On Monday night, the beautiful Mahka open theater at Salah Eddin Citadel in Cairo was all lit up and bursting with the lively energy of visiting American band Ozomatli.
The group had performed in Alexandria’s Qaitbey Citadel the night before, and Cairo’s concert was attended by music lovers; a mixture of locals and foreigners of all ages.
Aside from the mid-summer Cairo heat, the atmosphere was great. The audience was dancing and genuinely having a good time, enjoying the band’s upbeat Latin-based hip hop music.
The nine band members have different ethnicities, each reflecting a different style of music: reggae, R&B, Latin and funk. With a variety of instruments in the mix, the eclectic sound of global synthesis filled the air.
This was the band s last stop in their Middle East tour. Last week they played in Jordan and Tunisia. All the concerts were free and funded by the US State Department. In Egypt, sponsors included Coca Cola, MobiNil and Oriental Weavers.
American Ambassador to Egypt Francis J. Ricciardone says, “I think it [the music] is just right for the purpose, which is to make human connections between Egyptians and Americans because of the fusion of all these different influences.
The ambassador added that “if you look at them just as human beings they really represent America: Our diversity. In the Arab world they talk about el wihda el arabya, and we celebrate unity by celebrating diversity.
During their visit, the band also took part in a local outreach program around Egypt. In Cairo they played for the children of Hope Village and Darb El Ahmar Community Service Association. In Alexandria, they visited Al Horya Association for orphaned children as well as the Center for Cancer Research Training and Production.
Ozomatli are not shy when it comes to giving back to the community – in fact, it is one of their main goals. In the US, they work with centers for AIDS victims, domestic violence, and youth organizations.
“The band started as a result of a labor pursuit 12 years ago, percussionist Jero tells Daily News Egypt.
Two of the band members, bassist Will-Dog and original drummer Anton where part of an organization that gives at-risk youths jobs in Los Angeles, the band s hometown.
During that time, they established the Peace and Justice Center, which was dedicated to bringing art and culture to inner-city youth.
The idea of the band started because they wanted to raise money, and they started by throwing parties every Friday night. With a growing fan base, they eventually landed gigs in major Hollywood clubs like Viper Room and Opium Den.
After signing a record deal, Ozomatli received their first Grammy award. Will-Dog was not surprised, “I always felt we would do well, even from the first show, because whenever we played everyone smiled and started dancing. I hadn’t been in a band that created such enthusiasm before, he told Daily News Egypt.
Since then they have added two more Grammy awards to their collection. The first one they received was a Latin Grammy.
The band also focuses on advocating peace. “We are defiantly political. We are foremost anti-war right now and we feel like we need to mobilize and stop that from continuing, says Will-Dog, “A lot of our friends are being sent to war and are not coming home, fighting an unjust war.
Ozomatli feel their music is a vehicle as arts and culture definitely play a role in moving forward.
Their music is fun and uplifting. “We voice our opinion of what we see in the world, but if you listen to the music, it’s not dogmatic. We don’t preach a certain political agenda, explains Jero.
At the end of the concert, the band took their instruments and played from the middle of the crowd. Then they formed a train and jammed with their fans. Their performance was filled with high energy and zest, and the name Ozomatli will not be forgotten.
For more information on the band visit http://www.ozomatli.com
