Community Event with Afrorack (Bamanya Brian)
A free demo presentation and Q+A with Afrorack (Bamanya Brian) will take place on September 28 at Red Gate at 2pm. Space is limited; registration required. Registration details TBA.
Experimental multidisciplinary artist Bamanya Brian, aka Afrorack, is known as one of the people pioneering the making of electronic music instruments in Africa. While pursuing his interest in modular synths, Bamanya encountered difficulties in accessing the required technology, resorting to scouring computer repair shops in his hometown of Kampala, Uganda, until he was able to build his own instrument - a wall of homemade modules and FX units that he named The Afrorack. Using this DIY technology, he takes modular synths in an entirely new direction, infusing African musical traditions and polyrhythmic structures, all the while delivering melody and groove.
He has appeared at several international festivals which include Atlas Electronic, Nyege Nyege, Elevate, Dakar Art Biennale and Sónar among others. In May 2022, Bamanya released his debut self-titled album – The Afrorack – which was received with popular acclaim making it to several music writers’ best albums of 2022 including The Wire Magazine’s top 50 albums of 2022. He has also been featured on the BBC world service.
In partnership with Red Gate Society.
Afrorack (Bamanya Brian) is an experimental multidisciplinary artist from Uganda and performs and records under the name Afrorack. He is one of the people pioneering the making of electronic music instruments in Africa. He has always found fascination in tinkering with electronics, building circuits, hacking devices and messing around with microcontrollers. He has done projects in sound art, electronic music, experimental visuals, renewable energy and kinetic sculptures. He has appeared at several international festivals which include Atlas Electronic, Nyege Nyege, Elevate, Dakar Art Biennale and Sonar among others. In May 2022, Brian released his debut self-titled album –The Afrorack – which was received with popular acclaim making it to several music writers’ best albums of 2022 including The Wire Magazine top 50 albums of 2022. He has also been featured on the BBC world service.