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Sounds of Africa to ring out at Trinity next Saturday

October 29, 2014   ·   0 Comments

By Brock Weir

The Sounds of Africa are set to ring out from the halls of Trinity Anglican Church next Saturday, November 8.

These sounds, however, go beyond the traditional vocals and drums that might immediately come to mind when one mentions African music, but they are sounds that are all around us, according to musician Roxana Farrell.

“The sounds of Africa have expanded into so many different musical forms, two of which are jazz and reggae,” says Ms. Farrell of her musical selections for next Saturday. “I wanted to honour their musical sounds and contributions that have affected basically every musical style that exists. There is a direct connection to reggae and jazz from [African roots].”

For Ms. Farrell, it is all about making those connections. GranAurora, the hosts of the concert, hold a similar philosophy.

GranAurora is a local chapter of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, a division of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Through Grandmothers to Grandmothers, Canadian grandmothers – and “grand-others” – are connected with grandmothers in various African nations who are oftentimes struggling to make ends meet while looking after their grandchildren who have been orphaned by disease, particularly HIV and AIDS.

GranAurora hosts a number of fundraisers throughout the year, including craft sales and teas, to support these women overseas, but this is their first-ever concert.

Ms. Farrell has been a long-time supporter of the organization and a frequent customer at their craft shows and holiday bazaars. The cause, she says, strikes a chord with her.

“I want to celebrate the energy, effort and dedication these grandmothers have for their grandchildren,” she explains. “There is a great beauty in Africa. It is growing, there is a lot of the future there that needs to be really saved and I think through this event we can see that beauty and see that Africa will shine through it.

“I want there to be a global connectiveness and we will see that although it is in Africa, it is all a part of us and we all connect – not just grandmothers, but people to people, lives to lives, and they are all beautiful.”

Joining Roxana on stage will be Mike Allen, Bruce Carmody and the Voices for Africa Choir, St. Theodore’s Choir, Diane Ticknor, Dave and Nikki Town, and Trinity Unplugged. The concert gets underway Saturday, November 8 at 7.30 p.m., preceded by refreshments and a craft sale, which starts at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $25 and are available by calling Erika at 905-726-9043, or Pat at 905-830-4975. All proceeds will benefit the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

         

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