UK: Egyptian musician Hossam Ramzy and his accompanying belly dancers are well received at African music festival in London

Record ID: 455395

  • Title: UK: Egyptian musician Hossam Ramzy and his accompanying belly dancers are well received at African music festival in London
  • Date: 8th September 2008
  • Summary: NIGERIAN MUSICIAN TUNDAY AKINTAN WALKING ON TO STAGE AKINTAN PLAYING SAXOPHONE BAND MEMBERS PERFORMING MORE OF AKINTAN PLAYING SAXOPHONE AUDIENCE MEMBERS DANCING WITH BAND PERFORMER AKINTAN SINGING AKINTAN ON STAGE WITH BAND SINGING
  • Embargoed: 23rd September 2008 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVA2UXPXN5FCDF3X0DK91YT83V9I
  • Story Text: Acclaimed Egyptian musician Hossam Ramzy performs at an an African music festival in London, delighting the audience with his sounds and a belly dancing spectacle performed by his troupe to the accompaniement of his music.
    Egyptian artist Hossam Ramzy thrilled audiences with his authentic Egyptian percussion rhythms at the London African Music Festival (LAMF) on Friday (September 5).
    Known world wide for his percussion and string arrangements, Ramzy has collaborated with famous artists including Peter Gabriel and the Gypsy Kings.
    Ramzy said the LAMF organiser Biyi Adepegba had made him aware that, as a citizen of Egypt, he was an African.

    "Biyi Adepegba said to me: 'You are from Africa you know, you are an African person'. And I thought: 'Yeah, yeah, you know what, we are'. And that opened a whole continent to me with all its cultural, with all its colour, with all its food," he said.
    Given his first drum, the Egyptian Tabla, at the age of three, Ramzy combines his music with a show of traditional belly dancing.
    Ramzy said many people did not understand the subtle art of belly dancing and the dancers' interpretation of the music.

    "It's a great pleasure to present to the people that belly dancing and Egyptian dancing is not shaking your belly, or being erotic or exotic or something like this. It's, like, a true art of translating the music," he said.
    Adepegba said the festival enabled him to bring together the different music styles from across the African continent.

    "African music is different, you know. Every single band is different. Every single country is different. Within a country you might have five major musical styles. It's very difficult to pick one. So when you have the opportunity to bring everything together it's like a short holiday without actually leaving Waterloo," the festival organiser said.
    Audience member Talab said he had enjoyed the evening of music and dance.

    "I think London needs that sort of music, bringing it from Africa and from all other places in the world. Especially in Africa and Egypt I think was very nice tonight. The pleasure, it gives a sense of music which you can see with your eyes as well. And now especially the dancer, it was beautiful," Talab, an audience member said.
    An energetic fusion of a Nigerian percussion beat with a Western jazzy melody lifted audiences out of their seats as 25 year old Nigerian born musican, Tunday Akintan, drew from his Yoruba tribal roots in Nigeria to create a unique blend of music he has called Yorubeat.
    Akintan, the son of a prominent accountant in Nigeria, drew his inspiration from Nigerian artist Fela Kuti and James Brown.
    The festival, which ended on Sunday (September 7) was held at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank complex and is scheduled to feature regularly on the arts centre's events calender.
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