Go Africa Harlem 2018, New York City Metro Area News, Profiles

Artist Profile: Sekouba Bolomba, Senior Artistic Director (Africa) will be leading the artist Stages at the Go Africa Harlem 2018 Street Festival on 7/14/2018

We again welcome Mr.  Sekouba Bolomba, Senior Artistic Director (Africa), Go Africa Network Inc, as the lead performer and artist for the upcoming street festival on 7/14 /2018 Visit www.GoAfricaHarlem.org for more information.

The Go Africa Harlem Street Festival will take place on 7/14 /2018  from 10am – 6pm on 116th Street btw. 7th & 8th Aves.  please register at : https://goafricaharlem2018.eventbrite.com   or email Info@GoAfricaHarlem.org or phone 646-502-9778 Ext. 8001

 

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Mr. Sekouba Bolomba is an Ivorian reggae musician. In the tradition of jamaican roots reggae from the 70s, Sekouba combines an eclectic mix of traditional West African rhythms known as Bolomba, using djembe drums and balafons. His potent lyrics, heavy ideas, and delicate voice are laced in his music in four different languages: English, French, Malinke and Bambara. He humbly has graced stages around the globe with generous performances, including Israel, Germany, Switzerland, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, the United States of America and Canada.

After being enriched into the roots of the Bolomba style, the young Sekouba came alive with the West African sounds of the Mandinka. Sekouba’s desire to sing came naturally but it was never a reality without the musical influence of his brother, Ismael Isaac. Sekouba’s other musical influences include, Lucky Dube, Alpha Blondy, and Bob Marley. 243695_4250615666917_1978768217_o

Sekouba’s uplifting and heartening lyrics enliven audiences with spiritual liberation and African consciousness. His debut album “I’m So Glad” was self-produced in New York City and arranged by Oscar Ankou. Sekouba’s sophomore album in 2010 “Sejo” was co-produced by Sidney Mills, Grammy award-winning reggae artist and keyboard player for the legendary reggae band Steel Pulse. The album includes outstanding liberal tracks like “Mandela” featuring Bob Marley’s guitarist Junior Marvin from The Wailers. “Mandela” is a sharp and arousing tribute to former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, and has been well-received by international fans.

Sekouba and his band Bolumba Stylee have decorated the nation with groovy, soulful performances at venues and festivals such as Festival Nuits d’Afrique in Montreal, Canada; Abi Festival in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Fête de la Musique in Mali; SummerStage in New York City, alongside Israeli artist Idan Raichel; NJPAC SummerStage; New Haven Music Festival; Brooklyn’s International African Arts Festival; S.O.B.’s; Shrine World Music Venue; and many more. Sekouba’s music is inspired by a conglomerate of modern day music, and the ancestral dialogue passed down to him as a descendant of a long line of griots. In one show, Sekouba’s listeners share in a universal experience. 12227056_10208321335974308_8777459754701423514_n

Sekouba is the youngest brother of Isaac Ismael, the lead singer in Ivory Coast’s best known musical group. He currently lives in New York City and is the Senior Artistic Director for the Go Africa Network 2016 (NYC).

 

Sekouba’s bio is in the May 2016 edition of L3 Magazine, North America.s #1 Urban-Caribbean online publication.

 

Sekouba’s next album ”Imagine” will be released in early 2017.

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