Two Legendary African groups to perform free concerts at Seattle Center South Africa's Mahotella Queens and Koo Nimo from Ghana his Akoma group, along with Kalass to perform in Seattle to celebrate the 12th Birthday of Rakumi Arts

Place: Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre
Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2001
Time: 6PM
Artists: Mahotella Queens, with Mapathe Diop and group opening
Admission: Free

AND

Place: Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre
Date: Friday,August 24, 2001
Time: 7PM
Artists: Koo Nimo and Kalass
Admission: Free

Note: Chief Stephen Osadebe and his group from Nigeria who were previously scheduled for Friday, August 24th, will not be performing, due to the cancellation of their West Coast tour.

Legendary South African group the Mahotella Queens return to Seattle for the first time in many years, presented by Rakumi Arts, in celebration of Rakumi's 12th birthday. The three singers in the Mahotella Queens, Hilda Tloubatla, Mildred Mangxola, and Nobesuthu Mbadu, have been a major force in South African music since the 1960's, with their powerfully propulsive dance music style, called "mbaqanga". With the release of an excellent new album, "Sebai Bai", a great new backing band, and international touring in Europe and the US, the Mahotella Queens will be in fine form to celebrate with Rakumi Arts. Opening the show will be the Seattle based Senegalese drummer, Mapathe Diop, and his traditional percussion group. And it's free! The concert will be at Seattle Center's Mural Amphitheatre, starting at 6PM.

And Rakumi Arts will present a second free concert at the Mural on Friday, August 24th, at 7PM- with veteran Nigerian high-life superstar- Chief Stephan Osita Osadebe and his band, as Rakumi continues its 12th birthday party. Osadebe has been a leading Nigerian musician and bandleader since the 60's as well, with his own brand of eastern Nigerian highlife. His career has been boosted by the recent re-issue on CD of some of his best songs from the 60's and 70's, titled "Sound Time" on IndigiDisc. This will be his first Seattle concert. Opening will be guitarist Koo Nimo, the great palm-wine guitarist from Ghana, who has recently been artist-in-residence at the University of Washington School of Music.

The concerts are co-presented by Seattle Center.

For more information on the Mahotella Queens-

http://www.ritmoartists.com/Mahotella/mahotella.htm