“Half of A Yellow Sun” and performers Les Nubians
Film: “Half of A Yellow Sun”, Les Nubians, DJ Eddie Ed
Monday, July 6, 2015, 7pm
Marcus Garvey Park
122nd St. & Mt. Morris Park, Amphitheater
Harlem
Starring Thandie Newton, Chiwtel Ejiofor and Anika Noni Rose, HALF OF A YELLOW SUN takes two privileged Nigerian sisters and their lovers on a journey through the 1960’s Biafran war which is powerful, intensely emotional and, as the response of lovers of the films and readers of the novel written by Chimamanda Adichie, around the world has shown, it is a story which can touch everyone’s heart. Directed by Biyi Bandele, USA, 113 min.ppp
Les Nubians has its genesis in a small town in the South West region of France where the Paris-born sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart lived as teenagers after returning from several years’ residence with their parents in the African country of Chad. With a French father and a Cameroonian mother, Hélène and Célia offered a unique sound which led to a recording deal with Virgin Records and in 1998 their debut album, Princesses Nubiennes was released in Europe. The albums innovative mix of hip hop, neo soul and African music found an audience in America and “Makeda” the first single from Princesses Nubiennes became an urban radio hit. The video for “Makeda” garnered heavy rotation on BET and VH-1 Soul while a DJ Spinna re-mix generated strong club play. Characterized by a marriage between Sade and Erykah Badu, “Makeda” was the right sound at the right time. massive media attention, successful tours and a Grammy nomination followed as well as nominations for two NAACP Image Awards and two Soul Train Lady Of Soul Awards; one of which Les Nubians took home as 1999’s winner for Best New Artist Group or Duo. In 2003, Les Nubians released their second album One Step Forward a conscious evolution of their style. Today, their pan-African vision remains as vibrant and clear as ever, as expressed on “Africa For The Future” from the new album.
Zimbabwe’s resident NYC DJ, Eddie Mundondo serves up a wicked mix of music from the African Diaspora. An international sensation, DJ Eddie Ed(djedyed) of the famous after work Naked Lunch Share Libations from 2000 to 2003, is one of the few DJs instrumental in marketing Kwaito music in Southern Africa and the USA. His repertoire includes Kwaito, World Music and beyond. He has been featured at SummerStage, African Film Festival, the Botswana National DJ ’98; and is regular guest on South African radian stations YFM and Radio Bop (SA), and RB2 (Botswana), and the South Africa Freedom Day Anniversaries presented by the South African Consulate. Eddie Ed Coordinated the 2005 South African tourism in part with the USA Winter Music Conference. He has spun at Rwanda Convention 2006 and 2007 the United Nations DPI and DPKO parties to name a few.