Here we are again with warm, sunny, soulful cool music: Africa Unite will be the first act playing in London Camden the 4th of February for the new Italian music attack of 2009.
For 25 years AFRICA UNITE have been producing high quality reggae music, this band has released 12 albums, establishing themselves as one of the most prestigious and popular Italian reggae bands.
AFRICA UNITE, a crew from Turin, named after one of Bob Marley’s songs, formed in 1981, the sad year of Bob Marley’s premature death. After many years spreading the reggae word in Italy, with “PEOPLE PIE” released in 1991, AFRICA UNITE realised it was time to move into pastures new. To support the album AFRICA UNITE kicked off a series of successful live Italian and European gigs eventually playing in Negril (Jamaica). In 1993 AFRICA UNITE released a new album BABILONIA E POESIA (Babylon and Poetry), after the success of the colourful and emotive music they embarked on an Italian and European tour playing over one hundred dates; they also performed in Iraq taking part in the Babylon International Festival during the embargo due to the Gulf War.
In the following years, while they produced more and more successful albums, they kept on touring becoming recognized as one of the best live acts on the European Reggae scene. Their fame took them as far as Palestine where they performed at the International Festival in Jerusalem. At that point in their career (1995) the major music industry noticed Africa Unite and they signed a contract with Universal Music. What followed was even more compelling recorded music and live performances and they averaged over 70 gigs a year.
AFRICA UNITE have always been involved in supporting human rights. For example in 2001 when they supported the collection of signatures against the death penalty.
After several more studio albums, a live tribute to Bob Marley in 2001 and a couple of live albums in 2005 they joined a brand new live project. They created music with a 25 strings Orchestra, stunningly playing just with vocals and strings. The music was very successful in both recording and live.
In the same year Africa Unite established their own label. They soon created two new albums “CONTROLLI” (2006) and “4 RIDDIMS 4 UNITY” (2007) the sound is based on renovation of their old style, a perfect mixture of Dub & Reggae in an Africa Unite style!
The new up and coming record BIOGRAFICA UNITE, will be in the shops from the 30th of May. The album tells the story of their long successful career, with 2 CDs and a DVD documenting the history of the most representative Italian reggae band. Needless to say, this intimate gig in London is a unique opportunity to enjoy this great live reggae band, missing out would be a real shame.
LINE UP: Bunna,Lead Vocals – Madaski, DubMaster,Keys and Vocals – Papa Nico, Percussions – Patrick Benifei, Keyboards, Vocals – Ru Catania, Guitar, – Paolo Baldini, Bass – Davide Graziano, Drums.
