World Music Network

London's only free lunchtime Pan African family adventure returns with another series of dazzling adventures in Africa and the diaspora. This time they are celebrating 50 years of Algerian Independence and Mwalimu Express is part of the Algerian Cultural Festival. So get on board the legendary Mwalimu Express. Mwalimu Express is a live event that celebrates music from different African cities on the third Sundays of each month. Join the party at Rich Mix (2 - 6pm) on Sunday 21st October. This month's destination is Oran, Algeria!

Mwalimu Express event promises to be a fun-filled afternoon of live and recorded tunes, Lucy Angell's Parent and Toddler dance sessions, Awale with Oware Society, stalls and food glorious food! Plus there will be DJs spinning the finest maghrebi tunes by DJ hosts Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt. 

Look out for friendly World Music Network staffer Dom, who will be selling CDs and T-Shirts at the event this Sunday. 

Among the musical treats, there will be a live performance by Algerian born UK based composer, singer and teacher Abdelkader Saadoun. He has created a unique style of Rock'n' Rai, mixing his Algerian music with a combination of flamenco, jazz, fusion and dance music. Rai music by the 1930s reached its peak in Oran, the cosmopolitan 'Little Paris' of North Africa. It's the music of Bedouin shepherds and street people, mixed with Andalous, French, African and Arabic musical forms and idioms. He has pleased so many crowds with his original tunes and soul-stirring performances. 

Mwalimu Express finishes off with a special feature at the Screenstation by Auteur Andy Jones presenting clips from his favourite Algerian films and a few other tasty visual treats.  

The Rough Guide To North African Cafe 

Amble down the narrow walkways of a North African medina past the cafés filled with the aromatic smoke of hookah pipes and hum of local chatter all around. The Rough Guide To North African Café is a musical journey through the bustling backwaters of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt, featuring artists from Algeria’s legendary Maurice El Médioni to French-Tunisian oud master, Smadj. Welcome to North Africa’s most intoxicating sounds.

In the spirit of African music, have a look at our T-Music Acoustic Guitar Shirt featured in The African Guitar Legends Gift Pack. You can buy these on the link below or purchase your own T-Music Guitar Shirt at Mwalimu Express. 

The African Guitar Legends Gift Pack comprises:
The Rough Guide To African Guitar Legends (2xCD)
From Congolese rumba’s intricate guitar lines to Mali’s evocative blues, in Africa the guitar is king. Discover the greatest riffs that you have never heard and find out why these ground-breaking players are heroes in their own land. 
Plus bonus disc by Syran Mbenza & Ensemble Rumba Kongo

T-Music Acoustic Guitar Shirt
This light-blue 100% cotton acoustic guitar T-shirt, designed by renowned Spanish artist Xavier Salvador, comes with a free download code for The Best Music You’ve Never Heard, a 30-track Download Album.

Watch out for the next Mwalimu Express on November 17.