Kimati Dinizulu

Kimati Dinizulu

Nana Kamati Dinizulu is an african percussionist. He has performed with many great artists like Toni Morrison, Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Gregory Hines, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, Harry Belafonte, Wynton Marsalis, Jackie McLean and Dizzie Gillespie and many more.

Life and career

Nana Kimati Dinizulu has been playing drums and percussion instruments since his early childhood.

For many generations, the Dinizulu clan has been active in music and performance. Nana Dinizulu’s Dad, the late Nana Opare Dinizulu was a world respected African drummer. His Mom, Mrs Alice Dinizulu, was a key dancer for Asadata Dafora’s Dance Company which was the first dance company to put African dance, song and music on Broadway in the USA from the 1930s to the 1950s.

To gain a deeper knowledge of African traditions, Mr Dinizulu, as a younger man traveled to Ghana, Africa where he lived and learned for 2 years upon which he moved back to the USA. Since then He has made over 30 trips to Africa where he now resides part of the year. While in Ghana, West Africa he studied with expert drummers Mr Kofi Nabenadi, Mr C.K. Ganyo and Mr Sully Emmorro. He also learned from elders of the Fanti people, master drummers whose tutelage proved invaluable in his development as a leading practitioner of African drumming. A major influence on his musical growth and creative energies was his involvement with the Fanti’s Asafo (warrior) music, a tradition dating back many centuries. Apart from this, Mr. Dinizulu studied extensively with Haitian master drummers Mr Louis Celestine, Frisner Augustin and Alphonse Cimber. He also studied various forms of traditional music from Brazil with the late Loramil Machado. Additionally, Mr. Dinizulu has studied African and African-American hand drumming with his father the late Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu, the late Baba Chief Bey (James Hawthorne Bey), the late Baba Kwame Ishangi, and many others. He has also conducted extensive research with the Maroons of Jamaica, the Ewe of Togo, the Orisha worshippers of Trinidad and Tobago, Rada ritual musicians in Haiti and the Ring Shouters of the Georgia Sea Islands.

Currently, Kimati Dinizulu is one of the leading percussionists in the Globe. He has worked and performed with many great artists such as Toni Morrison, Alvin Ailey, Eartha Kitt, Geoffrey Holder, Carmen de Lavallade, Donald McKayle, Gregory Hines, Harold Roberts, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, Harry Belafonte, Wynton Marsalis, Jackie McLean, Seamus Egan, and Dizzie Gillespie to name a few.

According to Mr. Dinizulu, his objective in life is to help remove cultural ignorance as it exists on the planet and to educate and enrich the world through music. He is constantly educating and sharing history and culture with the world through music. He also hopes that his contributions help to ensure that the terrible chapters of world history are never repeated.

To help attain these goals, Mr. Dinizulu has worked with several domestic and international cultural organizations. One of these is UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO has declared 2004 to be the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition by the United Nations General Assembly. Mr. Dinizulu performed and lectured on Endangered African-American Instruments as a part of a UNESCO conference of scholars from around the world gathered at Tulane University.

Furthermore, Mr. Kimati Dinizulu has worked with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which is one of the world’s premier organizations for documenting, preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the culture and history of Black people worldwide. He has performed music and conducted traditional African rituals for the Schomburg Center. He performed at the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Schomburg Center which included pouring libation for the grand opening of the “Lest We Forget: The Triumph over Slavery Exhibit”.

Kimati Dinizulu has also performed libation and drumming at “A Harlem Tribute to the Freedom Schooner Amistad”. He performed the drum rituals to help bring the Amistad into port in Harlem, New York, USA. The AMISTAD America Inc. is a non-profit educational organization which is dedicated to maintaining the legacy of the Amistad Incident of 1839. The Amistad saga consisted of Fifty three Africans who were captured from Sierra Leone and sold into Spanish slavery. At that time, slavery was banned in Spain. They were inhumanly treated. The case took historic proportions when these captives reached America and appealed to the courts for their freedom on the basis of the Spanish law. Former President John Quincy Adams argued on behalf of the captives and they were finally released and returned to their homeland.

Besides this, Mr. Dinizulu was a participant in the African-American delegation at the First Annual Emancipation Day Celebration in Ghana, Africa in 1998 which was sponsored by the government of Ghana. The African-American delegation was responsible for the reinturnment of one escaped slave, Samuel Carson with a full state funeral. Emancipation Day is a remembrance of the abolition of Chattel Slavery.

The learning of drumming and African culture is a lifetime process for Mr. Dinizulu. His encyclopedic knowledge of drums, percussion, and the art of drumming comes from his worldwide travels and studies of the music of other cultures as well as his heartfelt love for music and learning. He has assembled a group of the finest musicians from around the world, called the Kotoko Society with whom he composes and performs regularly.

