St. Clair Productions presents Samite in Journey to Africa, a multi-media celebration of the music and culture of Africa, on Friday, November 8, 8 p.m., at the Unitarian Fellowship, 87 4th St., Ashland. Samite’s stories, pictures and smooth vocals accompanied by the kalimba, marimba, litungu and various flutes will transport you to Africa. With Kelvin Underwood on percussion and Rogue World Ensemble on back up vocals.
Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door, $10 for teens 12-17 and free under 12. Tickets available at www.stclairevents.com, 541-535-3562 or the Music Coop in downtown Ashland.
Samite teaches an African singing Workshop on Saturday, November 9, 10am-noon, at the Unitarian Fellowship. Cost is $35. Register at www.stclairevents.com or call 541-535-3562
Samite was born and raised in Uganda, where his grandfather taught him to play the traditional flute. When he was twelve, a music teacher placed a western flute in his hands setting him on his way to becoming one of East Africa's most acclaimed flutists. He performed frequently to enthusiastic audiences throughout Uganda until 1982, when he was forced to flee to Kenya as a political refugee. He now lives in New York.
Samite has released nine CDs internationally. In 2009, the film Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, which features his original score, debuted nationally on PBS. Most recently, Samite composed the soundtrack for the film Addiction Incorporated. His CD, Trust, inspired by the soundtrack for the film Addiction Incorporated, was released in early 2012.
Samite is the subject of the documentary, Song of the Refugee, distributed by PBS in 1998. It was while filming the documentary that Samite's work as a humanitarian began. In 2002, he founded Musicians for World Harmony, an organization dedicated to enabling musicians throughout the world to share their music to promote peace, understanding, and harmony among people. In that capacity he travels to sing, play music, and exchange stories with victims of war, poverty and HIV/AIDS. He has traveled extensively the war-torn and distressed countries of Uganda, Kenya, Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Latvia, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire to work in refugee camps, with former child soldiers and AIDS orphans.
Samite performed his arrangement of the traditional Baganda song, Ani Oyo for The Dalai Lama in 2007 during Bridging Worlds with His Holiness The Dalia Lama in Ithaca, NY. In 2009 he performed at "Connecting For Change," part of the 2009 Vancouver Peace Summit: Nobel Laureates in Dialogue, hosted by the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education. In the fall of 2011, Samite performed and spoke at the UNHCR 60th Anniversary Celebration in New York City.
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