World Music Club: Alafia Band

A West African fusion of musicians from Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana

ALAFIA BAND IS:
 
SAM MAITLAND - guitar, drums & vocals 
 
Sam Maitland, aka Papa Sam, is a singer/songwriter, percussionist and West African Drum facilitator from Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa. He moved to the UK in the late 80’s and was signed to Rebel Records, an independent Sussex based record company owned by Steve Valentine.
 
Sam toured the United States and Japan with Abdul T.Jay’s band, ROKOTO, playing Highlife music. He also worked with the Post Modern African Peoples' Dance Group, Sakoba who he accompanied during workshops with performing art students at the University of Limerick, Ireland in 2008. In 2011, Sam became interested in performing Palm Wine music, drawing inspiration from the techniques of the late SE Rogie, and he began to play this genre of music from his native country all around the UK. In 2012, he participated in the internationally acclaimed We Face Forward Festival, both performing and running workshops. 
 
VICTOR MENSAH - keyboards
  
Commonly known as "Vico", Mensah has played keyboards and bass guitar in Alafia band since the conception of the band in London in the 90s. He has also been a regular member of the Afro-Rock band, Osibisa for a number of decades till date. He also wrote the theme music soundtrack for an African Movie entitled “Ama” which was shown by Channel 4 during the build-up to the London’s Carnival.
 
Vico has also played with various African Musicians based in London and UK wide. He still writes music for UNICEF and US aid organisations, and still records albums for clients at his home based studio in Stoke Newington, North London.
 
SAM DJENGUE - bass guitar (Jungle Shuga Bass)
 
One of the hottest and sweetest bassists to have ever left the shores of the Cameroons and now residing in London, is Sam Djengue. His playing techniques also well compliment every recorded track by Alafia, as well as other recordings he’s recorded and performed with in various genres. 
 
OKOFI ADU - drums
 
Okofi originally came from Ghana, West Africa, in the late 70’s with the band Boombaya. He has toured and recorded with the band Hi-Life International (UK), and has since worked with various African and international performing and recording artists here in the UK and abroad. He has also recorded with artists CBS (Canada) EMI (UK) and Decca (West Africa). 
 
Catch all four as ALAFIA on Saturday 25th May 2019 
Doors at 8pm 
 
Tickets are £12 or £10 concessions 
Online now from See Tickets WeGotTickets Skiddle 
 
Continental bar from next week