African Music Concerts Monthly Summary for 2003

The summer free concerts kickoff with the best events at the Hollywood Bowl (Red Hot & Riot), Skirball (Stella Chiweshe of Zimbabwe), Santa Monica Pier (AfroCelts) and The Watercourt at California Plaza (African dance and Spiritual music).

Best bet is The Watercourt at California Plaza with the North American debut of the seasoned jazz troupe Bembeya Jazz from Guinea and a newcomer from Mali, Ramata Diakité. Oliver Mtukudzi plays outdoors at the San Juan Capistrano Multicultural Art Series . Also look out for Zap Mama plus Les Nubians at the Palace in Hollywood. The 7th Annual African Village Music Festival presents the non-stop dancing of the Soukous Stars.

As summer starts to wind down, the chances for outdoor free concerts grow slimmer although they will continue into October. This month you can hear music from America, Antigua, Brazil, Belize, Congo / Cuba, Dominica, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.

Films this month include Lost Boys of Sudan growing up during a civil war, OT: Our Town documenting High School students in Compton staging a classic American play set in New Hampshire and Dirty Pretty Things which follows the struggles of a Nigerian immigrant who gets caught up in a conspiracy.

Last chance for August Wilson's play Gem of the Ocean at the Mark Taper Forum, but you have all month to see I Just Stopped By to See the Man at the Geffen Playhouse.

Check the recurring events for this month's DJ clubs, poetry jams and museum exhibits.

Take your pick from the classic blues of Etta James, the masterful jazz of Michael Drecker & Roy Hargrove, the best drummers in the world, some classic crooning from Zimbabwe or funky, groovy soul-jazz.

Antibalas is the highlight of the month, plus some Moroccan Gnawa music from Temple Bar and a new Spanish / Cuban venue featuring the latest sounds from Ricardo Lemvo.

The Blind Boys of Alabama bring their Gospel harmony to UCLA's Royce Hall.