Music
Press
But according to Saphia Ngalapi who reported for ArtMatters.Info from Zanzibar, Yunasi were arguably the best performers in Zanzibar as they seemed to put a spell on the festival. The nine-member Yunasi group were the last on stage on February 10 and performed till 1.00am and their show was packed!
Yunasi began with their well loved songs like African Night, Manyanga, Nang'i Amana and wound up with Ndi Ndi Ndi that calls for moderate drinking for those who imbibe alcoholic beverages.
"At this juncture, hundreds of music lovers just could not restrain themselves from dancing any more and each one of them danced in the best way they knew how," Ngalapi reports, adding that some of the dancers got on stage and danced with Yunasi to Ndi Ndi Ndi.
"Hapo jukwaani watu walicheza mpaka wakalala chini, wapo waliovua mashati na fulana ili mradi burudani ilikuwa nzuri kwani ilisuuza nyoyo za mashabiki (While on stage, some of the dancers did their gig till they lay on stage, music seeping through them, controlling them. Some removed their shirts and sweaters in order to relieve themselves of anything that appeared to hinder their dance moves).
One music lover, Ngalapi says, praised Yunasi's quality of, arrangement of music instruments and their unique dance style of lifting a leg as they spin.
“Ahaaaa Yunasi nimewavulia kofia, achana nao kabisa kwani wapo mbali kisanaa na wanajua nini wanafanya na kitu gani wawapekee mashabiki wao” (I pay my respects to Yunasi. Their art is well developed and they also know how to entertain the audience), said Mussa Ally, a resident of Mpendae area of Zanzibar.
And Thobias Imani did not disappoint: He demonstrated his versatility in strumming the guitar with a finger as he joined his band-mates in a single file as they ruled the stage with music and dance to the great delight of their music fans.
- Art Matters, Kenya
....And if their success continues, 2008 could be the year of Yunasi with the signing of an international record deal... Watch this space! - Phat Buzz - Nairobi
Having been in the music industry for over 10 years, Yunasi, a group of talented Kenyan musicians, seems to have understood the rules of the showbiz game. They entered the music fray from the slums when Kenyan music was increasingly getting hip hop.....
When the band played at the BBC's famous Maida Vale studios in London, their stage antics wowed many. Their energy, spontaneity and ability to engage the audience with their artistic magic was hailed by critics as a rare feat. - Business Daily - Nairobi
Music group Yunasi finally managed to overcome the financial hurdle last month to attend the Australian music festival 'Bluesfest'. Yunasi pulled crowds during their three days of scheduled at the festival. At one point organisers (of the festival) had to ask security to make a path for festival goers for them to be able to get in through the main gate. The massive Yunasi crowd was spilling out of the tent as far as the eye could see and blocking the entrance!.....
There's more, much more from Yunasi, the word is spreading and the current line-up is bulging.... - Nairobi Star - Kenya
Discography
Singles - 'Shamaheri' 2006 & 'Ndi Ndi Ndi' 2007. Albums - Nangi Amana 2006 & Nairobi - Sounds of Sesube' 2007. Radio airplay and interviews on BBC World Service, BBC local radio stations and VOA. Kiss FM Kenya, Hot 96 FM Kenya, WRFG-FM Atlanta, Brussels FM Belgium and many more. TV documentaries and interviews by Reuters - Africa Journal, CNN Inside Africa, BBC World Service and Africa on your street, CNBC. Nation Media and KTN. Tracks available on Last FM. Videos available on U Tube, just type 'yunasi' in search box.
Both albums available for download at www.yunasi.com. Promoters please contact me directly for free download link.
Photos
Bio
Yunasi USA 2010
Yunasi will tour the US in 2010. We are currently working with our agent in the states and will play approx 40 dates in 25 cities from May - August 2010.
The band will be also touring in Thailand in January and February 2010.
Please contact me directly for more information.
