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Live 8 DVD Special
Pt I
Live 8 at Eden: Africa Calling DVD
by Kevin Wierzbicki |
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We kick off this special series coverage
of the Live 8 DVD releases with a review of the separate release of Live
8 at Eden: Africa Calling, the concert that sadly received the least amount
of coverage during the Live 8 event. Kevin Wierzbicki tells us about what
we missed and how we can now witness some of the exceptional performances
that took place. In the coming weeks we will also be reviewing the Live
8 Boxset that features performances from other cities during the Live 8
event . But we start with this event which deserved a release all its own.
We'll now let Kevin tell you why!
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Very little of this portion of Live 8,
featuring African music, was actually broadcast during the anti-poverty
extravaganza. Certainly time constraints are understandable, but it is
sad that the general viewing public didn't have a chance to see this incredible
material as it went down. But this double-disc DVD captures the intensity
of the performances nicely along with the spirit of the event. Taped at
the Eden Project in Cornwall, England and MC'd by long time advocate of
African music Peter Gabriel, Africa Calling offers a wide variety
of music over its approximate three hour run. Most of the artists are represented
by only one song, ranging in style from the chants of drum troupe Modou
Diouf and O Fogum (Senegal) to a fado cut from Mariza, a native of Mozambique
who grew up in Portugal. Mariza is as stunning in appearance as she is
vocally, dressed all in black with a shock of blonde hair atop her lanky
frame. Geoffrey Oryema performs "Land of Anaka" in English with a little
help from Gabriel but also sings in his native Acholi for "Lapowny." Acholi
is one of the African dialects that use the "clicking sound" and it is
mesmerizing to listen to Oryema sing in the tongue. Some of the better
known acts like Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited and Youssou N'Dour
et Le Super Etoile get enough time for more than one song, and getting
a three song block is Tinariwen, from Mali. These guys are sort of the
Grateful Dead of Africa, playing extended jams of Touareg music. They use
traditional instruments and modern electric as well and even have a left-handed
bass player that plays a right-handed bass upside-down. The large group
dresses in Berber gowns and headwear and exudes an amazing clarity and
serenity. The show ends with a couple of Afri-rappers, Emmanuel Jal from
Sudan and Daara J from Senegal. Many other African musicians appear, as
do Dido and former prisoner/president Nelson Mandela. Fans of modern African
music and world beat will absolutely love this film.
DVD Info and Links
Live 8 at Eden: Africa Calling
Label:Rhino
Rating: 
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