Whether performing for dignitaries, patrons, students or children, the high-spirited music of Mr. Kimati Dinizulu is always totally infectious. His presence, positioned over his eight-foot carved drum with numerous other instruments hanging off of his body is one of the most fascinating images in contemporary music.

Music

Performances by Nana Kimati Dinizulu

Nana Kimati Dinizulu has made numerous worldwide performances over the past decades for many diverse groups of people. Some of Mr. Dinizulu’s performances include Broadway’s “Death & the Kings Horseman” which is a play written and directed by the legendary Wole Soyinka. Mr. Dinizulu has also undertaken many other Broadway productions. In addition, Mr. Dinizulu has worked with prominent artists such as author Toni Morrison in her production “N’Orleans - A Storyville Musical” in which he scored music for the Congo Square scene and Satchmo’s last international concert in Ghana scene. He also performed as a percussionist with Odetta, Carmen de Lavallade and Antonio Fargas in this production. Moreover, Mr. Dinizulu has co-written the composition “Divining” (Judith Jamison’s first ballet for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) which was a collaboration with artist/composer Monti Ellison. He was also commissioned by choreographer Judith Jamison for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to compose the music for the smash hit “Riverside”. Both of these works have toured extensively throughout the world. In the year 2003, Mr. Dinizulu performed for the Blues Music Foundation at Radio City Music Hall in New York in the “Salute to the Blues” concert produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by Antoine Fuqua which was filmed for television broadcast. The Blues Music Foundation is a non-profit, international organization and is dedicated to the preservation of blues history and the celebration of blues excellence. Mr. Dinizulu performed with artists such as Mavis Staples, Buddy Guy, Mos Def and Angelique Kidjo in this concert. Apart from all this, Mr. Dinizulu has also performed during Nelson Mandela’s 70th Birthday Tribute. He is also an active member of UNESCO’s efforts to promote knowledge about the slave trade in the world and has given several lectures such as on "African-American Endangered Musical Instruments" and performances on UNESCO’s behalf. He has also performed with The Paul Winter Consort which combined elements from various African, Asian and South American cultures with jazz. Together they performed A Concert for the Earth which was recorded live at the General Assembly of the United Nations on World Environment Day. Mr. Dinizulu is also the percussionist in the Sonny Rollins band. Sonny Rollins is one of jazz’s finest living practitioners. Together, this band has toured worldwide.

A comprehensive list of Mr. Dinizulu’s performances is extremely diverse and varied in nature crossing all borders of media, geography, nationality and cultures. It can definitely be said that Mr. Dinizulu is one of the pioneers in promoting African culture and music on a global scale and maintaining its modern-day presence.

Kimati Dinizulu and his renowned Kotoko Society

Dinizulu established the Kotoko Society to promote traditional African music and awareness of African culture throughout the world and to continually explore musical styles from Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, and all places where African music has found a new home. This society consists of a group of the finest musicians assembled from countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Haiti, Trinidad, Barbados, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, St. Martin, Panama and the United States of America. The main emphasis of this society is to promote a new musical style called “Sankofa music” which has been created by Mr. Dinizulu himself. Sankofa is a proverbial term from the language of the Akan people of Ghana. The symbol that is used to represent Sankofa is that of a bird turning its head and body backward to look at its tail. This image represents going back into the past and discovering knowledge that will be of benefit to people in the future. Through masterful and highly emotional music, the Kotoko Society performs Sankofa music. Complemented by marvelous dance performances, Sankofa music always proves to be an inspiration to audiences everywhere.

The traditional instruments used to perform Sankofa have been gathered from a wide variety of lands and cultures and are represented in his Kotoko Society's performances. However, Mr. Dinizulu not only uses these traditional instruments, he is continually introducing new musical instruments of his own design and construction, to complement those, which are already employed by the Kotoko Society. Playing over 500 traditional and modern instruments, the Kotoko society will amaze audiences with its musicianship. These performances cater to diverse audiences such as dignitaries, patrons of the arts, students and children. Mr. Dinizulu’s presence, positioned over his eight-foot carved drum with numerous other drums hanging off his body, is one of the most riveting images in modern music. The Kotoko Society regularly performs at leading concert venues as well as major universities and great cultural institutions. They have performed at Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, Medgar Evers College, Long Island University, as well as other diverse environments such as the Trump Tower and the Philadelphia Folk Festival and toured in Japan and the Caribbean. In addition to these, the group regularly appears at major nightclubs such as The Sounds of Brazil (S.O.B.’s). Kimati Dinizulu and his Kotoko Society are available for performance bookings at all special events, cultural affairs, university concerts, fund-raisers and festivals. The group can appear in various modulated forms, to meet the needs of your event and budget. Depending upon your needs, Kimati Dinizulu and his Kotoko Society are flexible in their performance structure, and can appear as performers or lecturers demonstrating traditional instruments in Sankofa and traditional African styles.

