On Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 6 to 10pm at Grand Performances in downtown Los Angeles, KCRW and the legendary Grand Performances will collaborate for an amazing night in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Afro Funke'! All ages are welcome, and picnics are encouraged.
Please join us in honoring the legacy of the once-weekly party night that went global with live performances by Rocky Dawuni and Buyepongo, DJ sets from Afro Funke's resident DJs Glenn Red and Jeremy Sole (who also happens to be the resident DJ at KCRW), and live drumming and dancing by the incredible Kahlil Cummings & Friends. Afrobeat, Latin, Brazilian, Indian, Jamaican, and other traditional and remixed world rhythms, as well as African drumming and dancing, DJ Culture, arts and crafts, merch, and more, are all available here.
Regarding Afro Funke
Afro Funke, which will mark its 20th anniversary in 2023, was created by activist and three-time Grammy nominee for Afro Roots music, Rocky Dawuni, who saw a need in LA for a night devoted to African music, culture, and art and its enduring influence on the world. With the kind support of owners Louie & Netty Ryan, Afro Funke was a hugely popular weekly event every Thursday night at Zanzibar in Santa Monica for over ten years. It later expanded to be sporadic events across Los Angeles at various larger and smaller scale venues, including Levitt Pavilion, Grand Park, Hammer Museum, Fowler Museum, Townhouse in Venice, as well as international events.
Together with producer, talent curator, and photographer Cary Sullivan, Dawuni (who is now based back in his home Ghana) founded Afro Funke' and welcomed resident DJ and co-founder DJ Jeremy Sole (KCRW, Le Frique Sonique) on board. International guest DJs, live bands, guest musicians, dancers, avant-garde movies, record release parties, charity events, fashion presentations, art and photography installations, crafts, and more have all been featured by Afro Funke. Sole spins his original "Musaics," which are acoustic collages of hip-hop, jazz/funk, dub reggae, afro beat, and remixed world beats put together with tribal breaks and energized by live instruments and dubbed-out turntable manipulation. Our second resident DJ, DJ Glenn Red (La Junta), is a crucial component of the Afro Funke Sound System. The profile of Afro Funke has been considerably improved by its distinctive photo-based flyers, which showcase contemporary photos of West African life by Cary Sullivan.
Concerning Rocky Dawuni
The night's headlining act will be Rocky Dawuni, the founder of Afro Funke, and his full 12-piece "Afro Roots Band." The three-time GRAMMY nominee artist and activist bridges the gulfs between Africa, the Caribbean, and the US, uniting people of all ages and backgrounds. Dawuni is an electrifying performer who has performed on stages with legends like Stevie Wonder, Ozomatli, Sauti Sol, Peter Gabriel, and John Legend. He has performed in illustrious places like The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and The Hollywood Bowl, where he was named one of Africa's Top 10 Global Stars by CNN. Rocky is a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for Africa. He uses his music to raise awareness of important issues affecting people throughout the world through these and other titles. Live performances, speaking engagements, panel discussions, youth empowerment, and more!
