AHFOMAD'17 PRESENTS
Africa Mali Roots Sounds of
AHMED FOFANA
and very special guests
Stephanie Pedraza Flamenco Trio
Friday, August 25th
Peacock Bar & Grill, 10257 King George Blvd, Surrey
Doors 7:00 pm
​
Admission: $25 at the door
AHMED FOFANA
Multi Instrumentalist, Producer, Conductor
Ahmed Fofana was born in Cote d'Ivoire to Malian parents. He comes from a family of griots, carrying on the tradition of a long line of musicans and poets, playing flute, balafon, kora and percussion. He has worked with the most celebrated exponents of the vibrant Malian music scene including Toumani Diabate, Amadou and Mariam, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Vieux Farka Touré and Issa Bagayogo, as well as many more on the African and International music scene. He is renowned, not only for his skills as a multi-instrumentalist, but also as an arranger, producer and conductor. He was also involved in the creation of the "Mix up Bamako" project launched by MARSATAC.
His work with kora player, Toumani Diabaté, was critically acclaimed, in which he composed and arranged the album "Independence Boulevard" on the World Circuit Label. He also toured with Toumani Diabaté on all his international tours until 2008. In 2005, Ahmed Fofana was awarded a UNESCO residency in Montreal, and has since participated in several festivals including Nuits d'Afrique, Edmonton Folk Festival, Vienna Jazz Festival, WOMAD Festival and many more.
​
Ahmed Fofana is currently preparing to release his new album with his group MÉTIS MANDINGUE. He now dedicates himself to his solo career and takes us on a fabulous journey, bringing the traditional music of Mali and his own unique style to audiences around the world.
​
Stephanie Pedraza (Dancer-Singer)
Stephanie Pedraza is a flamenco singer and dancer as well as a songwriter. In 2003 she moved to Sevilla , Spain to pursue professional training both in singing and dancing at the world reknown Fundacion de Arte Flamenco Cristina Heeren where she studied with some of the most prominent figures in flamenco. Over the past decade, she has performed and taught workshops across Canada and internationally in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala and USA. Some of her performances include Festival de Artes Esenicas del Gran Caribe, in Cartagena, Colombia, Vancouver and Calgary international Flamenco Festivals and Vancouver International Film Festival. She is currently collaborating with Toronto based dancer Carmen Romero on the contemporary flamenco production of "Jacinto" which premiered in Toronto this March earning musical director Benjamin Barile a Dora Awards 2017 nomination for Outstanding Sound Design and Composition.
Stephanie Pedraza will be accompanied by flamenco guitarist Marek Wojtaszek, also known as Marekito, and percussionist Davide Sampaolo
