Main Stage

The Main Stage featured an exciting line-up of leading African and Irish performers throughout the day. The headline act for 'Africa Day @ Iveagh Gardens, Dublin' was renowned Malian musician Vieux Farka Touré. Choice Music Prize winner Jape, Republic of Loose, Paddy Casey, Cathy Davey, Kíla, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Frances Black all made special guest appearances during the day, along with Congolese musician Niwel Tsumbu, Malawian chart-topper Kenny Gilmore, The Discovery Gospel Choir, and lots, lots more.

The line-up for the Main Stage was as follows:

Rap Ireland

12noon

Rap Ireland performed at last year’s Africa Day celebrations, hosting one of the most popular attractions on the day: the dance and rap party in the Zambezi Garden. In addition to their Main Stage performance at this year's event, they also hosted a hip hop and rap party on the 'Emerging Talent' stage in the Iveagh Gardens.

Kenny Gilmore

12.15pm

Kenny Gilmore is well on the way to becoming a legend in African music.

A difficult artist to classify from the outset, this 'Anglo-Afro-American' harmonica player and singer got his taste for music by picking up a harmonica in Malawi at 18 years of age and travelling all the way to New Orleans, USA, to learn how to play it. Four years later, he won the Rebel State Harmonica championship, and was widely known as one of the best blues harpists in the state of Louisiana.

On his return to Central Africa in 2003, Kenny formed the nationally celebrated 'Sangalala Band' - which produced two albums and two number one hits in 2006 and 2007 - and he thereby claimed his mantle as Malawi's first significant white African artist.

Passionate about the musical heritage of Malawi, Kenny has just finished working on a documentary called 'Deep Roots Malawi', due for release in January 2010. He is currently working in the African music scene in London, Paris and Cape Town.

A fusion artist from the start, Kenny believes in making music which "can bring people together who wouldn't ordinarily be sharing a dance floor". To sample Kenny's music, check out: http://www.myspace.com/sangalala.

Heartbreak Cartel

12.40pm

Following on from their brilliant performances at the 2008 Africa Day celebrations and at the 'Africa Day @ Limerick' event, Heartbreak Cartel returned for the Iveagh Gardens event on 24th May 2009.

Formed in Pretoria, South Africa, around 2004, Heartbreak Cartel have been known to impress audiences with their lively, foot-stomping, entertaining shows. From the outset, the band's sonic approach has blended home-grown South African Kwaito beats, Euro-Polka, and a contemporary indie sound into what they refer to as 'AFRIROCK!!'.

To hear Heartbreak Cartel, check out www.myspace.com/heartbreakcartel and www.muzu.tv/heartbreakcartel.

Stone & Jezreel

12.55pm

Stone & Jezreel consists of two siblings from Africa. Their double-act was created in 2006. Stone, with his poetic rap style, and Jezreel, with her sweet melodies of soul and R&B, have created a muiscal combination called ‘Rhythm and Soul’. With the siblings recently appointed Dance4Life Ambassadors in Ireland - working with an NGO which aims to raise awareness of AIDS and issues that affect teenagers - Stone & Jezreel are set to make an impact through their music.

To sample Stone & Jezreel's music, check out: www.myspace.com/stonejezreel.

Millaz

1.15pm

Hip-hop group Millaz - formerly known as the Millionaire Boyz - regrouped in late 2008, and is now set to storm Ireland and Nigeria with hit tracks, ‘She’s A Hustler (Naira)’, ‘African Woman’ and a whole host of others.

They performed to a fantastic response at the 2008 Africa Day celebration in Dublin Castle and at 'Africa Day @ Limerick' this year, and repeated that success during 'Africa Day @ Iveagh Gardens'.

Millaz is made up of:

Naughty 1, who was raised in Port Harcourt in Nigeria and moved to Ireland after school.
Shaqwon a.k.a. Gbadoski, who was born in Nigeria and spent the last number of years in Dublin.
Yung Floss (popularly know as Mr. Ebe-ano for his unmistakable Ibo flow), who was born in Ireland, raised in Nigeria and schooled in America, before returning once more to Ireland.
Chi, who was born in Chicago and spent time in Nigeria before moving to Ireland.

