Apologies for the lack of updates in the newsletter and website; I'd been away in Cuba recently, but have now made a number of updates to the events page. Check there for details.
 

A few highlights of note in the next few weeks:

• Adam Solomon & Tikisa this Friday (Feb. 19) and Fojeba on Feb. 26. Both are free, 7-10pm in the Melody Bar (Music Africa & Gladstone World).
   
• Later on the 26th in the ballroom, the Tia Anita Project and Gladstone World have an AIDS Awareness Dance Party in conjunction with the recent Harambee! CD Performers include Valu David, Tich Marezda plus Njacko Backo & Kalimba Kalimba. $10, 10pm.
   
• Feb. 28: Tribute to the late Tarig Abubakar, founder of the seminal Canadian pan-African band, the Afronubians. Tarig was tragically killed in a car accident in Sudan in January, 1998. Performers include Waleed Abdulhamid, Ruth Mathiang, Jabulani, Haba, and likely more.
  See event page for more info on Tarig and the tribute. You can watch a CTV news clip about Tarig and his story, made while he was still alive, here.
   
• Various Haiti benefits, including a night with Jason Wilson, Nick Brownman Ali, Mighty Pope and others at Hugh's Room, Feb. 19, and a huge cast of "African Canadians for Haiti", Feb. 25 at the Lula. Perfomers include the African Guitar Summit, Masaisai, Fojeba, Show Do Man, JP Buse, Patu Bokelo, Altaf (Bwana Moto), Patu Bokelu and others.
   
• Tiempo Libre (Cuban timba band) at Koerner Hall, Feb. 20.
   
• Dinner and a movie at the Trane Studio: Lady Sings The Blues on Feb. 18, and John Sayles' The Honeydripper Feb. 22.
   
• March is filling up with some great shows, including two different Tuvan throat-singing groups the same week, a return to town of the Tuareg rockers Tinariwen whose 2009 CD, Imidiwan: Companions was on many best-of the year lists, the great guitarist Habib Koité who sold out the Revival last year, Harry Manx is in for two nights at the Glenn Gould with his blend of blues and Indian ragas, Jesse Cook at Massey Hall, Madagascar Slim in a couple of shows, John Hammond returns to Hugh's Room, Hilario Duran teams up with Jane Bunnett for some music of some great Cuban composers, plus -- of course -- lots more.

There are more listings posted for the rest of the spring right through June, when things will get really hot.

 

A couple of extra notes:

• Lhasa: The last issue printed some remembrances of the singer who died tragically last month. Here's a recording of her doing an impromptu, live performance of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come", done in a BBC studio last year on Charlie Gilllett's radio show. She's accompanied just by her guitarist
• Music Africa: Has revived its newsletter, The African Drum. It's available for download on their website.
   

More info, and events to come...