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Papa Zai (Zambia)

MUSIC STYLE:

Reggae (dancehall, roots, raggamuffin), Afro-Caribbean music (mix of traditional and urban Zambian music, spiced with soca/calypso), traditional Zambian music.

SAMPLE AVAILABLE:

www.myspace.com/papazai

HISTORY:

Papa Zai was born 27^th of October in Lusaka, Zambia. He started performing with a theatre group when he was 14 years old. At the same time he started to play the guitar and keyboards and in 1984 he played in several musical groups and started composing and singing. While living in Zambia he played in several reggae groups, such as Zion Dud Squad, Burning Youth, Bantu Roots, Youth Inspiration, Elders Vibrations and Shakarongo Combination. In 1996 he produced ragamuffin album "Salaula", which topped the charts and became a musical trailblazer to a whole generation of young Zambian artists.

Papa Zai moved to Finland in 1997 and to Helsinki in 2000. His first groups in Finland were Afro Beat, Roots Ragga Band and Love Culture Band. With Love Culture Band he performed e.g. at Helsinki Reggae Festival and Maailma kylässä festival. In 2003 he became a MC for well known group Komposti Sound System; with them he had gigs in Helsinki, Tukholma, Oslo and Bergen.

Papa Zai has also played on Pelle Miljoona's album in 2003 and been one of the singers in Soul Captain Band (2004-2005). With the latter he has had gigs in many festivals, such as: Ruisrock, Faces, Ilosaarirock, Provinssirock and Ruotsin Uppsala Reggae Festival.

He has also played as the warm-up act for several famous reggae artists, such as Burning Spear, Sizzla Kalonji, Luciano ja Jah Mason.

In 2005 Papa Zai moved to Zambia for two years. Now he's back in Finland, singing in Suhinators and working on his solo album.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

Papa Zai's big reggae band normally has 5-9 musicians; the gig can last 1-2 hours. He plays also with acoustic ensemble; acoustic guitars, marimba/xylophone, djembe, didgeridoo; the gig can last from half an hour to one hour. In solo performances Papa Zai accompanies his singing with acoustic guitar; solo performance can last from half an hour to one hour.

The sound system should be discussed beforehand, normally PA system is always needed. Acoustic gigs are possible if the venue is suitable for it.

CONTACTS:

Papa Zai
Tel. +358 (0) 40 811 08 69
yikona ÄT gmail.com

www.myspace.com/papazai