Various Recordings and Works by Kimati Dinizulu

Kimati Dinizulu is one of the leading organic percussionists on the music scene across the globe. He has not only played with famous artists and singers such as Diane Reeves and Cassandra Wilson, but has also made considerable efforts in trying to increase the awareness of African-American history. His knowledgeable musical abilities range from that of Irish to World Music, from African to Jazz. He has played with artists of numerous cultures throughout the globe. Mr. Dinizulu is highly sought after for his percussionist abilities and his charismatic stage presence. Especially during recordings, Mr. Dinizulu is able to provide new and innovative ideas and create different sounds through his self-created instruments which add a special flavor to the music. Also, his deep knowledge of various kinds of music throughout the world helps provide him with a foundation for which to create new and different music. His enigmatic personality and music not only leaves audiences spellbound but also provides them with a more profound understanding of the depths of organic music. He has recorded on several recordings with well-respected artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Steve Turre, director John Singleton, Paul Winter and various other artists.

Some of the critical reviews of the albums and concerts on which Kimati Dinizulu has worked on are:

The Guardian: Review of Sonny Rollins Concert, London on May 3, 2004 by John L. Walters

There's something timeless and monumental about tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins... Rollins is good value as entertainment, too. He announces that because of the bad state of the world they're "gonna keep things earthy". And he has the ideal band to do that, powered by percussionist Kimati Dinizulu and drummer Steve Jordan, with sweet-toned trombonist Clifton Anderson and ageless, longtime associate Bob Cranshaw on five-string bass guitar. The opener, HS (dedicated to Horace Silver), is funky soul-jazz over an extended blues chord sequence. They launch the second set with an even earthier tune and a glorious long Rollins solo over a one-note bass pulse…. …The absence of chordal instruments means that you hear everything very clearly, and there's plenty to hear: the way the explosive Jordan locks into Rollins's phrases, rangy, like a young Elvin Jones, almost leaping from his kit; the way Dinizulu manages to swing and rock at the same time, with a sure touch on congas and bongos; the harmonious way Cranshaw and Anderson blend on ensembles behind the leader's gruff tenor. Rollins can be cerebral, sentimental, joyful or emotional, whether playing bebop, standards, his own Caribbean classics (Don't Stop the Carnival, St Thomas) or the corny but moving Italian Folk Song. The audience, packed to the rafters, loves him madly. Review of the album “A Cloud of Red Dust” from the album Blue Note of artist Stefon Harris by John Barrett, Jr. of allaboutjazz.com Actually, the title is "Sophistry", but that's what you hear as this starts spinning - activity. Warm vibes rumble on the bottom as flute and Greg Osby's alto dance the theme, congas come in - it's busy and friendly....."Sacred Forest" is a showcase for percussionist Kimati Dinizulu. This might be the best of the short pieces: Harris plays balifone, and the wooden sound makes this come alive. It's short and hypnotic; it could go on forever.

Discography

• Ancestral Spirits - by Kimati Dinizulu
• Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert by Sonny Rollins
• Slavery and the Making of America - Original Soundtrack to the PBS Series
• Martin Scorsese Presents a Film by Antoine Fuqua Lightning in a Bottle
• Unforgivable Blackness The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson by Wynton Marsalis
• Reeltime by Wynton Marsalis
• Collected by Danilo Perez
• Lotus Flower by Steve Turre
• New Horizons by Vanessa Rubin
• Jungle Swing by Johnny Copeland
• Mental Images by Robin Eubanks
• JLW by Joe Louis Walker
• The Journey by Danilo Perez
• Steve Turre by Steve Turre
• 20th Anniversary Collection by Green Linnet
• Don't You Know I Care by Antonio Hart
• Anthems by Paul Winter
• Undocumented Dancing by Pat Kilbride
• Sanctified Shells by Steve Turre
• A Cloud of Red Dust by Stefon Harris
• Love Like Fire by Rick Henly
• Greatest Hits by Paul Winter
• Rhythm Within by Steve Turre
• Silhouettes by Lonnie Liston Smith
• Delfeayo Marsalis Pontius Pilate's Decision
• Wolf Eyes by Paul Winter
• So Far: The Collection 1979-1995
• 80th Anniversary by RCA Victor
• 25 Years of Celtic Music by Various Artists
• Wild Blue by Eileen Ivers
• Paul Winter Concert for the Earth
• Celtic Music Today by Various Artists
• Joyful Noise: Celtic Favorites by Green Linnet

External links

• http://www.myspace.com/kimatidinizulu
• http://www.kimatidinizulu.com
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqGap02On2w
• http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,423607,00.html