Black Arts Fest Concert Series Presents: Dobet Gnahoré

IN A NUTSHELL

Ivorian Dobet Gnahoré brings transfixing vocals and high energy dancing with special Winnipeg guests.

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Black Arts Fest & West End Cultural Centre present an evening with Grammy Award winner and Radio 3 World Music Award nominee Dobet Gnahoré. Dobet is a singer, dancer and percussionist from the Ivory Coast and sings in French and seven African languages. Her incredible band bring ranges from her native popular music, ziglibiti, to Congolese rumba plus Western African Mandinka melodies carried along with jazz-like sounds. Dobet’s powerful voice, intensely captivating stage presence and high energy dance routines all promise the audience an inspired, energetic and beautiful performance.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Live music gig with international artist Dobet Gnahoré and local artists. VIP meet and greet before the show.

WHO’S INVOLVED

Adeline Bird is from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Born Ojibwe and African descent. Her passion and drive for inspiring people to live more consciously, and, for storytelling, gave birth to her podcast "Soul Unexpected". Her talent as a host has led her to hosting festivals such as "Spur Fest" and "Winnipeg Pride 2017". She's also featured in Huffington Post's "Like A Tourist", and was recently in the running for CBC Manitoba's Future Leaders of Tomorrow Award. Adeline can be heard hosting the weekly Indigenous Top 40's Countdown on NCI and Sirius XM Radio.

Dobet Gnahoré is a singer from Côte d'Ivoire. The daughter of percussionist Boni Gnahoré, she plays with the group Na Afriki, consisting mainly of French and Tunisian musicians, who accompany her with the guitar, sanza, the balafon, the calebasse and bongos. Due to the civil war, she moved to France in 1999. With more than 800 concerts since 2004, the Grammy Award winning artist has sung before President Obama and performed at the world-renowned Kennedy Center.

Rhonda Thompson aka ‘Fenom’ has been an avid performer in Winnipeg and across Canada for several years and in a few genres including hip hop, reggae, and gospel. She’s opened for The Roots w/Magnum K.I., showcased at Canadian Music Week in Toronto and continues to be a fixture at Calgary Reggae Festival.

The Guerrillas of Soul creates a compelling blend of folk, funk, indie-rock, and Afrobeat- underpinned by jazz and blues - that will inspire the hearts in most. The duo’s music is rooted in a love of human stories that define us all. The Guerrillas of Soul casts these stories through their music, as the band’s name suggests, with a worldwide concern for equality and social justice. They’ve stomped their feet on the Rainbow Trout Folk Festival, The Last Dance Festival (Cape Town) and TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival stages; opened for Lee Fields & The Expressions and Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi; and gave the musical tribute to award-winning author, Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela at the Sol Kanee Lecture.

PARTNERS

West End Cultural Centre is a non-profit, charitable organization and music venue that promotes local, national, and international artists by fostering artistic development. WECC presents, enables and encourages live music and artistic expression and provide a meeting place for artists and the community. Performers appreciate the intimate nature and superb sound of the theatre, as well as the dedicated audience and devoted volunteers. A few of the performers to play the WECC have been: Neko Case, The Weakerthans, Feist, Tanya Tagaq, Lyle Lovett, Gordon Lightfoot, Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi, and Measha Brueggergosman.

Leartify is an influence media house that focuses on the African millennial living in North America. From attending empowering workshops and fashion shows to creating accessible channels on our platform, we stay connected to our audience by getting involved in the activities they love. Leartify is a great partner for millennial creatives, business owners and content creators who are looking for impactful ways to gain exposure and create awareness for their brands.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Dobet makes everything move. - Chicago Tribune

The Grammy-Award winner’s gorgeous voice cuts through to magical effect. - BBC

WOMAD’s best act. - The Guardian

Gnahoré’s not-so-secret weapon for lifting her performance to another level was her wild, acrobatic dancing, which she saved for exactly the right moments. - The Boston Globe