YouTube Spotlight: The Afromotive

Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the Afromotive has become known as a “must see” band on the strength of powerhouse shows that blend horn-heavy Afrobeat with old school deep funk in a way that would make the ghosts of James Brown and Fela Kuti smile and dance. The band is led by singer and master drummer Adama Dembele, a 33rd-generation djembe player from the Ivory Coast who has performed with Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare and many others, giving Afromotive an authentic West African Afrobeat base upon which his American bandmates have built a polyrhythmic, multicultural dance party that adds touches of funk, jazz and improvisation to the African roots. Catch their groove in the Dance Pavilion on Friday and Saturday.