Afroflow
Encyclopedia
AfroFlowis a musical group that consists of a signature style heavily influenced by African beats through drums, spoken word, and call and response. The group started the Afroflow tour in 2006. AfroFlow prides themselves on the positive message they send to their audience. They have partnered with the American Cancer Society
(ACS) to speak out against the tobacco industry and to reach out to young adults about the dangers of tobacco use. The group consists of Mike-E
, DJ Invisible, Kenny Watson, and Sowande Keita.
Mike-E was the one who started this group. He has already been performing when he decided to get together a talented group of individuals to spread the word on creating a cancer-free world. His music has been used all around the world; it has even been used by the Barack Obama presidential campaign.
Sowande Keita is the son of a famous Djembe
player, King Sundiata Keita. King Sundiata was a master drummer and tuner of djembe, and played djembe with musicians including The Wailers and Carlos Santana. Sowande followed in his father’s footsteps as a djembe master.
DJ Invisible, located out of Detroit, has been on tour with Pimp my Ride, Hot Sauce J-Cobb, and is also a Detroit Music Award Winner.
Kenny Watson has been noted as one of Detroit's most proficient vocalists. He has performed with bands such as he Electrifying Monica Blaire,The Lovely L-RENE, Relativity, The D'sean Jones Quartet.
. It’s recognizing where the music comes from and was also named out of respect for the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who created a style of music called afrobeat
. AfroFlow is, “the root of hip-hop, R&B, soul
and gospel
music.” They incorporate all these styles into their music.
use. The American Cancer Society realized the great partnership that could be formed to help spread the message. From that point, Mike-E traveled to hospitals, cafes, middle schools, along with a variety of other locations before they decided to take it national. Mike-E wrote poems about the tobacco industry long before his partnership with ACS. He states, “I believe that tobacco companies are knowingly engaging in legalized genocide
.” AfroFlow has committed their entire work to educating others about the harmful effects of tobacco use and educating other on how to stay healthy. In 2008, AfroFlow performed at the Great Lakes Regional Summit. It was here, with the help of others, that they were inspired to create a Fight Back song. The song includes the three main elements of Relay for Life
: Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. Mike-E has also appeared in a variety of Public Service Announcements for ACS.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
(ACS) to speak out against the tobacco industry and to reach out to young adults about the dangers of tobacco use. The group consists of Mike-E
Michael D. Ellison
Michael D. Ellison is an African-American recording artist, producer and actor. The Detroit-based performer has made repeat appearances on HBO's Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry and in 2007 MIKE-E opened the three-network simulcast of the widely anticipated football game between the New...
, DJ Invisible, Kenny Watson, and Sowande Keita.
Band members
- Mike-E – Spoken Word
- DJ Invisible – DJ
- Kenny Watson – Vocalist
- Sowande Keita – African Percussionist
Mike-E was the one who started this group. He has already been performing when he decided to get together a talented group of individuals to spread the word on creating a cancer-free world. His music has been used all around the world; it has even been used by the Barack Obama presidential campaign.
Sowande Keita is the son of a famous Djembe
Djembe
A djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....
player, King Sundiata Keita. King Sundiata was a master drummer and tuner of djembe, and played djembe with musicians including The Wailers and Carlos Santana. Sowande followed in his father’s footsteps as a djembe master.
DJ Invisible, located out of Detroit, has been on tour with Pimp my Ride, Hot Sauce J-Cobb, and is also a Detroit Music Award Winner.
Kenny Watson has been noted as one of Detroit's most proficient vocalists. He has performed with bands such as he Electrifying Monica Blaire,The Lovely L-RENE, Relativity, The D'sean Jones Quartet.
Style of music
AfroFlow is very proud of their music. One reason they named the group AfroFlow is because it’s not even a style of music. It literally means, flowing from AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. It’s recognizing where the music comes from and was also named out of respect for the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who created a style of music called afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
. AfroFlow is, “the root of hip-hop, R&B, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
music.” They incorporate all these styles into their music.
Performances
During performances, AfroFlow is known for pulling people on stage from the audience. They believe that entertaining should be interactive and the crowd is a vital part of every performance. They have even brought audience member who are currently smoking up on stage to quit right on the spot.Partnership with American Cancer Society
It all started when Mike-E was asked to perform at an American Cancer Society conference for the South-Atlantic Division. Here, he did a combination of hip-hop and spoken word to entertain and educate and to create awareness about cancer and the effects of tobaccoTobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
use. The American Cancer Society realized the great partnership that could be formed to help spread the message. From that point, Mike-E traveled to hospitals, cafes, middle schools, along with a variety of other locations before they decided to take it national. Mike-E wrote poems about the tobacco industry long before his partnership with ACS. He states, “I believe that tobacco companies are knowingly engaging in legalized genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
.” AfroFlow has committed their entire work to educating others about the harmful effects of tobacco use and educating other on how to stay healthy. In 2008, AfroFlow performed at the Great Lakes Regional Summit. It was here, with the help of others, that they were inspired to create a Fight Back song. The song includes the three main elements of Relay for Life
Relay For Life
Relay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...
: Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. Mike-E has also appeared in a variety of Public Service Announcements for ACS.