Batuki Music Society and the Gladstone Hotel present
The World Concert Series celebrates Canada Day!
With a velvety voice comparable to the greats, Nigerian-born songwriter, singer and actress Sonia Aimy is the quintessential virtuoso of world music. Her CD ‘Mother’ brilliantly evokes highlife, afrobeat, jazz and the call-and-response of African griot tradition; her style is effortlessly ‘afrojazz’. Fluent in English, Italian, French and several African languages, Sonia relishes Toronto’s diversity, which, already knee-deep in African music, will be much richer when she takes the stage on Canada Day!
Sonia ‘Aimy’ Aimiuwu is a singer, actress choreographer and writer. Aimy’s work experience in the arts has led her to work with the national theatre of Turin, Rome, Alma Theatre as well as RAI Radio Television Italia. She has performed at numerous concerts throughout Europe and often accompanied by artists from Africa. The multi-talented Aimy has also starred in several Italian films. Aimy’s work in the media includes writing, directing and presenting multicultural programmes for radio.
Aimy’s music career started when she was in her teens, singing at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Benin City, Nigeria. She developed interest in folk, traditional music and storytelling. She later enrolled in the Esigie Cultural Group to pursue further education in traditional music and dance. When she came to Italy she studied jazz music and interpretation as well as theatre arts. This extra music education as well as practice through performances has allowed Aimy to craft a sound solely her own which is a beautiful amalgam of folk, afropop and jazz.
Sonia Aimy will be backed by a lineup of some of Toronto’s top African players including guitarist Pa Joe, bassist Ebenezer Agyekum, keyboardist Suleiman Juma and Kwame on drums.
Guest appearance by
Ethiopian acoustic krar player and singer Fantahun Shewankochew: a talented composer, arranger, singer and krar player who has been performing for many years, his musical repertoire includes traditional, secular, jazz and popular music.
Guest DJ Apollo will be spinning from his vast collection of popular African hits.
This is the fourth event of the World Concert Series, now in its third year.
The series features a diverse lineup of performers with a strong focus on African music.
Each event takes place on the first Friday of each month from 7 – 10 pm.,
at the Gladstone Hotel located at 1214 Queen St. West, Toronto, is all-ages and free!
Batuki Music Society gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council and the Gladstone Hotel.
Sonia Aimy: Iye (Mother, 2010)
Mama Africa – Mother, 2010