http://www.rockydawuni.com
https://www.instagram.com/rockydawuni
Hometown favorites Buyepongo create modern pan-Latin music in a style they intriguingly refer to as "buyang"—a mashup of world beats and hot flavors influenced by both the band members' travels to Central and South America as well as their California home base. https://www.instagram.com/buyepongo
https://buyepongo.bandcamp.com/
Jeremy Sole's bio
Jeremy Sole grew up surrounded by the rich Blues, Jazz, Disco, Salsa, and Soul traditions of Chicago, and he loved the fusion of these genres. When Hip Hop and House music were just getting started, Sole hosted loft parties that were a cultural collision. In 2001, Sole relocated to Los Angeles as his fascination expanded to encompass music from all over the world. He felt he had a wide variety of music. at home in the nation's most fiery melting pot. Sole worked in the studio with Ms. Lauryn Hill in April 2006. She inquired after hearing him mix, "because this is the music the people need to hear," if he had ever thought about going into radio. He was contacted by KCRW many months later with the same inquiry, and ever since then, you can listen to him every Wednesday from 12 to 3 am on 89.9 FM and KCRW.com. https://www.instagram.com/jeremysole/ https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/jeremy-sole
Glenn Red's profile
GLENN RED is primarily recognized for his work as one-third of the adored Afro-Latin deejay/producer collective, La Junta, and as half of Santa Monica's legendary Afro Funké Sound System. He also quietly continues to cultivate a devoted fan base among fans of eclectic music, rocking crowds in the city's most prestigious venues alongside the best selectors and musicians from around the globe. His deejay sets seamlessly weave between time and genres, connecting the traditional sounds of Africa and the Americas with their contemporary interpretations around the world. He does this by using the honest music of passionate musicians as a common thread. Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop, and Reggae are embraced by Afrobeat, Cumbia, Rumba, and Samba rhythms as Glenn's rhythmic and versatile sound replicates the vibrant, vivacious energy of LA and beyond its people have soul. https://glennred.com
http://www.instagram.com/glennzenn10
Concerning Kahlil Cummings
Kahlil Cummings, a native of Los Angeles, is a renowned drummer, outstanding performer, composer, and teacher. Kahlil was identified as a child prodigy at a young age. Inu Olorun, Mila Samba School, Abalayé, Debbie Allen Dance Company, Les Amazones, Ballet Folclórico Do Brasil, and Viver Brasil are just a few of the famous ensembles he has performed with. With the help of illustrious instructors like Mestre Amen Santo, Jose Ricardo Sousa, Kobla Ladzekpo, Esteban "Cha Cha" Bacallao (Ibae), and Sandy Perez, Kahlil refined his rhythmic talents. His education in Guinea, Brazil, and Cuba has greatly increased the breadth of his knowledge and musical prowess. The West African master drummer Mamady Keita, with whom he has studied since he was 13, has had the most significant influence on him. Kahlil is the original since turning thirteen. Extra Ancestral, founded by Kahlil, is an ensemble that aspires to educate audiences through the synthesis of hypnotic Afrobeat, Reggae, Jazz, Afro-Latin, and traditional African diasporic rhythms, recounted by powerful ancestral dancing. Extra Ancestral was founded in 2017. Rocky Dawuni, Kamasi Washington, and many more are among the international recording artists with whom Kahlil performs and travels. http://www.kahlilcummings.com
Concerning Cary Sullivan
Co-creator and producer of Afro Funke' is Cary Sullivan. She is a multi-talented photographer, manager of artists, producer of events, talent curator, promoter, activist, and mother who has worked throughout the spectrum of the cultural, music, and art landscape, from organizing festivals in Africa to broadcasting progressive radio in Los Angeles. Cary is a co-owner and manager of AQUARIAN Records, a record label and production company that works primarily with GRAMMY-nominated musician and creative activist, Rocky Dawuni, as well as a number of incredible up-and-coming artists. AQUARIAN Records is committed to showcasing the diverse culture of Ghana to the world through music, live performances, photography, philanthropy, and wellness. http://www.instagram.com/afrofunke
Concerning KCRW Summer Nights
The return of KCRW Summer Nights! To host the ideal summertime events, we have partnered with some of Southern California's top cultural hotspots. Your favorite KCRW DJs, bands, exhibitions, and more will perform during these FREE, all-ages outdoor nights. So make a note of the season on your calendar, polish up your dance shoes, and join us! https://www.kcrw.com/summer-nights
Concerning Grand Performances
The longest-running promoter of free outdoor performances in Los Angeles, Grand Performances, is back this year for its 37th season at the recently rebuilt California Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles! Through free access to international performing arts, Grand Performances' aim is to ignite community, celebrate diversity, and bring Los Angeles together.
Please JOIN US from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
There is a cost for on-site parking.
Families and picnickers are welcome**Special thanks to Fusicology for their unwavering assistance!
350 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90071
213-687-2190 http://www.grandperformances.org
The Moroccan Lounge will host a very unique After Party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. immediately following the upcoming Grand Performances event! Please pass by so that we can continue the 20th Anniversary Celebration for Afro Funke!
Morocco Lounge
Los Angeles, California 901 E. 1st Street 213.395.05610
$10 in advance; $15 on the door