 Kojo in Iqaluit
Kojo is a traditional Sudanese thumb piano band based in
Halifax. The group was originally
formed in 1996 when a number of refugees from southern Sudan settled in Canada.
Kojo translates from the original Didinga as “re-birth” or “new crop” and
reflects the refugees search for renewal in their adopted country. Alex Atiol, and Paul Atayna co-founded the
group, and were later joined by two other musicians, Charles Lokonyen, and
Philip Lopeyo. For them, forming the
group was a crucial link and a way to preserve the spirit of their culture.
Kojo has been performing locally and nationally for 10
years, and although we have had good critical success we feel the group is at a
point where it is important to raise our profile. The fact that Kojo plays such
unique music gives us confidence that we can bring the group to a new
level. Having played the bar circuits
in and around Halifax for years, we would like to put together a touring show
that would attract interest from world music festivals.
Lamine Toure, founder and executive director of the Festival
Nuits d’Afrique, in Montreal, and also the owner of the Club Balattou, has been
a great supporter of the band. We performed both at the Balattou and the
Festival Nuits d'Afrique two years ago and Toure has offered us a spot in next summer’s
festival.
LamineToure has booked all the great talents coming out of
Africa over the years. He has told the members of Kojo that ours is a special
group and we need to have a much higher profile so we can attract a much wider
audience. Toure sites the unique character of the group (no other North American
band with only thumb pianos, vocals and percussion) but also the genuine
authenticity unlike a great deal of world fusion that is seen in recent years.
In 1995 the KOJO members had the honour of receiving awards
from the Lieutenant Governor for their contribution to the diversity of culture
in Nova Scotia. In 1996 the band was
part of the Global Village broadcast from the Rebecca Cohn auditorium in Halifax,
where they were featured with other local world musicians. This was broadcast
this past fall on CBC’s Global Village .
"…traditional music from Sudan … original trance dance' music … meszmerizing… "
CONTACT
Alex -
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MYSPACE
myspace.com/kojomusiccanada
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 kojo in the north
Awards
2003 - Craig Foundation Award - Halifax. NS
2004
- Canada Council Community Awareness Project
- Travelled to Iqaluit, Nunavut
2004 - Nova Scotia Tourism and Culture Small Groups Award, NS
- BravoFact short film
2005 - Lieutenant Governor General’s Award for contribution to Nova Scotia Culture
2006 - Nova Scotia dept of tourism and culture music development grant
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Recent Selected Performances
2007 - Marquis Club headliner, Halifax, NS
Atlantic Jazz Festival, Halifax, NS
African Liberation Festival, Halifax, NS
2006 - Sudanese Conference, Ottawa, Ont.
CBC Global Village recording, Rebbeca Cohn,
Halifax, NS
African Independence Day celebration,
Halifax, NS
2005 - World Music Festival, Moncton, NB
Pier 21 Immigration Conference,
Halifax, NS
2004 - Workshops and performances,
Iqaluit,
Nunavut
Mercury Lounge, Ottawa, Ont
Mug and Anchor, Lunenburg, NS
Lunenburg Harbour Festival Week,
Lunenburg, NS
Francophone Center, Iqaluit, Nunavut
Club Balatou, Montreal, PQ
Chester Marina Celebrations,
Chester, NS
Canadian Legion, Iqaluit, Nunavut
2002 - Festival International Nuits
d’Afrique,
Montreal, PQ
Cultural Awareness Week, Antigonish,
NS
Halifax
Dance, 21 Anniversary Gala, Halifax, NS
2001 - Multi
Cultural Festival, Dartmouth, NS
Atlantic Jazz Festival, Halifax, NS
2000 - Eye Level Gallery Gala, Halifax, NS
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival,
Lunenburg NS
Evlove Music Festival, Antigonish,
NS
African
Chicken and Goat Festival, Halifax, NS
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