Congolese singing sensation, Lokua Kanza, will perform alongside South Africa's Louis Mhlanga to celebrate Africa Day at the Bassline

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Two of Africa's greats on one stage Congo's Lokua Kanza teams up with South Africa's Louis Mhlanga at the Bassline to celebrate Africa Day. Expect musical fireworks. April 19, 2006 By Tabisa Mntengwana TAKE the first steps to Africa Day with two of the continent's most popular artists - Congolese Lokua Kanza and South African Louis Mhlanga. The two musicians will join forces for an unforgettable performance at the Road to Africa Day Concert at the Bassline in Newtown on Thursday, 20 April at 8.30pm. The first of a series of concerts in celebration of Africa Day, it is hosted by the French Institute of South Africa. Africa Day is an annual celebration held to promote Africa and acknowledge its diverse cultures, languages, beauty, arts and music. This year, the day is marked on Saturday, 27 May. Kanza is a multi-talented singer, writer and composer, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He started singing as a teenager. Besides playing the guitar, he has also been part of several rumba bands and has performed traditional songs with the popular band Abeti's. Other notables are performances with several world-renowned artists, such as Angelique Kidjo, Youssou N'Dour, Ray Lema and Papa Wemba. Fusing his acoustic guitar sounds with poetic melodies, some of Kanza's songs have Congolese rumba and Soukouss rhythms. He has recorded five albums, including Wapi Yo, Toyebi Te, Toto Bona Lokua and the latest, Plus Vivant. This is his first collaboration with Mhlanga, South Africa's popular jazz artist. Mhlanga is a guitar player, a producer and a vocalist; he has recorded three albums - Mukai, Shamwari and Tinganekwane. He has also collaborated with many respected artists, including Letta Mbuli, Jonas Gwangwa, King Sunny Ade, Vusi Mahlasela and Busi Mhlongo, among others. He is well known in jazz circles for transferring the traditional Mbira patterns into a unique, eclectic and modern way of playing the guitar; he has also taught European music students about the Mbira. Wearing his producer's hat, Mhlanga has featured on and produced Vusi Mahlasela's fourth album, Vusi and Louis Live at Bassline. He was also involved with Thandi Klassen's album Two of a Kind. Another collaboration was the Place of Hope album, which Mhlanga worked on with George Dukes, James Ingram, Al Jarreau and Diane Reeves. Ticket prices for the concert range from R50 to R60 at the door, or through Computicket on 011 340 800 or through the Computicket website. For more information contact the French Institute of South Africa on 011 836 0561. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za