Taste of Chicago, July 1: Occidental Brothers featuring Samba Mapangala

Occidental Brothers Dance Band Int'l featuring Samba Mapangala

Chicago’s Occidental Brothers Dance Band Int’l plays classic Central and West African dance music—specializing in soukous, Highlife, Rumba, Dry Guitar, and other delights from the great continent. The multi-racial band mixes their backgrounds in traditional African music, jazz, and underground rock to bring these classic sounds to life. The group has been winning over a diverse audience of listeners, dancers and rockers, and causing a buzz among established African music critics! Word of the group’s electrifying live shows is spreading as they play sold-out shows with Afropop legend Oliver Mtukudzi and art-pop superstar Andrew Bird. The group recently played another sold-out show in March appearing as a featured group in Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music’s Afrofolk series.

Dates: Jul 1, 2010

Hours: 6:40 - 8 pm

Location: The Illinois Lottery Taste Stage Balbo & Columbus Dr. Chicago, IL 60604

Admission: FREE

Website: For additional information please visit, http://occidentalbrothers.com

Facebook | Samba Mapangala

Facebook | Samba Mapangala

Official Facebook page for Samba just created!

Samba takes his career down a new path: Chicago Reader article

A tribute to the president brought together Chicago's Occidental Brothers Dance Band International and their new front man: African superstar Samba Mapangala.

Blame Obama! | Music Feature | Chicago Reader

Music Video for the Mountain Gorillas

Samba Mapangala --- Les Gorilles des Montagnes

From VipiAfrica.com: WWF teamed up with the much-loved Congolese musician Samba Mapangala and his Orchestra Virunga to work on a new conservation resource – one that drives home a positive message in an upbeat tune and uplifting tone. The song “Les Gorilles des Montagnes” focuses on why Mountain gorillas and their habitat in the Virunga landscape are important, emphasizing that they are the foundation of ecotourism, which will improve local livelihoods. It pays special tribute to the rangers and other conservationists of Virunga who dedicate their lives to protecting gorillas. The song was recorded in Swahili, the most commonly spoken language of the Virunga landscape.

Produced by Paul Ndiho, and also featuring guitarist John Bashengezi, and of course, the endangered mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park in Congo DRC.


Samba Mapangala: Les Gorilles des Montagnes

Vipi Africa: Using Music to Conserve Mountain Gorillas

Vipi Africa: Using Music to Conserve Mountain Gorillas

Voice of America's documentary filmmaker Paul Ndiho interviews Samba about his new song "Les Gorilles des Montagnes" recorded in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness of their mission to protect the endangered Mountain Gorillas of Virunga National Park in Congo. The song is available as a free download at http://drop.io/GorillaSong, or http://myspace.com/SambaMapangala
 

Samba Mapangala at Kennedy Center, Washington DC

Video of the June 20 concert for UNHCR World Refugee Day can be accessed here (scroll down): http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=VIRUNGAVIR

Samba Mapangala's African rumba for free Saturday evening

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And now a word from our sponsor

For more information about Samba Mapangala, check the following links:
www.myspace.com/sambamapangala
http://cdbaby.com/cd/mapangala

For more photos from the tour, visit the essential African music discussion board, AfricAmbiance.org