New Voices Series
featuring KeruBo, Mikahely, and Koblavi Doga
About
The Flynn’s New Voices series showcases New American musicians that live right here in Vermont. The series is being revived this spring, highlighting musical traditions from the different cultures represented in our community. Past artists include SINsiZZLe, A2VT, Grup Anwar, Vermont Hindu Temple, Sori Mori, Sabouyouma, and Mal Maiz. This season's performance features KeruBo, Mikahely, and Koblavi Doga. This series is curated by ethnomusicologist/Saint Michael's College professor Bill Ellis.
KeruBo
KeruBo is a singer/songwriter Afro-Jazz artist, originally from Kenya, who now lives in the Burlington area. She has more than 20 years of experience performing all over the world in music festivals. Her style of music is a blend of African traditional music, with inflections of Brazilian samba/bossa nova, jazz, and blues. KeruBo sings African folk music and Afro-jazz, from African laments to more modern arrangements. Her influences span generations of music artists and songwriters, particularly Achien’g Abura, Miriam Makeba, Dorothy Masuka, and Nina Simone—strong-minded, female singers who effectively used their music as a powerful medium to bring awareness to social issues, and to rebuke social injustices. KeruBo’s music is about healing, preserving African culture and heritage, and highlighting social issues affecting vulnerable minorities such as women and children.
Mikahely
Mikahely is a singer-songwriter who hails from the beautiful island of Madagascar, but his music is out of this world! A self-taught musician, he draws inspiration from traditional Malagasy rhythms to create his own unique and healing sounds on guitar and valiha (a zither-like instrument made from bamboo). Singing his all-original music in his native language of Malagasy, Mikahely transcends boundaries. Having toured in Madagascar and Europe, he now brings his music to new audiences in the United States. He is also featured in the documentary Guitar Madagascar.
Koblavi Doga
Ghanaian percussion master Koblavi Doga will provide backing rhythms for KeruBo and Mikahely.
