MARCH 2023 THE VOICE
Sadé Thomas
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The Gospel Truth
Afro Gospel takes centre stage
U
NLESS YOU have been living under a rock, you too have been listening, singing and dancing to Afrobeats, with artists like Burna boy, WizKid and Tems continuing to deliver hit after hit on a global scale. However, the sounds of Africa’s rich culture within music, is not exclusive to the secular charts but also has a big impact on the Christian com-munity, through what is known as Afro Gospel. Afro Gospel, as a sub-genre, em-bodies the danceable beats and largely percussive rhythms present in Afrobeats and matches it to Christian lyricism. The UK in particular, is home to a number of Afro Gospel artists including Limoblaze, the Nige-
Solos festival to showcase some of the UK’s most popular artists rian-born artist whose collaboration with the grammy-award winner Lecrae, on Limoblaze’s single, Jireh, resulted in millions of streams on all music platforms. leadOne of the lead coning figures con tinuing to push Afro Gospel withmusic with in the UK is Emmanuel inset Farinu, left, the founder left and producer of ‘Solos London’, which Goshosts the UK’s largest Afro Gos pel concerts. Last year’s Solos London event, held at Clapham Graham, saw some of the UK’s best
Afro-Gospel’s artists including CalledOut Music, Asha Elia, Happi and Limoblaze perform to a sold out venue. Though Afro Gospel is well loved, Farinu is clear that its audience continues to evolve as “people are passionate about this new sound, and that many more are curious”. Farinu is set on making this year’s Afro Gospel event, taking place on July 15 in Woolwich (3 North Rd, London, SE18 1BS), bigger and better. He enthusiastically shares with me that 2023’s festival will have three different stages, with one held out outdoors. Each stage will showcase different aspects of the continent’s contribution to Gospel music,
including a stage titled ‘Afro Worship’ focusing on the different African cultural expressions of worship and a ‘Discovery’ stage, an opportunity to listen to newer talent who are guaranteed to be the next breakthrough artists. While this is more than enough for ticket holders, as well as celebrating Africa’s different cultures through music, there will also be a number of food vendors present, providing the best of West African cuisine, giving the full Afrocentric experience for each festival-goer. To find out more details on this year’s Solos London event, including how to purchase tickets for updates on artist announcements, follow their Twitter/ Facebook/Instagram accounts @SolosLondon for more details or head directly to their website https://www.soloslondon.co.uk/
IN DEMAND: Nigerian-born artist Limoblaze
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THE VOICE PAN EL VERDICT: After a tough year for the black community there ’s room for hope
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TATE MOD ERN 25 N OV 2021
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VOICE panel of past few months for race activists and en- equality Their conclusion “the seed has trepreneurs was echbeen oed by has planted” Britain’s most to deliver change predicted 2022 senior go- trade union will ing forward. be a better year leader, Dr Patrick than the last Roach who Black Britain was one. seeing a message, said, in a New Year new generation Looking into their that black workers of activism crystal ball and had the power the panel said entrepreneurship. to force change that although One and tackle panellist said: “The we had survived structural racism. tide is cera turbulent tainly changing.”
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Lubaina Himid Le Rodeur: The Exchange Courtesy of the artist and Hollybush 2016 © Lubaina Himid Gardens, London.
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