Dj Zhao with the rhythm science you just can’t fuck with
Monday 21 June
Dj Zhao: 16H – 17H
Untergeschoss der Pandora Art Gallery
Schleiermacherstraße 18, 10961 Berlin
Dj Zhao: 20H – 22H
Torstrasse 170, 10115 Berlin
In 2011 Mark Ernestus (of Basic Channel, Rhythm & Sound, and Hardwax fame) traveled to Senegal in search of original Sabar and Mbalax recordings but ended up inviting over 20 percussionists and other musicians – most of whom he had become interested in via local cassettes or Youtube clips – for a spontaneous recording session in Dakar. Mark arranged and mixed these recordings back in Berlin, which were released on the 2012 twin albums “800% Ndagga” and “Ndagga Versions” under the “Mark Ernestus presents Jeri-Jeri” moniker – simply using the Sabar drummers’ clan name.
Since then, the project has evolved into something new in its own: From the initial pool of artists involved, Mark has handpicked a smaller core group with whom he intensified collaboration, toured throughout Europe and recorded new tracks to arrange, edit, finish production, and mix with his own, more electronic aesthetic. The album “Yermande” was released to much critical acclaim late in 2016.
The group has become a killer live outfit and has played clubs and major festivals all across Europe – including Melt!, Roskilde, Dour, OFF! in Katowice or the Festival Ile d’France in Paris – and in the process long have outgrown initial limitations. We’re more than happy to have MARK ERNESTUS & NDAGGA RHYTHM FORCE at YAAM Berlin in August!
Wed night 26th of June 1 – 5am @ Haupttresen, main bar of the festival, open air stage Function One in the center area between Turmbühne and Triebwerke –– 4 hours of Afrocentric Electro-Bass on The hottest day of the year, my 10th of rocking Fusion
Sorry for the short notice.
Tomorrow Friday my talk at 18:00 will be on the Insurrectionary Politics of Dancing, and dj set from 21:30 – 23:30 of Afro-centric Breaks and Jungle.
“Understanding the sound system as a social space, we want participants of different genres and scenes (from roots, dub and contemporary bass music to techno/tekno) to gather and exchange.
In a colorful program of exhibitions, live-performances, workshops, talks, discussion and diverse music Berliners and international artists are entering into a dialogue and are actively shaping the event.
Exhibitions:
– Roots of sound system music & culture – including audio examples and open dialogue by David Riley (Supported by Mr. Glue)
– UK sound systems in the 90ies – photos and input by Ed Twist
Workshop:
– “Listen! Material and Loops – A hearing experience” by E.L.L.I.
Discussion Panel (FLTI):
– “Sound Systems, Rave Collectives and Gender” by Meetup Berlin & PRIZM:Berlin
Talks:
– The revolutionary essence of social dance by He Zhao
– Sound system culture, hardcore techno and the Berlin Fuckparade by Bianca Ludewig
– Sound System Cultures of the Black Atlantic: Angolan Kuduro by Stefanie Alisch (Humboldt Universität zu Berlin)
– Rave & psychoanalysis by Feli Concat
– Musique Concrète Jungle – spatial delivery research by Lukas Jakob Löcker
Performance:
A/V synth performance by SAOU TV & Kevin Koen
Music:
– Benjammin
– Chantal
– Dj.Pult (do not dance)
– dj zhao
– Feli Concat
– Gretchen Bazooka
– Hägen Daz
– Jahminta Zulu
– Jah Forcefield (Bademah & Zentash Gigawatt Dubz)
– Jukebox Utopia
– Mila Chiral – live
– One Woman Army in Dub
– Pmp Mzk alongside Tcp (Harlekinsound / Certain:Dubs)
– Smi
– Spiriel
– Aporia Barrage
– Token
Supported by:
– VJ Flimmerkiste
– A-Sound System
– Triple P Sound System
Honored to have participated in the curation of this festival, and looking forward to contributing to it, speaking alongside the likes of Kodwo Eshun and playing next to JLin.
Mark your calendars: Thu, Apr 26, —Sun, Apr 29
Tonight is a big big night, with top beatsmiths and djs from Uganda, UK, and Berlin providing us with outlandishly excellent sonic services in this historical NYEGE NYEGE FESTIVAL gathering on the other side of the globe.
