazz’s tackle Bob Marley’s No Lady No Cry, adopted by a pleasant, jazzy interaction between Jones and Yarling.
The lanky Smith introduced the home to its ft with a phase devoted to American soul music. He did The temptations’ Woman Soul and Deal with Her Like A Woman, Excellent by The Hole Band and Sing A Track, an Earth, Wind & Fireplace authentic.
Lee introduced the funk with a rousing efficiency of Chaka Khan and Rufus’ I’m Each Lady, whereas authentic Third World singer Prilly Hamilton paid tribute to that band’s co-founder Ibo Cooper who died final October.
Making a stable impression on her main present debut was 12 year-old Kailani Belle Alcock, daughter of singer Jah Treatment and Kamila McDonald, the night’s narrator. She did Rihanna’s Raise me Up and Cynthia Erivo’s Stand Up.
On the second night, Miramar mayor Wayne Messam was a visitor performer. He did a well-received model of soul singer Anthony Hamilton’s Better of Me, then offered a plaque and Key to The Metropolis to Etana and Hinds, respectively.
Rhythms of Africa 2024 closed with band and viewers singing alongside to Bob Marley’s One Love.
