VOICES OF THE REVOLUTION - 2016

AWA (African Women Arise) - Rapper (Zimbabwe)

Poetic Pilgrimage - Spoken Word/ Rap (UK/Bristol)

For the fifth year running, In Place Of War presented Voices Of The Revolution. In 2016 this brought together an inspirational line up of all-female musicians from Ghana, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Colombia, Bangladesh, Rwanda, Venezuela, Egypt, India and the UK, to collaborate, create and perform with each other, led by Errollyn Wallen, the UK’s first black female composer for the Proms. They performed together collectively as ‘Voices of the Revolution’.

From women reclaiming the djembe in Rwanda, to an Egyptian accordionist, and a Brazilian favela-based dancehall artist to Zimbabwe’s rapper queen, this was a unique musical work, previewed at Ronnie Scott’s and performed at Shambala, Pop in Brixton, Festival No.6 and Freedom Festival Hull. 

For many of the artists this was their first time outside their home countries. Through the project and the music produced, the project provided a platform for female artists in places of conflict to tell their stories, share their cultures and take part in a life-changing experience together.

The Artists 

• Errollyn Wallen (MBE) - musical director (Belize/UK) 

• Wiyaala - Afro-pop Singer (UK/Ghana) 

• Lei Di Dai - Dance Hall Singer (Brazil)

• AWA (African Women Arise) - Rapper (Zimbabwe)

• Voiver - Singer (Venezuela)

• Odile Gakire Katese from Ingoma Nshya - Traditional drummer/djembe (Rwanda)

• Pamela Ospina - Drummer, bass guitar, singer (Colombia)

• Sarah Yaseen - Guitar, hand drum, traditional singer (UK/Manchester)

• Afrodeutsche - Composer/DJ/Producer (UK/Ghanaian/Russian/German)

• Kokoroko - Afrobeat brass players, sax, trombone, trumpet (UK/West Africa)

• Cary Rosa - Cello (Cuba)

• Sohini Alam - Vocalist (UK/Bangladesh) 

• Shama Rahman - Sitar & Electronic Glove (UK/India)

• Poetic Pilgrimage - Spoken Word/ Rap (UK/Bristol)

• Youssra El-Hawary - Accordionist/Singer (Egypt)