After five years of throwing SF’s best world music parties and concerts—including the AfroFunk Festival, Carnaval Fever, Eclectic Fever, and Africa Rising—Maisha Productions extends its international flavor to Oakland with “Kalakuta” a new monthly party happening every 2nd Saturday at Oasis Restaurant & Bar.
As Maisha founder and President DJ Jeremiah notes, “The African Diaspora isn’t just Africa.” It’s also Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Jamaica, Colombia, the United States, France, England and everywhere else that African influence has been felt throughout the planet. With "Kalakuta" Jeremiah says, “We wanted to present a truly multicultural experience for the dance floor. There’s no better place to do that that than Oakland, and no better club in Oakland right now than Oasis Restaurant & Bar.”
In keeping with the general overall philosophy of Maisha— a Swahili word meaning “Life”—“Kalakuta” celebrates musical vibrancy and the life of legendary pioneer of Afrobeat music and human rights activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Drawing from a rich cultural palette, the night offers a dizzying array of genres and subgenres. The fervent pulse of Afrobeat, the tribal electronica of Afro-house, the intense uptempo rhythms of soca, soukous, and zouk, the smooth syncopation of Afro-Cuban son, the tropical lushness of Brazilian samba, the modernized hybrid forms of dubba nova (bossa nova + dub), and cumbia nuevo are just some of the musical bases "Kalakuta" touches on.
"Kalakuta’s" kick-off event on Saturday, July 9th features special guest DJs J-Boogie (Om Records/Dubtronic Science) and DJ MUNDI. In the months to come, resident DJs Manou (KKUP/ AfricaMix KALW) and Jeremiah will welcome a rotating mix of selectors, each one an expert musicologist with an advanced degree in party-moving and crowd control.
Cost: $5 / Ladies free before 11pm
