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King Marong & Afro Mandinko
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KING MARONG
King Marong Born in Bakau in The Gambia King has been performing professionally since the age of 12. Developing his skills in his coastal fishing village where he grew up with the griots and international musicians who were his mentors for Senegambian drumming and cultural priorities. In his late teens he formed his band Kunta Kinteh and consequently travelled with it in The Gambia, Senegal and Europe. King has built an international reputation as a master of many African drumming styles on instruments such as the Djembe, Doundoun and Sabar, teaching percussion to students from around the world. “People in my classes speak many different languages Since arriving in Australia, King has developed a reputation as being a versatile and dynamic performer. He has worked with local West African and Australian artists to introduce the complex and powerful drumming rhythms, melodic kora music and vivid dance style of his culture to Australia. His involvement in many collaborative projects has enabled him to work with both local and international musicians including energetic live percussive dance music with local DJ’s, to the sleek and sophisticated ‘afro-jazz-reggae-funk-fusion’ of his band Afro Mandinko Sounds. For this project King has been collaborating with some of Melbourne’s premier musicians, playing and arranging the traditional songs of the Gambia with a contemporary feel. Now a resident in Melbourne, King has taught percussion to students from the USA, Europe, Netherlands, Scandinavia, UK, Japan, Australia, NZ and Canada. He performs regularly at festivals, ceremonies, private celebrations, corporate functions and has been artist in residence at many government and private schools in Australia. A cultural ambassador for Senegambia, King has created the Safara Music School in Melbourne where he teaches djembe on various levels. His band King Marong and Safara, formed in 2001, it is an acoustic, percussion-based representation of the many traditional songs and dances performed for local Senegambian ceremonies in both the city and the villages. Safara incorporates vocals, djembe, sabar, doundoun, kora, dance, cow bell and shakers in a spiritually inspiring repertoire of dynamic tribal rhythms and visually stimulating dance routines specific to Senegal and The Gambia.
OUSMANE ‘BOBO’ DIALLO Born into the Fulani tribe in Ziguinchor in the Casamance region of Senegal, Bobo began her career as a dancer at the age of 11, studying under master dance instructor Akasar with the Ballet African. Spending four years with the Ballet African and six years after that with the Casamance Ballet, these ballet companies were kept very busy performing in the area, being particularly popular at the local resorts and hotels where they performed ceremonial dances for visiting tourists and travelers. In the time around 1994 an increase in rebel activity and fighting for independence from Senegal erupted in the Casamance region. This made traveling in this region unsafe for tourists and there was a decline in the industry and in turn a decline in the work for artists. Many artists chose to leave Casamance and work elsewhere to support their families, as did Bobo. Moving north to The Gambia, Bobo began dancing for the Duniya Ballet. It is there where she worked with King Marong and studied the dance styles of the Mandinka tribe and Sabar, Boucarabou and Sewurba dance traditions. In 2003 she moved to Australia with her husband and daughter and since then has been teaching and performing regularly with groups including: Senegambian Allstars, Royal Drummers, Warako Musica, Blue Turban Percussion, Zazu, Safara, Voyeurhythmics and King Marong and Afro Mandinko Sounds. She has made a valuable contribution to the Melbourne dance scene with her passion, her natural ability and the authenticity with which she performs, promoting her culture and her craft.
MICHAEL HAVIR Michael Havir has worked for the past 16 years composing, arranging, directing and performing music for theatre, contemporary dance, community arts, film and TV, multimedia and bands. He has played and toured nationally and internationally with Australian artists Blek Bala Mujik, Yothu Yindi, Coloured Stone, Frank Yamma, KerriAnne Cox, ska-jazz outfit Skazz as well as Congolese band Warako Musica featuring Passi Joe and Tchico Tchicaya. At present he is working with Gambian master drummer Ebrima ‘King’ Marong and his ensemble Afro Mandinko Sounds, a fusion of the traditional songs and rhythms of West Africa with a contemporary influence.
RICHMOND Brain Richmond has been professionally involved in the music industry for over fifteen years as both a performer, producer and educator (ranging from primary to tertiary level education)
DAVID JOSEPH David has worked as a multi-skilled performer, both nationally and internationally for 20 years. He has worked as an actor (I.C.E.- The Tower of Light, The Teratology Project, Chamber Made Opera- The Cars that Ate Paris, Greek, The Two Executioners), a dancer V.S.O.-Joan of Arc, a circus performer, Circus Oz, Splatto Circus, a community artist West Theatre Co., a musician (dozens of bands), a street theatre performer Batacuda, and a teacher Artists in Schools, Circus Oz. He has toured extensively in Australia (all major festivals) and internationally including Colombia, U.S.A, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and the U.K.
CONRAD HENDERSON Conrad has been performing professionally for several years in all styles ranging from jazz to afro and funk, Latin (Cuban) and R&B. His involvement in the world music scene has lead him to work nationally and internationally with several bands, notably Grand Union Band (England), Mother Gong (England), Warako Musica (Paris and Congo), and Latin Bands Rumberos, Pachuco Playboys and Havana Connection.
BECK MATTHEWS Click here for a list of AFRO MANDINKO's up coming gig's. Email King Marong at kingmarong@yahoo.com
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