Ohangla singer Makadem has been selected for the 2012 Visas Pour la Création residency in Paris. Makadem, a 2005 Spotlight finalist, will be attending a three-month music residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. He will work alongside the Lulendo Mvulu, a master likembe/kalimba musician from Angola and Syrian Mbenza, Congolese guitarist. The Visas Pour la Création’ programme is an Arts residency programme supported by the Institut Français, the French agency for international cultural cooperation.
Makadem who was recently on tour in Europe where he opened for Seun Kuti, the son to the legendary founder of Afro Beat, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, said his music is diversified. In a past interview Makadem told Word Is, “Some say I’m an Ohangla musician or even simply a Luo musician yet I perform music for all ages, races, and continents.”
The Cité Internationale des Arts is dedicated to host professional artists who wish to develop an artistic work in France. The singer who is known for his songs like Nya Nairobi, That Comb and Kisumu Bound Bus will have a send off concert on February 29 at the Michael Joseph Centre at Safaricom House from 7:30pm to 10:30pm. Charges are Sh500.
