Ohanglaman Makadem in Paris

Dreadlocked ethnic fusion singer Makadem is creating musical waves in the city of love, writes GEORGE ORIDO

Kenya’s Afro-fusion star Ohanglaman Makadem has landed the prestigious 2012 ‘Visas pour la création’ residency in Paris.

The talented singer, whose vocal prowess and musical discourse is richly from old ethnic beats and songs from the lake region, is set to showcase his class.

The former Spotlight on Kenyan Music Finalist (2005) is attending a three-month music residency course at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris.

Ohanglaman Makadem in Paris [Photo: Standard]

He will work alongside Angolan musical star Lulendo Mvulu, whose mastery in likembe/kalimba is insipring.

Makadem will also get a chance to hone his guitar strumming skills alongside celebrated Lingala guitarist Syrian Mbenza.

The Congolese guitarist has been a force to reckon with since the 1990s when he featured in numerous rhumba and soukous hits.

It will be interesting to see how the charged performer, Makadem, will collaborate with such huge megastars. 

The ‘Visas pour la création’ programme is an Arts residency programme supported by the Institut Français, the French agency for international cultural cooperation. 

Apart from Makadem there are a few other African singers for the course. They include Burkina Faso singer Mohamed Kaboré dit Alif Naaba and Senegalese fast-rising star Naby Ibrahima Condé dit Naby. The trio will be joined by Cameroonian songstress Lydie Natacha Mamba dit Idylle Mamba.

 According to Harsita Waters, the cultural manager at Alliance Francaise, the scholarship also awards writers, dancers, theatre artistes and visual artistes.

Last year Makadem perfomed with Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 in Copenhagen, Denmark to a great reception.

Seun Kuti is the son to the legendary founder of Afro Beat, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

"It was inspirational to grace the stage with such a big band," said Makadem.

Seun Kuti is a chip off an old block and a brother to yet another musical genius in Femi Kuti. Incidentally, Fela’s Egypt 80 band, which is based at his shrine, was inherited by Seun upon his death.

"It was one of the biggest shows to date for me," explained Makadem, who has on some occasion been referred to as East Africa’s answer to the great Fela himself!

Upon his return from European circuit, Makadem decided to sell his music far into central Africa region. He immediately embarked on a tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), perfoming in Kinshasha and its environs.

Makadem mixes hip-hop with the sounds of Afro fusion laced with Luo traditional Ohangla drums, Nyatiti beats intertwined with Western rhythms.

The music popularly referred to as Anglo-Ohangla is a fusion of Ohangla, Nyatiti and Dodo — traditional Luo music.

His is a joyful marriage of African beats and heavily accented Luo-English vocals. His hits include Kisumu Bound Bus — humorous and witty, yet culturally oriented and powerfully tackles social and economic issues.

He tackles issues that affect people of all walks of life and that is the reason why all age groups always find something to relate to and identify with his songs.

"I love dancing to his music and even though I don’t at times get the lyrics, I get the message through his movements and accentuation," said one of the fans after he performed at Nairobi’s Carnivore with Zimbabwe’s Oliver Mtukuzi and Kenyan diva Suzzana Owiyo.