Anna Mwalagho& Afrofloetry Band

Artist Information

Biography

Born and raised in Kenya, East Africa, Anna Mwalagho is, Internationally recognized as the “Queen of spoken Afro beat” and also “Mama Africa.” She has captivated many with her blend of spoken word, African dance, music, acting, and storytelling into an electrifying one woman show. Her theatrical poetry inspires, evokes thought and entertains as well as educates all ages and races. Her music has a unique message from the soul of the motherland. It tells the story of life’s rough but fulfilling journeys.

Since the launch of her career in the United States, Anna has become one of the most sought after African Spoken Word/Poetic Afro beat artist. Formely the the vocalist for Chopteeth band, a well known band in Maryland, DC area. She formed her own band "Anna Mwalagho & Afrofloetry" and with her new band, She has shared the stage with the international South African Jazz legend HUGH MASEKELA in Washington DC where she and her band formed less than a year ago were the featured opening act. She also had the chance to collaborate with another African musical legend OLIVER MTUKUDZI, as they performed her famous poem “Flavored World” during his US tour in 2006. She has also been featured in the famous theatrical play ‘vagina Monologues’ and other film projects.

Not only has she entertained dignitaries such as NOBEL PRIZE winner Nobel Laureate Mrs. Wangari Maathai, but she has graced the stages of high profile venues including: The Kennedy Center, The World Bank, US Army Material Command, UNAIDS, America’s 400TH Anniversary, US Africa Business Conference, Embassy of Kenya, Washington Convention Center, Zanzibar on the waterfront restaurant and club, Smithsonian Museum of African Art, State Department and many more. She has been featured on MHZ-TV, WHUR 96.3 FM, WETA 90.9FM, Voice of America, CBS TV/WUSA9 TV, XM Satellite Radio, Harold Channer TV and many more.

She has also performed in the following places to name a few:
Susan G Komen 10th Annual Conference
Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
Smithsonian Museum of Native American
Bowie International Festival, MD
National Geographic, DC
Isaiah Washington Foundation
Blackboard Inc, DC
Nigerian Embassy, DC and NYC
Madiba Restaurant, Brooklyn, NY
Greater Mt Nebo Church, MD
Bowling Green State University, OH
Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA
Bennett College for Women, Greensboro, NC
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Tubman Elementary, DC
Bowie State University, Bowie, MD
Hood College, Fredericksburg, MD
Northern Virginia Community college, Annandale, VA
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
HD Cooke Elementary through DC scores
Indian Head Elementary, MD
Thompson Elementary, DC
Raymond Elementary, DC
Maya Angelou charter schools, High School, DC
St Stephens and St Agnes private schools, VA
FC Hammond Middle school, VA

Anna Mwalagho earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Catholic University of Eastern Africa. With her company “Mwalagho Productions”, Anna takes her one woman show to scholastic institutions, organizations, civic groups, festivals and specials events, with an aim of educating, entertaining and uniting humanity.

She was recently appointed an Ambassador for peace by the Inter-Religious and International Federation for Peace. Her philosophy is “Dance. Sing, laugh and truly love, as this is the joy of life” and her debut CD surely attest to her philosophy.

In 2006, she celebrated the successful launch of her debut CD “Ukweli” which means “Truth” in her native language Kiswahili.
To view excerpts of Anna’s work, visit
www.annamwalagho.com
www.myspace.com/annamwalagho

ANNA MWALAGHO and AFRO FLOETRY BAND

Anna Mwalagho is an excellent entertainer and performing artist .She embarked on a successful solo career that led her to form a band. “The Afro Floetry Band” Within less than a year, the band had already opened up for international legends; The king of Afro Jazz “Hugh Masekela” International acclaimed legend of Afro Pop, “Oliver Mtukudzi” famously known as “Tuku Music” of whom she even collaborated with him doing her poem “Flavoured world.” She has also performed at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art.
Her music is a unique blend of poetry, East-African music, old school world- blues, Miriam Makeba style of music and African dance. She has become famous in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The band puts on an exciting, engaging and passionate show, with Anna mwalagho dancing, singing and the band injecting the African beat in each of a her songs and poetry. This is a unique band because it blends both spoken word poetry, with African melodies, and songs. The musicians are all professionals who have performed for famous musicians, the likes of Gladys Night, Aretha Franklin, The Spaniards and The Flamingo’s, Angelique Kidjo, Hugh Masekela, and Orlando Julius, just to name a few. They have performed in famous clubs and restaurants, colleges, and organizations these including:

Smithsonian Museum of African Art
Zanzibar at the Waterfront Restaurant and Club
Virginia Tech University, VA
Fager’s island Restaurant, Ocean city, MD
FestAfric, (African festival) MD
Bowie state University. MD
Bowling Green State University, OH
Bossa Bistro, Brazilian Restaurant & Lounge, Washington, DC
St Augustine Catholic Church, DC
Bowie International Festival, MD

Afro Floetry is the name and the vision of her band, they intend to entertain as well as educate as mentioned by many of the media analyst “her music is refreshing, proper edutainment” meaning educative and entertaining.


What sets us apart: Our band is unique, because there is no band in USA that has our style- fusing spoken word African style with Afro Music.