Each member is extremely proud of his African heritage, and African influences can be heard throughout their music.

The group's first album, 'Like A Millionaire', was released in 2008.

Further information on Millaz is available at: www.millazonline.com.

Children of Soweto

1.30pm

The Children of Soweto Gospel Choir performed on the Main Stage during 'Africa Day @ Iveagh Gardens'.

The choir is the brainchild of author and poet Nomleth Nyapokoto, who - realising the talent and potency of her friends and cousins - gathered them together, and the Children of Soweto was born.

The gospel group - winners of the first All-Ireland Gospel Choir Competition - currently comprises three multi-talented members originating from different corners of South Africa. Together, they celebrate the core beauty of South African history through poetry and the pulsating rhythms of traditional dance and music.

Gardiner Street Gospel Choir

1.45pm

Gardiner Street Gospel Choir

Gardiner Street Gospel Choir have become renowned for their joyful and vibrant gospel choir mass every Sunday in St. Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street in Dublin City Centre. Founded in March 2000, the choir was formed to fill a gap in liturgical music in Dublin, so that people of all ages could enjoy a mass which featured familiar music they could enjoy singing and dancing to.

The choir perform a varied mix of traditional gospel, contemporary, joyful and uplifting music, with everything from U2 to Macy Gray and Bob Marley to Jewel. They pride themselves on providing a great day's entertainment that will have you dancing and singing along.

For more information, visit www.gardinerstreetgospelchoir.com.

Frances Black

2.10pm

When Nanci Griffith called Frances Black 'the sweetest voice of Ireland', she was paying tribute to someone who has been one of Ireland’s best-loved and most enduring artists since the late 1980s, with a string of best-selling albums, awards and other accolades behind her.

The extent of Frances’ popularity and talent has been reflected in the awards that she has received for her albums and live performances. She has twice been the recipient of one of the highest honours in Irish music, the prestigious Irish Recorded Music Association’s 'Best Irish Female' award. In addition, the excellence of her live performances saw her receiving the 'Best Solo Artist' and 'Overall Winner' accolades at the Celtic Fusion Festival Awards, in conjunction with Irish Music Magazine, from over 40 nominated acts.

For further information on Frances, click here.

Jape

Jape, whose album ‘Ritual’ recently won the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2008, performed an eclectic mix of old and new songs during his set on the Main Stage.

To date, Jape has released three studio albums: ‘Cosmosphere’ (2003), ‘The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me’ (2004) and ‘Ritual’ (2008). ‘Ritual’ received great critical acclaim and the album features the singles 'I Was a Man', 'Strike Me Down' and 'Phil Lynott'.

With Jape just back from a three-week tour in Europe, his set was highly-charged, energetic and entertaining.

To listen to Jape, go to: http://www.myspace.com/richiejape.

Cathy Davey

3.20pm

Cathy Davey is a Meteor Award-winning Irish musician and songwriter. She has released two albums, ‘Something Ilk’ (2004) and ‘Tales of Silversleeve’ (2007), for which she was nominated for the Choice Music Prize. The album was a huge critical success and was awarded the ‘Album of the Year’ accolade by virtually all reviewers. The first single, ‘Reuben’, was embraced by radio and went to number one in the national radio charts. Her next album is due to be released later this year.

Further information is available at: http://www.myspace.com/cathydavey.

Paddy Casey

3.50pm

Paddy Casey is one of Ireland's best-know singer-songwriters. Having honed his craft busking on the streets of his native Dublin, he released his first album 'Amen (So Be It)' in 1999. In 2003, he released the multi-platinum album, 'Living', which spawned such Irish chart hits as 'Saints and Sinners', 'Bend Down Low' and 'The Lucky One'. He recorded his third studio album in Hollywood. Enitled 'Addicted To Company (Part One)', it was released in Ireland inSeptember 2007.

