CONTRIBUTED

The Rooster's Wife continues to offer an eclectic program of music in a small concert setting.

Sunday, April 19, finds Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa at the house on the corner of Blue and High streets in downtown Aberdeen.

Soul Beat Africa is the new voice of Ugandan music, the inspired synthesis of African roots and world music, of traditional and modern instrumentation. These musicians represent the new vanguard of Ugandan performers, gifted instrumentalists steeped in the music of their homeland, but with ears opened to the sounds of the world at large.

Traditional African instruments -- koras, kalimbas, adungus, endongos, ngonis, drums -- blend with guitars and keyboards, drawing on influences from around the globe. Soul Beat Africa has been bringing its energetic show to audiences across Europe and Africa for years.

The group is on its first American tour and will do a school program as well.

Kinobe (pronounced "Chi-No-Be") is an accomplished musician from Uganda whose early abilities in traditional African music quickly garnered acclaim on the world stage.

Born in 1983 near Lake Victoria, he began playing music at the age of five, and five years later traveled to the Netherlands with a group of musicians for his first international performance. It was this trip that introduced him to the diversity of musical traditions throughout the world, opening his ears to new sounds, and launching a life-changing interest in world music.

In the years that followed, Kinobe traveled the African continent, performing with such figures in African roots music as Toumani Diabate, Youssou N'dour, Salif Keita, Angelique Kidjo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Baaba Maal, Ismael Lo, and many others. He is a lifelong student, teacher, lover, and purveyor of the great diversity of African musical traditions.

In 2007, under the support of CulturesFrance, Kinobe made his first major tour to 18 countries around Africa and the Indian Ocean. He has given solo concerts and workshops on traditional instruments all over Europe. His first solo CD, Soul Language, was released in 2007 by Multicultural Media. Kinobe is touring the United States with his band, Soul Beat Africa.

Soul Beat Africa is the new voice of Ugandan music, the inspired synthesis of African roots and world music, of traditional and modern instrumentation. These musicians represent the new vanguard of Ugandan performers, gifted instrumentalists steeped in the music of their homeland, but with ears opened to the sounds of the world at large.

Traditional African instruments -- koras, kalimbas, adungus, endongos, ngonis, drums -- blend with guitars and keyboards, drawing on influences from around the globe. Soul Beat Africa has been bringing its energetic show to audiences across Europe and Africa for years.

Ouma Michael is a guitarist/multi-instrumentalist from Uganda. He met Kinobe in 1997 as a student, and since 2003 they have played together in countries throughout Europe and Africa. Lukwago Jude has been playing keyboards and kalimba with Soul Beat Africa since 2005. He is also a producer and produced Kinobe's first CD, "Soul Language."

Okia Allan plays the bass guitar and bass kalimba and adds back-up vocals to the band. He grew up playing gospel music in Uganda and was later inspired to take up traditional music after hearing international African roots musicians. Sewagudde Richard has been playing music with Kinobe since they were both five years old, and they have been touring Europe together since 2003. Sewagudde plays calabash, kalimba, endongo and adungu.

Tugume Ambrose is considered one of the greatest young drummers in Uganda today.He has been touring with Soul Beat Africa since 2005. Bakkabulinda Samuel is Soul Beat Africa's percussionist, a specialist in Ugandan traditional rhythms, and perhaps the greatest percussionist in Uganda today. He performed at the WOMAD (World of Music And Dance) festival in the USA and the UK in 1999, and has worked with Peter Gabriel. Bakkabulinda and Kinobe have been working together since 2000.

Admission is $10; seating is general admission with the doors opening at 6 p.m. and the concert at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available online at www.theroosterswife.org, with credit and debit card, or at the door with check or cash, and reservations are preferred. Call (910) 944-7502 to make reservations.

The Rooster's Wife is a private nonprofit association organized to celebrate the performing arts in Aberdeen.