Portraits from Africa

Pictures of reclusive tribesmen in remote African hideaways.

Jonh Kenny, who took up photography when he started snapping shoppers in Portobello Road, west London tracked down members of the most isolated rural communities on the continent and persuaded them to pose for a series of striking portrait shots.

The Images capture their traditions dress, piercings, facial scarring and they nomad way of living.

Jonh Kenny is showing is work at the 3 Bedfordbury Gallery in Covent Garden,central London,
until Saturday.

Not to be missed

Manifesto: a means of expression

Manifesto presents ZongZing All Stars

Bridging the Atlantic, from Congo to London


Manifesto is bringing a 8-piece band featuring top Congolese musicians to perform at The Double Club on Thursday 4th June 2009. The band - ZongZing All Stars - have been exploring and nurturing the ‘Soukous’ music from The Democratic Republic of Congo throughout the UK and further afield for the past years, they have played many venues and festivals, never failing to get audiences up and dancing to their spiritually uplifting sound.

ZongZing All Stars music is colourful and joyous and combines intricate guitar picking with a raw harmony singing style. The exciting interplay between the musicians epitomizes what great live music is all about. Band members are Fiston Lusambo on Lead and Mi Lead guitar, Ladi Mbala on Rhythmic Guitar, Declo on Bass, and Burkina faso on Lead Guitar and Mi Lead Guitar, Aimee Bongongo Vocal, Gianni Calugi on Vocals, Saidi Kanda on Conga and Gires on Drumers.

This will be a tremendously enjoyable evening that should appeal to African music devotees and also an entirely new audience looking to experience one of the most ‘infectiously danceable forms of music in the world!’

Manifesto Acoustic is a concept whereby live music, afro-beats and DJ sessions intertwine.

Manifesto: a means of expression

ADAD THE BLOOM FESTIVAL OF DANCE OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA

Presented  by the association of Dance of the African Diaspora, this festival sees dance of the African Diaspora springing up all over Southbank Centre during two days of performances, workshops, film and talks.

Free events include a Kizomba Jam on Saturday 6 June and a Caribbean dance masterclass on Sunday 7 June, both in The Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall.

The highlight is an exciting mixed bill including works from up-and-coming black choreographers, dancers and companies including Freddie Opuku-Addaie, Mohammed Dordoh, Vocab Dance, Tolo Kolo, Imani Jendai and Avant-Garde Dance.

Not to be missed.

Manifesto : a means  of expression.

Viviane Sassen, photographer

"I was really taken with Amsterdam-based photographer Viviane Saasen and i would like to share with you her work.

Her photographs, taken in Uganda, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, tease fashion conventions but with really witty and unexpected results, partly because her subjects are all young Africans who seem to have enjoyed collaborating with her.

She tends to treat the body as a sculptural element- a malleable shape that combines blocks of shadow and bright colours in arrangements that sometimes read like cut-paper collages, bold and abstract but full of vibrant life".

Manifesto: a means of expression