Influences cited by Paddy Casey include Duke Ellington, John Martyn, The Waterboys, Prince and Sly And The Family Stone. Further information is available at: http://www.paddycasey.com/.

Niwel Tsumbu

4.15pm

Over the past 50 years, Central Africa has built itself an incredible reputation for nurturing some of the world’s greatest guitarists, and Niwel Tsumbu is a fitting ambassador to carry that torch forward with his new album, ‘Song of the Nations’, and band of the same name.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niwel Tsumbu moved to Ireland in 2003 and quickly became involved in the Irish music scene. He has participated in various groups, including Sumu, Kilmia (Jazzmu), Motema and The Clear Sky Ensemble, as well as in a duo with percussionist Eamonn Cagney.

He has performed alongside such well-known names as Micheál Ó Suilleabháin, Mel Mercier, Kíla, Cathy Jordan (Dervish), Steve Cooney and Nigel Kennedy, and has released two albums with Eamonn Cagney and Sumu.

Playing electric and acoustic guitar – and singing mostly in his native Lingala – Niwel Tsumbu’s music draws on African rhythms, rumba, jazz, classical and flamenco influences. His repertoire stretches from contemporary versions of Congolese music from the 1930s and 1940s to modern jazz. To hear his work, check out: http://niweltsumbu.com/.

Republic of Loose

4.40pm

Republic of Loose will play their first live performance in Dublin this year during a special guest appearance at 'Africa Day @ Iveagh Gardens'. A collective of like-minded souls with a loose aggregation of influences and inspiration, Republic Of Loose have forged their own original sound, with a hip-swinging centre that their fans love. When released in Ireland, the band’s ‘Aaagh!’ album reached number two in the charts and garnered two nominations apiece for the prestigious Meteor and Choice Awards. Further information is available here.

Discovery Gospel Choir

5.20pm

The Discovery Gospel Choir is Ireland’s first integrated Gospel choir. Members hail from all over the world, including Ireland, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, China, England, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda.

Discovery Gospel Choir was formed in 2004. The choir has a strong ethos of reconciliation, development and integration and has campaigned for ‘Make Poverty History’. The Choir has also performed with various artists such as Nizlopi, Foy Vance, Celtic Woman, Kíla and Liam Ó Maonlaí.

In 2008, the choir featured on anti-racism single, ‘We people (who are darker than blue)’ by Sinead O’Connor and the Republic of Loose.

For further information, check out: www.discoverygospelchoir.com.

Liam Ó Maonlaí

5.45pm

One of Ireland's best-known musicians, Liam Ó Maonlaí is the former frontman of the Hothouse Flowers and has a long and distinguished career in Irish and world music.

In January 2006, Liam travelled to Mali, where he played at the renowned Desert Festival with uilleann piper Paddy Keenan, and participated in the making of a documentary about their experiences. During his time in Mali, he played with some of the country's best-known artists, as well as with local tribespeople in rural areas. While there, he learned of the close relationship between the Irish harp and the African kora, and his experiences heighthened his interest in world music.

Liam has travelled extensively in Australia, Japan, America, Europe, Scandinavia, Morocco and India. He has played - and continues to play - with the traditional musicians of these places.

Further information about Liam Ó Maonlaí is available at www.liamomaonlai.ie.

Kíla

6.30pm

After a rousing performance at 2008's 'Africa Day @ Dublin Castle' event, Kíla were back on board for the Iveagh Gardens in 2009.

An Irish folk / world music group, Kíla always provide a great day's entertainment. Most recently, the band has released the soundtrack to ‘The Secret of Kells’, which they produced in collaboration with French composer Bruno Coulais. ‘The Secret of Kells’ is the first full-length Irish animation film and won the Best Irish Film award at the Dublin Jameson International Film Festival earlier this year.

Further information on the group is available here.

Africa Day 2009

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