From Africa with energy

Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

The statement that Ivory Coast's Grammy Award winner Dobet Gnahore is the most energetic singer ever to perform in Jamaica cannot be proved. But it could be true.

To take the title, Gnahore would have to beat the numerous high-voltage dancehall, soca and rock performers who have entertained audiences in the island. That fact should give music fans who did not see Gnahore's concert at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts on Sunday evening an idea of how exciting the show was.

This fact should also help. Gnahore began singing at 7:30 p.m. and continued singing, dancing and occasionally playing a "thumb piano" or a bottle-shaped percussive instrument until 8:50 p.m. At that time, she and her band (comprising guitar, bass and percussion) left the stage for a few minutes, but then, at the urging of the audience, they returned to entertain for another 10 minutes.

And mark you, the songs and dancing were not sweet, slow ballads and gentle waltzing around the stage. On the contrary, the former were full throated, up-tempo African tunes; and the latter involved, among other moves, leaping, twisting, falling to the floor and somersaulting.

It quickly became apparent to the delighted audience that Gnahore was both a professional singer and a dancer. In fact, she was scheduled to give workshops in both art forms at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMC) on Monday.

Wearing her hair pulled back in pony tail and a floor-length, multi-coloured African print dress with split sides and black trousers, Gnahore sang 14 or 15 songs. Though she sings in several African dialects and French, she did not sing in English and the only song title she gave the audience was Forgive Me (the English translation).

Performance enjoyed

Happily, this did not prevent the audience from thoroughly enjoying her performance.

The concert started with EMC drumming lecturer Ouida Lewis introducing a group of her students as the West African Drum Ensemble and playing along with them as they delivered a couple of complex, fast-paced pieces.

Fellow EMC lecturer Maurice Gordon next introduced his student group, Mojo Rock, a jazz band. The group played a number of lively tunes, including Gordon's own originals Moving With Your Love and The Magic in You.

After those two items, vocalist Jermaine Blake came on to sing two more songs. Blake needs to work on his jerky, exaggerated movements, but he does have an excellent voice and deserved the enthusiastic applause he received.

During her introductions to the acts, Lewis, who doubled as emcee, assured the audience they were in for "quite a show." This turned out to be absolutely right.

The concert was organised by the Alliance Française of Jamaica, whose mission is "to teach French, promote French and Francophone culture and reinforce ties between France and Jamaica."