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Okavango African Orchestra
Multiple instruments, languages, and countries come together to define the music of Okavango African Orchestra.
The JUNO Award-winning group Okavango African Orchestra is an ambitious musical ensemble created by the Batuki Music Society. Artistic Director Nadine McNulty assembled a cast of accomplished African-born musicians who now live in Toronto and Montreal: Daniel Nebiat (krar, composer, vocals), Kofi Ackah (percussion, composer, vocals), Tichaona Maredza (mbira, guitar, composer, vocals), Sadio Sissokho (kora, tama, djembe, composer, vocals), Ebenezer Agyekum (bass guitar, composer, vocals), Assane Seck (lead guitar, composer, vocals), Aron Niyitunga (guitar, composer, vocals), and Mabinty Sylla (dance).
The orchestra takes its name from the Okavango Delta, a basin in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, where many different animal species come together to feed and find water. Predators and prey are forced to coexist and share the meager resources because of the harsh environment around them. Similarly, Okavango African Orchestra brings together the traditional music and instruments of several major African cultures that historically have had little or no interaction. The musicians of Okavango have created a common meeting place for these disparate cultures and a new musical language that harmonizes their different tuning systems, rhythms, and timbres. The musicians and instruments of Okavango represent a continuum of traditions and cultures from time immemorial to the present day. The multicultural spirit of modern-day Canada bridges ancient African solitudes.
Okavango African Orchestra revisited the site of its triumphant debut, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, to record the group’s debut, self-titled album of ten songs, released in February 2016, which was awarded the 2017 JUNO for World Music Album of the Year. The group released their second album, "Africa Without Borders," in February 2020. The album was nominated for a 2020 JUNO Award for World Music Album of the Year and the 2021 Canadian Folk Music Award.
On November 1, 2023, Okavango released their third album titled "Migration." "Our music is not static; it’s constantly evolving, and like the animals in the Okavango Delta that migrate to greener pastures, the music of Okavango endeavors to reach new territories of migration and exploration. We are not just playing music; we are introducing new concepts, ideas, and ways of working together."
Okavango has performed for presenters and festivals including Glenn Gould Studio, Koerner Hall, Alliance Française, Beanfield Centre, Harbourfront Centre, River Run Centre, Kingston City Hall, Lincoln Alexander Centre, Isabel Bader Performing Arts Centre, Alliance Française, Toronto Jazz Festival, Francophonie-en-Fête, Canada Day, Afrofest, Hot & Spicy Festival, City of Toronto, Cultura360, Sunfest, Randolph Performing Arts Theatre, Markham Flato Theatre, Aga Khan Museum, David Pecaut Square, Mel Lastman Square, Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Sherbrooke World Music Festival, and more.
Okavango African Orchestra looks ahead on its continuing journey to an "Africa without borders… before the borders were created."
www.okavangoorchestra.com
www.facebook.com/okavangoafricanorchestra
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKW8U5WE2KMpLpxXcRMG-cQ
https://okavangoafricanorchestra.bandcamp.com/
Multiple instruments, languages, and countries come together to define the music of Okavango African Orchestra.
The JUNO Award-winning group Okavango African Orchestra is an ambitious musical ensemble created by the Batuki Music Society. Artistic Director Nadine McNulty assembled a cast of accomplished African-born musicians who now live in Toronto and Montreal: Daniel Nebiat (krar, composer, vocals), Kofi Ackah (percussion, composer, vocals), Tichaona Maredza (mbira, guitar, composer, vocals), Sadio Sissokho (kora, tama, djembe, composer, vocals), Ebenezer Agyekum (bass guitar, composer, vocals), Assane Seck (lead guitar, composer, vocals), Aron Niyitunga (guitar, composer, vocals), and Mabinty Sylla (dance).
The orchestra takes its name from the Okavango Delta, a basin in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, where many different animal species come together to feed and find water. Predators and prey are forced to coexist and share the meager resources because of the harsh environment around them. Similarly, Okavango African Orchestra brings together the traditional music and instruments of several major African cultures that historically have had little or no interaction. The musicians of Okavango have created a common meeting place for these disparate cultures and a new musical language that harmonizes their different tuning systems, rhythms, and timbres. The musicians and instruments of Okavango represent a continuum of traditions and cultures from time immemorial to the present day. The multicultural spirit of modern-day Canada bridges ancient African solitudes.
Okavango African Orchestra revisited the site of its triumphant debut, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, to record the group’s debut, self-titled album of ten songs, released in February 2016, which was awarded the 2017 JUNO for World Music Album of the Year. The group released their second album, "Africa Without Borders," in February 2020. The album was nominated for a 2020 JUNO Award for World Music Album of the Year and the 2021 Canadian Folk Music Award.
On November 1, 2023, Okavango released their third album titled "Migration." "Our music is not static; it’s constantly evolving, and like the animals in the Okavango Delta that migrate to greener pastures, the music of Okavango endeavors to reach new territories of migration and exploration. We are not just playing music; we are introducing new concepts, ideas, and ways of working together."
Okavango has performed for presenters and festivals including Glenn Gould Studio, Koerner Hall, Alliance Française, Beanfield Centre, Harbourfront Centre, River Run Centre, Kingston City Hall, Lincoln Alexander Centre, Isabel Bader Performing Arts Centre, Alliance Française, Toronto Jazz Festival, Francophonie-en-Fête, Canada Day, Afrofest, Hot & Spicy Festival, City of Toronto, Cultura360, Sunfest, Randolph Performing Arts Theatre, Markham Flato Theatre, Aga Khan Museum, David Pecaut Square, Mel Lastman Square, Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Sherbrooke World Music Festival, and more.
Okavango African Orchestra looks ahead on its continuing journey to an "Africa without borders… before the borders were created."
www.okavangoorchestra.com
www.facebook.com/okavangoafricanorchestra
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKW8U5WE2KMpLpxXcRMG-cQ
https://okavangoafricanorchestra.bandcamp.com/
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