Our influences are thus many: Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, Angelique Kidjo, Mama Malika, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Jill Scott

Instrumentation

Anna Mwalagho - Feature Vocalist
James Fason - Bass Guitar, Guitar and Bass
Emmanuel Oke - Guita, "Guitar"
Jason Walker - Congas / Timbal / Drumset / percussion / Vox
Lorenz Abeeku Wheatley - Sax and Flute
Joseph Ngwa - percussion: Conga and djembe

Discography

Anna Mwalagho released her First Album: Ukweli -The Truth :Spokenword with Afrobeat music
The CD is available on i-tunes, cdbaby.com and apple tunes
Anna Mwalagho second CD is OUT!
HaKI: A CD that will rock you off your feet! inspire you and move you to think outside the box! Fela Kuti inspired!

Links

• Anna Mwalagho
• Anna Mwalagho

Audio

• Nyani juu ya mti (Monkey on the tree)
  Listen  
• Women of the World
  Listen  
• Let them talk
  Listen  
• I remember
  Listen  
• Bloodshed
  Listen  

Video

Let Them Talk-Anna Mwalagho & Afrofloetry Bowie Internationa.mp4

Photo Gallery

Press

• AFRICAN CHILD PARK [+ Show ]
  

  A poet like Anna Mwalagho of Kenya bridged Brutus’s heritage to the present day, updating his themes...A poet like Anna Mwalagho of Kenya bridged Brutus’s heritage to the present day, updating his themes of social justice for 21st century forms. Combining traditional African musical traditions with American hip-hop and spoken word, she chanted, sang and rhymed with a powerful confidence. A poem like “I Have a Dream,” owed as much to Martin Luther King Jr.’s quest for civil rights as it did to the rhythms of her homeland. The easy blend of two continents made her message of African strength all that much stronger for her diverse audience of Americans and Africans.In two hours the café crowd caught a glimpse of an explosive exchange: Africa and America, one generation and another. But it wasn’t a violent combustion; instead, it was a productive meeting of elements, the kind of reaction where both parties end up enriched afterwards.………

• By VOA News - Kenyan Poet Brings Unique Blend of Music and Dance [+ Show ]
  

  Kenyan Poet Brings Unique Blend of Music and Dance to American Audience. Ann Mwalagho lives by her ...Kenyan Poet Brings Unique Blend of Music and Dance to American Audience.
  Ann Mwalagho lives by her personal philosophy, “Dance, sing, laugh, and truly love” -- which she calls “the joys of life.
  Mwalagho does each well. The Kenyan artist sings and writes poetry, which she fuses with dance, a combination she says has won her a fan base in the United States.
  One of her poems is called the “Dark Continent,” a tongue-in-cheek reference to the racist description of Africa coined during the colonial era. For Mwalagho, the name also evokes the resilient nature of the African people in the face of such disparaging terms. The physical nature of the language she uses -- how it sounds and feels -- accounts in large measure for the poem's effect.” Her perseverance has paid off: Since the launch of her career in the United States, she counts many personal and professional milestones. She has shared the stage with the international South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela and entertained dignitaries such like winner Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. Mwalagho was recently appointed an Ambassador for Peace by the Inter-Religious and International Federation for Peace.
  

• SPECIAL INAUGURATION CALENDAR: January 17 - 21, 2009 Saturday ... [+ Show ]
  

  PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View Jan 17, 2009 ... historic inauguration of America's first African Am...PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
  Jan 17, 2009 ... historic inauguration of America's first African American President. .... Anna Mwalagho and Afro-Floetry. Location: National Museum of
  

• DAILY NATION - A day of song, dance and food as Kenyans in US ... [+ Show ]
  

  ... celebrations in Washington marking the inauguration of President Barack Obama. ... Kenyan perfor...... celebrations in Washington marking the inauguration of President Barack Obama. ... Kenyan performing artist Anna Mwalagho will debut a song in honour of

• Hugh Masekela Charms a DC Crowd [+ Show ]
  

  Opening for Hugh Masekela was Kenyan songstress Anna Mwalagho, an artist based in DC area, who warme...Opening for Hugh Masekela was Kenyan songstress Anna Mwalagho, an artist based in DC area, who warmed up the crowd with a blend of poetry, African drums, song, and African dancing. Her lyrics were socially relevant as Mwalagho spoke of gender and development in Africa, setting just the right tone for Masekela’s entrance.

• Out of Many: A Multicultural festival of Music, Dance, and Story [+ Show ]
  

  Anna Mwalagho Poetry. 3 p.m.. Halau Hoyomau Hawaiian music and dance. 3:45 p.m. ... Anna Mwalagho St...Anna Mwalagho Poetry. 3 p.m.. Halau Hoyomau Hawaiian music and dance. 3:45 p.m. ... Anna Mwalagho Storytelling and poetry. 2 p.m.. Gayle Ross (Cherokee) ...
  

Setlist

1. Mama Zohera: Fadhili Williams
2. Patapata: Miriam Makeba
3. I Remember : original
4. Malaika:Miriam Makeba and Fadhili Williams
5. I have a Dream: original
6. Monkey on the Tree: original
7. Tausi: Fadhili Williams
8. Obama Song:Original
9. Women of the World: original
10. Majengo : by Fadhili Williams
11. Let them Talk: Original
12. Don’t make me Change: original

Basic Requirements

Calendar