'We sing about happiness, we sing about all these wars, we sing about AIDS. We really try to put the message through our songs, whilst at the same time making the whole show very danceable' Ngalah - Yunasi
Yunasi have been named BBC 'Next Big Thing', winning through from over 2000 acts from 88 countries. For originality, songwriting and performance they were judged 'overwhemingly the best'. 'Wide open, beautiful exuberant vocals, a joy to listen to' William Orbit 'An amazing band' Tahita Bulmer
Want to see just HOW GOOD Yunasi are? - Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnrYssZPHXQ , not the ideal quality but gives a good idea of the bands stunning live performance.
'"Yunasi did really well at Bluesfest - they were one of our better selling bands for their CD's at our merchandise tent, and that greatly reflects on how well received they were by Bluesfest's audience. pretty good going when up against the likes of Sinead O'Connor, Buddy Guy, John Fogerty, Keith urban, Jools Holland and lot's more.
They really are to be congratulated.
Please come back soon."
Peter Noble
Festival Director
Bluesfest
With top music industry and world media awards, massive international festival performances and growing worldwide recognition it's only a matter of time before Yunasi seriously hit the big time.
Yunasi showstopper at BLUESFEST!
Yunasi's Saturday evening performance at last years Bluesfest East Coast Blues and Roots Festival in Byron Bay, Australia caused chaos when the sheer number of people trying to get to see the show blocked access from the main festival entrance! Yunasi have also just had a hugely succesful 9 night, 5 gig tour of Thailand playing at Todd Lavelles 'World Musiq' festivals in Bangkok & Koh Chang.
In 2004, YUNASI developed a unique East African music style called SESUBE which is a combination of sega, isukuti and benga. It takes sounds and inspirations from local Kenyan communities, cultural styles and languages and fuses those sounds with a European component. The sound is achieved by playing a variety of instruments, both traditional and modern.
In December 2007 Yunasi were voted 'overwhelming' winners of the BBC 'Next Big Thing' competition, From over 2000 acts from 88 countries Yunasi were voted outright winners by a panel of top music industry judges including Talvin Singh, William Orbit, Nile Rodgers and Tahita Bulman.
Yunasi went on to play at the indig02 Dome on the same bill as Squeeze, Daby Toure, Carbon/Silicon, Toumast and Katie Melua.
Recently, the band achieved 2nd place in the World of Music Awards 2008 (WOMA) from the wearelistening organisation losing by one point from the judging panel.
In March 2006, YUNASI were announced the prize-winners at the prestigious US International Songwriting Contest for the song JI OPOGORE (The Difference of People) obtaining third-place in the World Music category out of 16,000 entries from all over the world.
They also won the 2004 Kisima Award for best afro-fusion band in Kenya and were nominated for an all-African Kora award in South Africa in 2003.
The band comprises 8 men from East Africa. They sing in several languages including Swahili, English, French, Luo, Kisii and Luhya.
'Yunasi live is an experience not to be missed'
'Yunasi - the African Manu Chao?'
'Yunasi's live show is something magical'
'If you want to dance like you've never danced before go and witness Yunasi live!'
Been there... Going here!
YUNASI Tours and Festivals:
2008 - Bayimba Festival, Uganda. Headline act
2008 - Todd Lavelles World Musiq Festivals, Thailand. Headline act
2008 - Bluesfest, Australia, (3 performances).
2008 - Sauti Za Busara, Zanzibar. Headline act
2007 - Indig02, 02 Dome London.
2006 - Festhorn Djibouti, Horn of Africa International Festival
2006 - North Sea Jazz Festival, Nairobi.
2006 - 13 concerts in Belgium, including Ancienne Belgique AB, Brussels and Zuiderpershuis, Antwerp
2005 - The Inter-Cultural Festival, Mayotte.
2004 - Sarakasi Festival in Nairobi.
2003 - 6th Zanzibar International Film Festival, Zanzibar.
2003 - 15th International Africa Festival,Germany.
2003 - Kenya Cultural Week, Paris.
'Since 2001 the group has performed in Kenya, France, Germany, Belgium, Mayotte, Djibouti, Tanzania and London. Their shows are "tight". With fantastic instrumental and vocal harmonies, soulful and contemplative one minute and pumping explosive rythms the next, they guarantee satisfaction to those who enjoy listening as well as dancing' (Sauti Za Busura).
The band has also performed at many prestigious events in Nairobi including;
- FAFA Fashion for Peace at Nairobi
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