Alafia
Alafia is the creation of Sam Maitland aka Papa Sam from Freetown, Sierra Leone. The band boasts an impressive ensemble of musicians from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Guadeloupe and the Ivory Coast. Their music is a direct mix of traditional skills and sounds, fused with contemporary styles, together producing a unique style which incorporates a touch of jazz and reggae with the dominating African guitar and live percussion on djembe and congas.
Formed in 1993, A!afia have played live throughout the UK including the Kite Festival in Newcastle and the "Sounds of Africa" concert on Clapham Common. They have built a strong reputation as an exciting and vibrant 'live' act which has led them to being filmed for MTV.