Fanga

Meeting of cosmopolitan and complementary embodied energies, Fanga (Dioulakan word which means “convincing strength”) was founded in 1998. Back from Africa, Serge d’Amiano, who was a radio hip-hop program planner, has had listened to the records of Fela, CS Crew and CK Mann to Korbo, a Burkinabean MC. Here is the background and the state of mind of the band: African urban 70’s songs and, then, Tony Allen’s Black Voices album.

Then, taking its roots from Nigerian and Ghanaian traditional music, deep in afro-beat and high life 70’s styles, Fanga is a current and gifted crossover: afrobeat, jazz and funk are supported by the use of samples, hip-hop influences, electro music and analogical keys,… More, we have to notice their sheen brass section, which is so atypical in afrobeat bands. Their music is like the raised fist that “black music” proudly keeps high: right to be different, unification between mankind and our mother Earth, against social iniquities and the more and more selfishness and uncontrollable way that the economic system creates… Long discourses are not useful when the English, French or Dioulakan lyrics are declaimed with the specific deepness and convincing strength of Korbo’s voices.

Sometimes naïve, instinctively rhythmic, always refreshing, their will of taking hold of the current time drove their musical evolution all along the last decade. How is possible such a diversified influential melting pot? The answer is simple: thanks to sincere and true relationships between the eight open-minded members of the band. Indeed, after their first six tracks EP, in 2001, Rajaneesh Dwivediand (baby bass) and Samuel Devauchelle (drums) completed the formation. The result is their first melodious, dancing and hypnotic album: “Afrokalyptik”, 2003.

But their real revelation and fame came with their following album, “Natural Juice” (©Underdog Records, 2007), on which featured two legends of Fela Kuti and Africa 70 band: Tony Allen and sadly died Segun Damisa. For example, Gilles Peterson and Wax Poetics magazine have given an overwhelming support to this project and a growing reputation in the international afrobeat network to the band… So, they have played in the U.K., in the Netherlands, in Spain and in Italy, with Antibalas, Seun Kuti or Kokolo…

Fanga is now and definitively a major band in world music.