Star performer Eddy Kenzo Photo copyright Black Ottawa Scene
Saturday 28 July 2018
The Bronson Centre on Bronson Avenue was awash with a mass of people of all ages and races, in expectation of the 2018 edition of Ottawa’s African Festival. Despite an unusually late start, the event provided the hardy fans with an evening of delightful music, poetry, fashion and dance. The evening started with a most entertaining piano recital by Shakara Mahailet, musician, composer, music producer in the style of Pop, Dance, Trance, Rock’n’Roll and Hip Hop, Reggae. Shakara had trained as a classical musician, and had performed for many years with small classical ensembles , choirs and cover bands as singer, pianist and keyboardist. On this date she thrilled the audience with classical piano music, a kind of timeless journey, a meditation beyond time and space: Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Sonata au Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1 and Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D. Highlight of the evening was music maestro Eddy Kenzo who kept the audience clapping, singing and rocking to his unique hip hop blended with authentic African rhythms.
MC was renowned African drummer Eric Sarah who kept the audience entertained with his robust jokes before and during the evening’s performances. Kudos to event organizer and promoter, Dan Eji for his relentless efforts to bring the best of African culture each year to Canada’s capital city.
All pics copyright Black Ottawa Scene