DIASPORA ARTISTS
TENDANI MPULUBUSI EL is a native Washitaw and Washingtonian, who has been producing and teaching fine art in DC for more than seven years. At 15, he launched a fashion line that gained the attention of Dawn Moss, Miss Black USA 1996 and Radio One personality, Jeannie Jones, both of whom donned his clothing. Tendani made history as the youngest person to become a board member of a DC government agency as a DC Arts and Humanities commissioner. He strives to bring more visibility and unity to artists in underserved communities through film, fine arts and online media. Check out his work with this YouTube video and read about Tendani’s film work as featured in the Washington Post via People Past & Present.org.
ANNA MWALAGHO Born and raised in Kenya, East Africa, Anna Mwalagho began performing professionally at the tender age of 8. She is a true remarkable renaissance woman, an internationally recognized actress, poet, dancer, singer/songwriter and storyteller. Since the launch of her career in the United States, Anna has become one of the most sought after African Spoken Word/Poetic Afro beat artist. She has shared the stage with the international South African Jazz legend HUGH MASEKELA in Washington DC and another African musical legend OLIVER MTUKUDZI.
Not only has she entertained dignitaries such as NOBEL PRIZE winner Nobel Laureate Mrs. Wangari Maathai, but she has graced the stages of high profile venues including: The Kennedy Center, The World Bank, US Army Material Command, UNAIDS, America’s 400TH Anniversary, US Africa Business Conference, Embassy of Kenya, Washington Convention Center, Zanzibar on the waterfront restaurant and club, Smithsonian Museum of African Art, State Department and many more. She has been featured on MHZ-TV, WHUR 96.3 FM, WETA 90.9FM, Voice of America, CBS TV/WUSA9 TV, XM Satellite Radio, Harold Channer TV and many more. With her company “Mwalagho Productions”, Anna takes her one woman show to scholastic institutions, organizations, civic groups, festivals and specials events, with an aim of educating, entertaining and uniting humanity.
She was recently appointed an Ambassador for peace by the Inter-Religious and International Federation for Peace and was awarded “The Hope Award" from the eagle awards association for her performing artist service to the community, and promoting Africa in a positive light and The Jamhuriwood award for promoting her Country Kenya in the Diaspora. Her philosophy is “Dance. Sing, laugh and truly love, as this is the joy of life” She recently released her second CD titled HAKI meaning Justice and her two CDs surely attest to her philosophy. To view excerpts of Anna’s work, visit www.annamwalagho.com
www.sonicbids.com/annamwalagho1
www.cdbaby.com/artist/annamwalagho
SWEET MELODI & HARMONI is a dynamic duo made up of two sisters, Karen and Mia. They have been singing together for the past 15 years and recently joined Ras Lidj & Deep Band. They continue to perform all over the Washington, DC, area bringing their unique flavor and mix of genres—from Reggae, to R&B and Go-Go—where ever they go.
TOLUMIDE (pronounced toe-LU-mee-day) dropped her first full-length recording, "My Love", in spring 2010. TolumiDE is an award winning R&B/Soul Afro-Pop Singer-Songwriter. She was born in Canada, raised in Nigeria. The soulful vocalist offers songs in English lyrics, with the occasional interjection of African languages showcasing inflections of her African heritage. Her Debut album, "My Love’ is a sonic collage of music genres: Classic Soul, RnB, Afro-pop, Contemporary Gospel with sprinklings of Jazz, Reggae & World Fusion. ‘My Love’, is available in all major digital outlets including iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby and her website – www.TolumiDEmusic.com.
For bookings contact Frank Yeboah at mgmt@tolumidemusic.com.
PAUL MORTON, also known as P. Anthony Morton is a singer, writer, composer, and a student of the keyboard. He has sung on various albums with national and international recording artists, some of them personal friends and mentors. Now he takes center stage, emerging as an extraordinary, one of a kind solo
gospel artist. Morton’s label, Pant4Christ Productions is slowly on the rise with the release of his first project, P. Anthony Worship in 2006 and his sophomore project For Love in 2011.
MBUUTU OF UGANDA is a group that performs traditional and modern dances from East Africa. For over 10 years, Mbuutu has been performing in schools, at public and private events all over the East Coast. Send booking inquires to mbuutuofug@comcast.net
ZEZEH BRAZIL SAMBA is dedicated to the promotion of Brazilian samba and Brazilian music in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The founder, Zezeh Zax, offers Samba dance instruction, leads a troups of Samba dance performers, and hosts a Brazilian radio program. For more information please visit zezehbrazil.com.
If you are interested in being a featured artist for future events, contact Evelyne Njuki, our Cultural Ambassador: enjuki@ad4change.org.
TARATIBU YOUTH ASSOCIATION is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Arla Scott and Naima Hylton to provide a creative environment for young performing artists with a strong interest in African and African-American culture and history.
Taratibu Youth Association has since established itself as a professional youth performing arts company that travels worldwide showcasing dance, song, and spoken word that reflect African and African-American experiences. With a focus on performance education, we foster a holistic environment where dance is used to motivate, inspire, challenge and enrich the lives of young people so they can become responsible and successful leaders in the community.
Taratibu Youth Association is known for its rhythmically powerful and visually inspiring performances of dance accompanied by rich vocal harmonies and vivid spoken word. With eclectic and diverse musical influences, this sensational ensemble of young artists performs modern dance, ballet and hip hop, and African dance. The dance company has its strongest roots in Taratibu, which combines contemporary military drill movements with traditional African dance. Taratibu also integrates vocals, including traditional Negro spirituals, contemporary gospel and songs in Kiswahili, the national languge of several East African countries, as well as vocals in Zulu, the most widely spoken language in South Africa.
JEAN-FRANCIS VARRE is the music director, lead singer and guitarist of SAHEL, a Washington, DC-based band that specializes in performing world music from the African Diaspora including, Zouk (French Caribbean), Mbalax (Senegal), Samba (Brazil), Reggae (Jamaica) and Salsa (Cuba)
Jean-Francis is the son of a Senegalese father and Cape Verdean mother who emigrated, in the early 70’s, from Senegal to Washington, DC where Jean Francis was born. Music was a centerpiece of the Varre household. From birth through adolescence, Jean-Francis traveled regularly between continents and cultures, returning to West Africa every summer. As a result, Jean-Francis was continuously exposed to the languages, songs, rhythms and dances of Africa, as well as, many of the interrelated, popular music styles from across the African Diaspora.
A self-taught singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, Jean-Francis learned to perform a selection of the music styles he was exposed to and learned in his youth; eventually becoming a respected and proficient performer in a host of African-inspired genres and singing in a range of languages including: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Wolof, Lingala and French Creole. An extremely versatile artist, Jean-Francis is also known for performing a variety of other music genres including: Rock, Funk, R&B and Congolese Soukous.
By presenting an international, cross-cultural, multi-lingual music mix, Jean Francis seeks to build bridges and raise awareness through the rejuvenating power of African-based music styles; that can call you to the dance floor and connect you to the rhythms, spirit and cultures from which the music was born.