Banda Bacana

Many thanks to Cory West who kindly took these photos.

Sunday’s Launch was a blast!  Thanks to all our friends, fans and families for coming along, dressing up and getting down.  We had a fantastic day, bringing sunshine to a stormy sunday.  Here are a few kind words from some of our more voluble supporters:

Just like to say how much everyone I was with enjoyed Sunday. It was a lovely atmosphere and great entertainment.Best wishes, Viv

I have just listened to ‘Bandabacana’: it’s great! I’ve been playing music (albeit in a ceilidh band) for 45 years, and listened to many albums and this is one of the best. It cheered me up driving to work, and that’s a real achievement. Bright, uplifting, unique and brilliantly produced, the world needs to hear it. Congratulations to you all. Barry (Dalton) Mooncoin

Cds arrived safely and what a cracker the Banda Bacana is! Craig

Banda Bacana are proud and happy to announce the release of our first album “Danza Negra”. Come to The Victoria Hotel in Menai Bridge on 22 November  from 3pm onwards and celebrate with us!  With a prize for the best fancy dress and a flourish of talented musicians and dancers there will be a feast of music and entertainment for your eyes and ears.

Banda Bacana will be playing 2 - 3 sets throughout the day and will be joined by the Jochen Eisentraut Trio hopefully showcasing material from their new album, Latin Groove Collective playing folkloric rhythms from cuba, Haiti, brazil and more, Jah Bar Collective featuring Dj’s Hippy Ad, Senor Tim, Jah Mary, N-Rich and Ralpho. Plus Capoera Pays de Gales, dance instructor Helen Mcgreary doing her funky dance class during the afternoon and Cheap Frills Can Can Girlz will be kicking off the evening.

It starts at 3pm, kids are welcome, tickets £5 adults and under 16s free

Go to facebook to get the latest developments on the event times and running order

We also love bossa nova!  See this glorious vid of the fantastic duo Toquino and Vinicius performing back in the day

ok ok so his pronunciation is good….. but we’re way better lookin!

Ghana is a song that was written by musician and composer Dorothy Masuka to celebrate the wave of independence that spread across Africa in the 60s lead by Nkrumah in Ghana.

Kwame Nkrumah was a visionary leader who came to power in Ghana in 1957 after the British left. His belief in Pan African independence as well as the indepence of Ghana meant that he gave hope and inspiration to other nations striving to escape colonial rule. He was put in prison for campaigning and organising for equal rights for all. While he was still in prison in 1951, his party was elected by a landslide, a year later he became Prime Minister and in 1957 he lead Ghana to independence.

During his leadership he set up free education, free health-care, hospitals were built, as was the infrastructure for the industrialisation of Ghana. Get more info on wikipedia and also see interview with Gamal Nkrumah (Nkrumah’s son) talking about his father and Ghanain independence.

Find out more about Dorothy Masuka’s life and music and listen to Ghana on last.fm

The song also features on:
More Great Moments in Vinyl History

and makes the Guardian “Readers recommend: the A-Z of all songs ever listed”