Wazumbians make strides in the US – Graphic Online

They have played several gigs in New York, Philadelphia, Idaho, Virginia and North Carolina where they were recently honoured at the sixth Annual African World Peace Festival (AWPF) at Fayetteville. The band won respect for the music it brought to arts and culture adherents in North Carolina and for its valuable support for this year’s AWPF.
Dr Isabella Effon, President of the Culture and Heritage Alliance which organises the AWPF, presented a memento to the band which was received by its leader, Francis Chapman Abban-Hagan, better known as Wazumbi.
The AWPF annually brings people together to celebrate all cultures with an emphasis on Africa through music, dance, food, art exhibitions and more. This year’s was held from September 9 to 11 in Cool Spring Downtown Fayeteville. The Wazumbians were prominent throughout the festival.
An online news portal in North Carolina, revitalatinac.com said the Wazumbians re-echoed the exciting Ghanaian group Osibisa, famous for their pioneering Afro-rock music which was highly loved around the world.
“With musical directions from long-experienced producer Wazumbi, the band of long-serving musicians is a spicy mix of catchy tunes served with ornamented rhythmic grooves steeped in African traditions into one soul-satisfying broth,” the news outlet said about the Wazumbians.
“We’ve been busy playing across state lines and it’s a happy time for us as well as those who come out to hear us,” said Wazumbi.
He expressed gratitude to Dr Effon and the Mayor of North Carolina, Mitch Colvin, for the honour done them. He also thanked the band’s promoter, Alex Boicel, and the ASK-TK Studio and Sound Rental Company for their unflinching support. He commended Ghanaian music producer and recording engineer, Panji Anoff, for linking them to AWPF.
According to Wazumbi, exposure on the American live scene has brought some beneficial opportunities their way which they are poised to grab. The band is likely to go on to Canada and Denmark after the United States gigs before returning to Ghana.

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