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African Culture takes the Stage at
Penn’s Landing This Summer, Press Release... 04 August, 2010 ACANA IS 10 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR!!!! For immediate release Contact: Abraham C. Walker 215-729-8225….x109 The African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) in partnership with PECO and Delaware River Waterfront Corporation presents internationally acclaimed African guitarist and soukous star originally from Congo, Diblo Dibala and the Loketo band live in Philadelphia this summer. The African star will share the stage with Liberian folklore princess Fatu Gayflor, the famous Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble based in Metro Philadelphia, and the Liberian Drum and Dance group, The Liberian Theater at a multicultural event at the Penn’s Landing on Saturday, August 7, 2010. Diblo Dibala, often known simply as Diblo, is a Congolese soukous musician, known as "Machine Gun" for his speed and skill on the guitar. He was born in 1954 in Kisangani. He moved to Kinshasa as a child, and at age 15 won a talent competition which led to him playing guitar in Franco's TPOK band. Dibala remained with the group for only a short period, going on to play with Vox Africa, Orchestra Bella Mambo and Bella Bella, in which band he first played with Kanda Bongo Man. In 1979, he moved to Brussels, and in 1981 he joined Kanda Bongo Man's band in Paris. Their first album, Iyole (1981), was a success. Diblo became a sought after session guitarist, working with Pepe Kalle and many other soukous musicians. In the mid 1980s, he formed his own band, Loketo (meaning 'hips'), with singer Aurlus Mabele. A few years later, that band broke up, and in 1990 he formed a new group, Matchatcha, which is still active after a number of personnel changes. Another headliner in this year festival is a cultural and folklore sensational, Princess Fatu Gayflor. Fatu is a Liberian singer. Dubbed "Princess Fatu, the golden voice of Liberia", she has performed at major music venues and festivals throughout the world and has made a number of recordings. Born in the village of Kakata in northwestern Liberia, Gayflor is a member of the Lorma ethnic group. As a child she learned the rituals and song of her people and learned to play the sekere as a member of the sande society. In 1978, at just 12 years of age, she joined the Liberian National Cultural Troupe (LNCT) in Keneja. With the LNCT she learned traditional songs from 16 different ethnic groups across Liberia. She eventually became the group's lead singer and toured throughout the world with the ensemble; notably performing at the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition. Gayflor made her first two solo albums in Liberia during the mid 1980s. She left the country for the Ivory Coast in 1989 due to the First Liberian Civil War; making her third album while residing in a refugee camp. She lived for a time as a refugee in Guinea before emigrating to the state of Pennsylvania in the United States where she currently resides. She has become a fixture at folk music events in the Philadelphia area, such as the Philadelphia Folk Festival. She currently teaches at the Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School which is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts The headliners will be joining other U.S. and African based Artists and performers at the event. They will include: Ambassador/Artist Moses Swaray of Liberia, who will be crown ACANA Artist of the year”, Rose Brown, Philly Fantastic Steel Orchestra, the famous Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble and the Liberian Dance and Drumming Group among others. The event is part of a $50,000.00 (FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) fundraising activities to support the expansion of ACANA youth behavior and wellness program. The program utilizes Arts and Culture as a medium to discourage the following behavioral health issues: • The negative impact of Drug and Alcohol • Treatment trauma associated civil conflict • Family counseling and therapy The event host, the African Cultural Alliance of North America Inc., (ACANA) is a 10 year old non-profit Organization that promotes social, arts and culture, economic development in Southwest Philadelphia. We primarily focus our services on the more than 200,000 African and Caribbean immigrants in the city. ACANA will bring out the “Who’s Who” in the African immigrant communities and in doing so, will raise awareness and funds for ACANA promotions of the communities’ arts and the expansion of the after school and computer lab programs. The awareness and funds that are raised will be a direct reflection of the Philadelphia spirit displayed by all of the contributors related to the event as well as the supporters in attendance. The ultimate goal is to support the wellness of our young people, the local African immigrant communities’ arts and culture and show our grateful appreciation for them by providing significant financial support for the African Cultural Alliance of North America, ACANA events. The event will also be broadcasted live on www.newliberiafm.com; an internet radio station gear towards community building through education and entertainment. |
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