nasambu and the mystic nomads

The sounds of West and East Africa were heard loud and clear on the evening of September 12th in Santa Monica at Zanzibar, and despite the diversity of the origins of the music, the result was surprisingly cohesive.

The night started off with DJ Cee Brown spinning a variety of songs from different countries, including Punjabi MC’s 2002 hit Mundian To Back Ke (Beware of the Boys). The diverse mix of songs helped set a very worldly mood despite the event’s emphasis on African music.

After Cee Brown started things off, all eyes were on Khaleye Nguewel Thi Keur Gui, a renowned group of drummers from Senegal that are known as some of the top drummers in LA. Led by Director Aziz Faye, the group has performed all over the city including at the UCLA Fowler Museum. Faye also performed live with Youssou N’dour, Senegal’s most popular singer of all time, as well as famed artists from other nations such as Peter Gabriel.

The group of about 10 drummers got the crowd involved from the first few minutes with their unique Sabar style, which was handed down by generations of drummers in their families and consists of rapid drumming and constantly shifting melodies. The vibe was so genuine that the audience members could close their eyes and picture themselves in the heart of Senegal’s capital Dakar.

However, even with their eyes open, the Senegalese vibe could still be felt because the music was supplemented by a video that showcased everyday life in Senegal that was displayed on a large screen. Some of the dancers eventually left their drums behind to perform some frantic dance moves, which also thrilled the crowd.

Though it lasted for around an hour, the drumming seemed to last much longer because of the constant melodic changes the drummers made during their spontaneous, playful routine

Kenyan artist Nasambu later arrived on the stage, symbolizing the effortless cohesion of West African and East African music that took place that night. Faye also came onstage to play drums during her songs.

Nasambu started off with Roof over My Head, a soulful number with a slow beat. Demonstrating her versatility, Nasambu switched languages, singing in Spanish on the song Aqua de Rosas which was performed in homage to the song’s creator Lila Downs.

Nasambu eventually switched languages again, to her native language Kaswahili to perform several songs, such as Sitakuacha (I will never leave you), and Malaika (Angel), the latter performed in homage to William Fadhili, who wrote the song exactly 50 years ago.

With the distinct styles featured throughout the show, the vibe of the night definitely illustrated the cultural diversity of Los Angeles as a whole. Phoenix Rising Collective, which organized the show, promises to feature more events similar to this on a monthly basis. - Elias Kamal Jabbe