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African Dawn

Contains 14 performances.

Troupe mixing African music with poetry and traditional drama. Founded by Kwesi Owusu (vc, perc),  Ahmed Sheikh (vc) and Wanjiku Kiarie (vc). The line-up later included Toendepi 'Wala' Danga (perc), Torera Mpedzisi (gtr, vc), Vico Mensah (gtr, vc, perc),  Merle Collins (vc), Nii Noi Nortey (everything) and Eduardo Pereira (vc, perc) - thereby bringing together performers of Zimbabwean, Ghanaian, Grenadian, Senegalese and Uruguayan heritage. Essentially the Africa Centre's house band.

  • African Dawn, Tilt, Knife in the Light

    African Dawn, Tilt, Knife in the Light

    Sat 20 Nov 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
  • African Dawn, Emile Sercombe, Michael Belbin, Claire Dowie

    African Dawn, Emile Sercombe, Michael Belbin, Claire Dowie

    14 May 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
  • Write On Festival: African Dawn, John Agard, Pepsi Poet

    Write On Festival: African Dawn, John Agard, Pepsi Poet

    29 September 1983 at 
    Battersea Arts Centre (London - Wandsworth) (499)
  • African Dawn, Gladys McGee, God’s Little Joke, Alan Gilbey

    African Dawn, Gladys McGee, God’s Little Joke, Alan Gilbey

    31 March 1984 at 
    Roebuck (51)
  • Book launch & cabaret

    Book launch & cabaret

    19 April 1984 at 
    Drill Hall (3)
  • Wanjiku Kiarie, Marsha Prescod, Iyamide Hazeley

    Wanjiku Kiarie, Marsha Prescod, Iyamide Hazeley

    13 June 1984 at 
    Commonwealth Institute (2)
    Iyamide replaced Grace Nichols, who was originally billed. Wanjiku was a member of African Dawn.
  • Midsummer Poetry Day (1984)

    Midsummer Poetry Day (1984)

    24 June 1984 at 
    Covent Garden Market (2)
    The first outing for a long-running annual partnership event with Alternative Arts. We love the Bottom-themed artwork. PR Murry compere alongside Mark Miwurdz, although Emile Sercombe was supposed to be the second compere.
  • Miner Poets

    Miner Poets

    1 August 1984 at 
    Southbank Centre (29)
    A benefit for the striking miners, co-programmed by Apples & Snakes and the Poetry Society, and supported by the GLC.  If the ticks on the back of the flyer are indicative of A&S’s contribution, then it comprised Hegley, Gilbey, Fred Williams, McGee, Agard, Joolz, LKJ, Prescod, Fell, Condell and African ...
  • African Dawn, Flexing Tongue, Bob Devereux

    African Dawn, Flexing Tongue, Bob Devereux

    01 December 1984 at 
    Captain’s Cabin (27)
    Roebuck (51)
  • Azanian People's Benefit

    Azanian People's Benefit

    21 November 1986 at 
    Interchange (3)
  • African Dawn (with special guest Jewel Ackah), Masimba Rapso Poets, (Sister Netifa, Brother Book, Brother Resistance, Seko Tafari)

    African Dawn (with special guest Jewel Ackah), Masimba Rapso Poets, (Sister Netifa, Brother Book, Brother Resistance, Seko Tafari)

    28 October 1988 at 
    Covent Garden Community Centre (182)
  • African Dawn, Elean Thomas, Abdul Malik & Aubrey Bryan, Pitika Ntuli

    African Dawn, Elean Thomas, Abdul Malik & Aubrey Bryan, Pitika Ntuli

    14 April 1989 at 
    Covent Garden Community Centre (182)
  • African Dawn, The Jazz Griots (featuring Tunde Jegede), Brother Niyi

    African Dawn, The Jazz Griots (featuring Tunde Jegede), Brother Niyi

    09 February 1990 at 
    Covent Garden Community Centre (182)
    Brother Niyi
  • The 4th Jazz-Poetry Festival - (Day 1)

    The 4th Jazz-Poetry Festival - (Day 1)

    25 January 1991 at 
    Rocket (London - Islington) (4)
    The first night of A&S’s fourth Jazz-Poetry Festival – this one at a new venue. The bill includes the first outing for Gail Thompson’s Jazz Africa show, effectively the first night of its UK tour. The touring line-up was Thompson, Ntuli and the Mervyn Africa Quintet. The featured accompanists for ...
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