Three African divas, Rachel Magoola, Paulina Oduro and Ayinke Martins, join forces with South African trumpeter Claude Deppa and his 7-piece band for this unique project. Each singer writes lyrics in her own language to music on Claude Deppa’s CD “Toi Toi” (Jika Records). Together they present an African musical project that embraces their many shared cultural history.

This Thursday, 10 March 2005, 7:45 pm 
Queen Elizabeth Hall (Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XX; nearest tube Waterloo) 

Support comes from Kora award-winning Afropean hip-hop outfit JJC & 419 Squad (UK/ Nigeria). For the first time they will recreate their ground-breaking debut album “Finally …. Atide!” (out soon) with a full live band. Expect an energy-laden mix of hip-hop, African rhythms, Latin and more with lyrics in English and Yoruba. 

JJC (which stands for ‘Johnny just come’) is also being known as Skillz, a top UK producer for Jamelia, Lemar, Big Brovaz, Liberty X, Jay Sean and many more. 419 Squad are rappers/ singers Smokey, M.P. and S.O. Simple. (The number 419 relates to the advance fee fraud scam, often referred to as “4-1-9” fraud after the section of the Nigerian penal code which makes it illegal.) Classifying themselves as Afropean (Africans based in the European Diaspora, in this case Nigerians living in London), their music draws from a diversity of influences, both modern and traditional, to create a young, urban African sound. 

JJC & 419 Squad have brought their vibrant stage show to Nigeria (including Femi Kuti’s New Africa Shrine in Lagos), America, France, as well as having performed at numerous shows in the UK (including the WOMAD 2003 & 2004 festivals). 

JJC & 419 Squad tracks have been featured on compilations, in movies and TV dramas:

Dirty Pretty Things (Stephen Frears’ Oscar-nominated film) 
Charlie Gillett’s World 2004 compilation (Wrasse Records) 
Afrobeat Sessions compilation (Union Square Music) 
Global Hip Hop compilation (Union Square Music) 
Beginners Guide To Africa compilation (Nascente) – to be released 11 April 2005 
Real Earth compilation (Amabala Records) – to be released April 2005 
Stealing Lives (Channel 4 TV drama)

JJC & 419 Squad are:
JJC – vocals
Smokey – vocals 
M.P. – vocals 
S.O. Simple – vocals

The band:
Kayode Adeniran – electric bass 
David Dele Ogundeko – electric guitar 
Hez Thuo – acoustic guitar 
Michael “Don Jazzy” Ajereh – keyboards, vocals 
Gbenga Ayodeji Akisanmi – keyboards 
Samuel Aina – drums 
Backing vocals: Sylvia de Souza, Vanessa Onokala, Margaret Luis
Guest vocalists: Kween, Stylo G, D’banj, Danielle Senior 

On stage at 7.45pm SHARP 

More information:
The 3rd LONDON AFRICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL takes place at the South Bank from 8 March until 16 April. It is part of AFRICA REMIX, a major season of visual and performing arts, featuring artists, musicians and performers from across the continent and the Diaspora, and a major highlight of the London-wide celebration AFRICA 05.
The 3rd London African Music Festival – http://africaremix.org.uk/main/series/94.html?section=contemporary&file=index&month=&week=
Africa Remix – http://www.africaremix.org.uk/
Africa 05 – http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcafrica/africa05/index.shtml
Claude Deppa Group/ JJC & 419 Squad on 10 March – http://africaremix.org.uk/main/events/115881.html?section=contemporary&file=index&d=10&m=3&y=2005
Tickets: £15.00/ £17.50/ £20.00 – Booking Fee: £1.50/ Members: 75p – Box Office: 0870 401 8181

For further information on JJC & 419 SQUAD, please visit http://www.jjc2uk.com or contact: 
Ilka Schlockermann, JJC & 419 Squad management, Tel: +44 (0)79 3206 6624 / Email: ilka@jjc2uk.com

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