And tomorrow all 4 of us, David Tinning, Spooky-J, Moroto Hvy Indstr, and myself will be weaving ecstatic aural tapestries on the esteemed Cashmere Radio, where there is a dopetastische absinthe bar, from 8pm to midnight.
Get your dancing shoes ready for tonight, and smoking jacket for tomorrow!
in anticipation of the party on Saturday, i stepped in for Moon Wheel on his show The Journey on Berlin Community Radio:
Rhythms of the mother continent meets Sound of Berlin: NGOMA envisions dance music of a society that we want our grand children to live in. Decolonized poly-scyncretic drum machines of a high-tech egalitarian future, constructed from the plurality of various life experiences and multiple sonic perspectives today, NGOMA fuses the best of many worlds for maximum mind expansion, soul elevation, and body intoxication.
Sound of Berlin meets Rhythms of the mother continent: NGOMA envisions dance music of a future society that we would want our grand children to live in. Imagining a decolonized polycultural drum machine constructed from the plurality of our various life experiences and multiple sonic perspectives, NGOMA fuses the best of many worlds for maximum mind expansion, soul elevation, and body intoxication.
A few dopetastische events coming up, some even in Berlin!
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06.10 Musik & Frieden, Berlin
06.25 Watergate, Berlin
07.01 ACUD, Berlin
07.08 TBA, Barcelona
07.10 Manglar, Madrid
09.03 NyegeNyege, Kampala
09.16 Temple, Nairobi
10.15_Step In Festival, Zanzibar City
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A new series of Polyrhythmic Bass and Afrocentric Techno is born at this sweet underground spot by the spree near Schlesisches Tor with big sound.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1589940924667453/
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Lamin Fofana (Sci-Fi & Fantasy)
dj zhao (Ngoma Soundsystem)
Qumasiquamé (Through My Speakers)
Sheikh (SOUL FUTURE BASS)
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More extensive posts about East Africa will follow. For now, just a few photos.
Jinja, Uganda:
Apologies that i failed to post about this earlier… been a hectic few weeks to say the least!
info and RSVP here.
See you tonight Madrid!
Nyege Nyege Festival warm up parties continue after last weekend’s epic vibes at Kompala’s oldest night club: Capital. 
East Africa Tour starts this Friday at the fabulous Tree House in Nairobi
Bigup Bad Mambo Productions
Toulouse again this weekend 4 Laid Back Open Air. Lets all pray to rain gods to chill!
On 24th of September going on a month+ tour in East Africa, Nairobi, Kampala, etc.! Hanging with the Boutique Electronique crew, collaborating with East African artists, and playing at festivals and clubs such as this one with an awesome lineup:
Join us for ECK IM SAVANE at Promenaden Eck on Saturday night for a special night of Cosmik Grooves from the Motherland and beyond. The collectiv Tropical Timewarpwith BestMate? and Bela Patrutzi will heat things up with their impressiv vinyl collection and will give service with an Afro beat – Afro funk mix then Léon Leon from FINOW ZOO and dj zhao will take us deep into the night with their multi-dimensional drum science.
8:00pm – 5:00am
Promenadeneck Schillerpromenade 11, 12049 Berlin, Germany
And on Sunday, we come together for Umbenennungsfestival (renaming festival),on the block where the infamous Berlin Conference of 1884 took place, to enjoy the afternoon and agitate for refugee rights, against Pegida, and the changing of the historic “Mohrenstr.” (N***er Street) to “Nelson Mandela Strasse”. There will be many speakers and artists, and like last time i will contribute with a dj set and a talk on Culture as a Global Process and Dismantling Eurocentricity.
2:00pm – 8:00pm
mohrenstr, berlin 10117 Berlin, Germany
A last minute FUN SESSION with the dope as fuck NANGDO and ME in the RAVE CAVE dropping the ILL DRUM SCIENCE!!! Tonight!
Expanding the boundaries of club music, CLUBLAB explores borderless poly-rhythms and infinite bass, and investigates the fragmented soul of the polymorphous planetary underground.
Fusion was as epic freaky fun as ever! (but this year seemed to feature even more music from the global south).
NGOMA SOUND 