GALLE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2009 / ‘RAS NAS’ LIVE IN SRI LANKA
4th – 5th December 2009 / Galle, Down South, Sri Lanka
:::Ras Nas:::
Ras Nas aka Nasibu Mwanukuzi, is a musician and poet from Tanzania who blends African music and Reggae with a dash of poetry. Ras Nas latest album, Dar-es-Salaam, contains roots reggae, soukous and dub poetry. The has received a five star review in one of Norways biggest dailies, Dagsavisen. Ras Nas was featured on BBC World Service, The Beat program (now The Strand). The weekly program, reaching millions of listeners world wide, is presented by Mark Coles. Other artists on the program were Wycleaf Jean and Zoe Rahman.
Among Ras Nas merits is sharing stage with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Lou Reed at the Norwegian Wood Festival (2008). Ras Nas has also warmed up for a number of reggae heavyweights like Luciano, I Jah Man, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Junior Delgado and Eek a Mouse.
In Dar-es-Salaam CD Ras Nas has worked with a number of musicians from nine different countries. These include Norwegian blues guitarist and singer Knut Reiersrud, Rolf Erik Nystrøm, Keppy Kiombile from
Kilimanjaro Band, Norman Bikaka from Shada Band and drummer Uriel Seri from Ivory Coast.
Ras Nas aka Nasibu started writing African poetry at the age of 17 and experimented with various forms of African chanting and African drumming. He has studied Law at the University of Dar-es-Salaam where he graduated with an L.L.B degree in 1984. Among other things, Ras Nas has worked as a journalist for Daily News as well as a correspondent for Africa Magazine, covering mainly cultural issues.
In 1982 Nasibu co-founded a powerful poetry and drama group SAYARI in Dar-es-salaam. The group combined African music, poetry, miming, dance and drama and toured extensively in Scandinavia. Moved on to Oslo in 1985 to study Mass Communications at the University of Oslo, UIO.
In 1985 he initiated UMOJA group in Oslo which blended traditional African music and dance. He also
co-founded ARTISTS FOR LIBERATION, a forerunner to Nordic Black Theater. In 1989 he published his first collection of poetry, Double Focus, (Kongoi Productions). Together with Reginald T.Oliver (Papa Lion) and James Toney Jr. he formed NASIBU and the DUAL VISION, a trio that performed Rhythmic Poetry coated with vibral African chanting, harmonies and drumming. The trio changed name to THE COLD FIRE bringing in a Zimbabwean bassist, Clive Brown, and produced a music cassette during a tour in Germany.
In 1990 Nasibu went solo and formed his own band under his artist name, RAS NAS. The band had a début concert in July 1991, at a party to mark the 99th anniversary of His Imperial Majesty Haile Sellasie I. The party was organized by the Rastafari Cultural Foundation in Oslo. The year after, Ras Nas performed for Nelson Mandela, celebrating his release from Robben Island prison. This happened in Oslo, on Mr. Mandelas first visit to Norway.
In 1997 he produced his début CD Cut You Loose, (Kongoi
Productions). (RNCD9701), working together with Charles Mena from Nicaragua, Chuck Frazier, a musician from Texas and Ishamel de Leon from Trinidad.
Ras Nas tracks can be also be found in other music compilations, the most notable being AMUN Tropical Acts vol.1, a compilation by African musicians living in Norway and RAW 2000 by Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide.
Some earlier festivals….
Oslo World Music Festival – 2007
Oslo Mela – 2007
World Performing Arts and Music Festival – Lahore (Pakistan) – 2006
Oslo Mela Festival (with Ngoma Rhythms) – 2006
Zanzibar International Film Festival (with Mandingo Trio) – 2006
Discover their Music & passion http://www.rasnas.kongoi.com
More info about Ras Nas’ tour of Sri Lanka
http://www.kongoi.com/index.php/Latest/Ras-Nas-at-Galle-Music-Festival-in-Sri-Lanka.html
:::Galle Music Festival 2009:::
The setting for the Music Festival is the historic coastal city of Galle and its glorious fort, which is also a UN world heritage site. Galle offers an idyllic setting for the Music Festival with its old world charm, tropical scenery and post colonial accent. The City also provides an inimitable getaway for exploring the cuisine, lifestyle and cultural diversity of Sri Lanka’s resplendent South…
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