Afrorack and Feldermelder come to Kilele
Kilele is delighted to host Brian Bamanya (aka Afrorack) and Manuel Oberholzer (who performs as Feldermelder).
The pair first worked together when the Ugandan modular synth pioneer Afrorack was invited for a residency at the Swiss Museum for Electronic Music Instruments (SMEM), where he connected with Manuel and worked together on new music. The project at that time was made possible by Pro Helvetia, as is this interaction at Kilele.
More about Afrorack:
Brian Bamanya is an experimental multidisciplinary artist from Uganda who performs and records under the moniker Afrorack. He has done projects in sound art, electronic music, experimental visuals, renewable energy and kinetic sculptures.
During his time at SMEM in July 2022, Brian gave a performance and talk about his work with DIY synths. He also began exploring ideas for a collaboration with his host, Manuel Oberholzer (who performs as Feldermelder).
This took shape as the collaborative project “Rolex”, an album of new material bring together their distinct musical and cultural worlds. The project was supported by a Confluences grant from Pro Helvetia Johannesburg, aimed at supporting a shared space for collaboration, creation, and documentation of new work between musicians who have an existing creative relationship.
The project is inspired by their conversations about the different realities of life in Switzerland and Uganda. In Uganda there is a saying “We don’t wear Rolex, we eat them” (referring to the popular cheap street food of that name made of fried eggs rolled inside chapatis). “Rolex” – with its starkly different association in each of their contexts – suggesting an apt title for their project.
At Kilele, the duo will present the results of their collaboration during a talk on Wednesday 14th Febuary, and will perform live later that evening at the infamous Mist venue in The Mall.
The visit to Kilele is the first opportuntiy for the pair to share their collaboration with an East African audience, and is made possible by the Swiss Arts Council, Pro Helvetia.
