LIFEM Present: Amira Kheir And Amadou Diagne - 31.10.14

Amira Kheir hailed as the 'Diva of the Sudanese desert', Sudanese-Italian singer Amira Kheir has been enchanting audiences around the world with a sound inspired by traditional music from her homeland and anchored in experimental Jazz and Soul. The result is a unique style of 'Sudani-Jazz' that gives tasters of the country's rich musical heritage of Saharan blues and Su music.

Amira's music is a courageous statement of this soundscape, emerging as a soulful explosion of colour and expression. Her music delivers ancient musical traditions with a contemporary vibrancy reflective of London's multi-cultural music scene.

Amira Kheir voice
Camilo Menjura acoustic guitar
Michele Montolli double bass
Leandro Mancini drums

Amadou Diagne is a musician who has the traditions of West Africa at his fingertips. Originally from Dakar, as a percussionist he was a member for many years of l'Orchestre National du Senegal performing with some of the top west African stars on a regular basis for concerts and television. Though Amadou Diagne draws heavily on the music he grew up with in Senegal, since moving to England he’s also forged his own path as a singer songwriter, developing a unique and intricate guitar style that draws heavily on his skills as a percussionist, a love of improvisation and an eclectic musical inspiration. Amadou explores the instrument he is playing and delights in the rhythmic possibilities within the melodies he composes, whilst his songs primarily sung in Wolof follow a searching of his place in the world, themes of emigré, family, community, his faith and calls for humanity.