Daddy V

The streets of Nairobi nicknamed him the “ghetto superstar” because he never hit the charts or radio waves but even the kids recognized him as he did his neighborhood rounds. Daddy V’s first live show was at Lipps disco in Nairobi when he was 13 years old. Soon after, he made Nairobi’s Florida 2000 club his home. He was a regular performer at the club’s talent shows popularly know as Jam session. This is where Nairobi’s underground artists converged to showcase their talent.

In 1997, Daddy V won the coveted talent show, which gave him even more credence on the streets. However, because he could not afford studio time, he never recorded any of his music. Daddy V continued performing as an underground artist until he moved to the United States. His style of music is a fusion of dancehall (ragga) and African rhythms. Daddy V’s first CD, NARE, was released in May of 2008 under the Kilimanjaro Records label.

Since then, Daddy V has performed around the United States and released two music videos. The first video was for the song NARE and the second one was for MAHOOKS. Nare was also one of the sound tracks for the movie MALOONED released in Kenya.  Daddy V is set to embark on his first world tour in the summer of 2010.

DOWNLOAD DADDY V’S CD “NARE” ON ITUNES

DOWNLOAD DADDY V’S CD “NARE” ON ITUNES

Samba Mapangala’s Race to Save The Mountain Gorilla

“Les Gorilles des Montagnes” an upbeat dance song commissioned by WWF to increase awareness of conservation in the Congo Basin, begins with the still-stunning, instantly recognizable a cappella prelude to his 1981 hit “Tolinga Virunga” (We Love Virunga). But then the beat drops into a beautiful new melody and lyrics telling of the need to preserve the rare mountain gorillas and their fragile environment, and expressing gratitude to the park rangers who risk their lives daily to prevent poaching and illegal charcoal production. WWF will use this music to reinforce its efforts in East Africa and Congo, especially in the Goma and Bukavu regions where years of war and turmoil have impacted the gorillas’ habitat in the Virunga mountains, home to around half of the world’s remaining 700 mountain gorillas.

“Music is such a natural way to spread a message in Africa, and I’m thrilled with the positive and uplifting message Samba has created in “Les Gorilles des Montagnes,” says Matthew Lewis, Senior Program Officer for African species conservation with WWF.
Adds Samba: “I am so happy to be helping the WWF protect the wildlife and the environment of the beautiful Virunga mountains, from where I took the name of my band Orchestre Virunga in 1980.”

On Sept. 29, Samba made a personal appearance to launch the song at the International Conservation Council Forum bi-cameral hearing and reception on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, attended by representatives of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership member nations Burundi, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Congo-DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, and Rwanda.

DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF THE SONG

SAMBA MAPANGALA’S VIDEO ON AMBIANCE CONGO

Visit the World Wildlife Fund’s site for information on efforts to save the mountain gorillas

Innocent

Innocent was born and raised in Tanzania, East Africa. While in Tanzania, he performed with various African bands but it wasn’t until he heard Bob Marley’s album KAYA that he realized his destiny was Reggae. The message was just too powerful and he instantly realized that he could use Reggae to convey his own message but in a very African way. In 1989, Innocent moved to the United States and formed the group Les Exodus and quickly earned a name touring the Midwest and west coast. Les Exodus opened for famous acts such as The Wailers, Judy Mowatt, Sister Carol, Wailing Souls and more.

Kilimanjaro, a ten-track CD with all original compositions was Innocent and Les Exodus’ first CD. Released in 1993, the CD received amazingly positive reviews. Reggae Report magazine voted Kilimanjaro one of the top, 10 independent releases of 1993 and Beat magazine gave impressive reviews. That same year the Minnesota Music academy voted Innocent Minnesota’s best male vocalist and Les Exodus as the best world beat.

In 1996, Innocent released his first solo album Greetings from Africa. His first single Sote Ni Ndugu not only became the first Reggae song to claim the number one spot on Radio Tanzania but also stayed there for 8 weeks. Most of Innocent’s songs are in English but he also sings in Swahili, his native language. Equipped with thought-provoking lyrics, a raspy voice, a guitar and a captivating stage presence, Innocent puts up quite an electrifying performance.

Innocent released his third album, Shine Africa, in June of 2006 under Kilimanjaro Records. He continues to perform all over the United States.

INNOCENT PERFORMING “MAMA I’M COMING HOME” LIVE AT THE CABOOZE , MINNEAPOLIS

BUY INNOCENT’S CD SHINE AFRICA

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