Afro Roots Gainesville

111 East University Avenue,Gainesville FL 32601

08 April, 2022

Description

Afro Roots Gainsville Jomion & The Uklos is a family band from Benin, West Africa, led by Samuel "Jomion" Gnonlonfoun, founder of the internationally renowned Gangbé Brass Band. With his brothers JB & Mathieu and his daughter Rose, Jomion combines traditional rhythms and songs from Vodoun (Voodoo) culture with reggae, salsa and jazz to create vibrant, relaxed dance music he named Whedo-vodoo-jazz(W.V.J) Founded in 2021, UF's African Popular Music Ensemble specializes in the popular music of the African continent, with a special focus on Afrobeat, highlife, soukous, and African jazz. The ensemble, directed by Dr. Sarah Politz, features students from the School of Music, musicians from the Gainesville community, and selected guest artists. The 2021 program will include arrangements of popular music from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Guinea, as well as Afro-diasporic sacred music from Haiti and Cuba. Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. (CAC) is a Miami-based non-profit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds. CAC has a track record of community collaborations which have earned the support of many other organizations and sponsors, such as the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the non-profit organization La Fortuna, Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar, the FloridaDepartment of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, the Moksha Arts Collective, Miami–Dade College, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, and the Rhythm Foundation. These harmoniousrelations help CAC fulfill their co-presenting mission to the community. In 2018, Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias was recognized by the Knight Foundation as a Knights Art Champion, which allowed him to donate $10,000 to CAC for the production of the 2019 season of events. In 2019, Afro Roots Fest was named “Best Music Festival” by the Miami New Times in weekly’s “Best of Miami” edition.  For more information, please visitthe brand new website at CommunityArtsandCulture.org.