By Daily Press staff
The Temple Bar is putting world music within reach of Santa Monicans, and relief within reach of impoverished children.
As part of a three-day tour, the Afrofunk Festival brings musicians from across the globe together in Santa Monica to raise money for children in Sudan, Niger, and Kenya whose lives have been devastated by war and famine. The Afrofunk Festival will donate proceeds to the Save the Children Emergency Relief Fund.
Albino — winner of the 2005 SF Music Award for “Best World Music” — is a 12-piece Afrobeat ensemble from the San Francisco Bay area that honors the fiery legacy of Afrobeat inventor Fela Kuti and reminds listeners what it feels like to really groove by melding tightly-crafted arrangements and jazz-tinged harmony with propulsive, high-energy, funk grooves. Formed in 2003, the funk-fueled juggernaut has infused audiences up and down the West Coast and as far east as Chicago with the ecstatic energy it delivers from the stage. The band’s members hail from such acts as Spearhead, CK Ladzekpo and Hamsa Lila, among others.
While the artists are excited about performing together in front of the festival’s crowds, each recognizes the gravity of the cause that brings them there.
“The festival is a huge party. It’s about dancing, grooving and just creating a fun, positive atmosphere. But ultimately, we’re here to raise awareness and money to fight the tragic famine and genocide happening right now to children and families in Sudan, Niger, and my own country, Kenya,” says Sila Mutungi, festival producer and lead singer of Sila and the Afrofunk Experience.
In July 2005, the Afrofunk Festival debuted to sellout crowds and critical acclaim; this year’s performance promises to exceed last year’s success. And with more than one million children affected by the crisis in Darfur alone, the festival’s organizers and artists will look for all the help they can get in their fundraising efforts.
“It’s been particularly hard to get corporate sponsorship for this year’s event. This festival would not be possible without donations from performing artists and from the people in the community,” Sila adds.
The Afrofunk Festival hits the Temple Bar on Saturday. The line-up is as follows: Dramane Koni at 9 p.m., Albino at 10:30 p.m., and Sambada at 11:30 p.m. The Temple Bar is located at 1026 Wilshire Blvd. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 at the door, and are available at templebarlive.com, or by calling (310) 393-6611.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 28, 2006. Read the original PDF.