Muntu Valdo (World)
St. Gregory’s Green
1.10pm, 2.20pm, and 3.30pm
Founder of the amazing Sawablues, Muntu Valdo’s music is rooted in the blues, mixing African traditions with striking modernity and technical mastery. Muntu Valdo belongs to the Sawa people who populate the length of Cameroon’s coastline along the Gulf of Guinea. His father is from the small village of Dibombari, his mother from the Malimba Islands out in the Atlantic Ocean, famous for their giant oysters. Muntu then, is a Sawa. Blessed by the legendary ‘Miengu’ (Mermaids) who are known to protect those who worship them, his mesmerising bluesy music is seeped in the oceans, mangroves, waterfalls and rivers that dominate the region.
First discovered alongside some of the great names of world music including Ali Farka Touré, Manu Dibango, Lokua Kanza, Eko Roosevelt. Muntu’s debut album “Gods & Devils” was met with rave reviews in France, as well as in Cameroon and throughout Africa. It was described by NME as “a rapturous record that shudders with joy and passion” In 2008, Muntu moved to London. Over recent years he toured the UK’s most prestigious venues supporting the likes of multi-award-winning jazz bass player singer extraordinaire Richard Bona, multi-award-winning British jazz star Dennis Rollins, and collaborating in a 30 dates tour with Grammy award winning South African legends Lady Smith Black Mambazo. His second Album “The One & The Many” released by WMG on Warner Jazz received critical acclaim. Muntu Valdo is now firmly established on the live scene as a solo artist. He just successfully completed a 3 weeks UK Tour supporting Ladysmith Black Mambazo and is preparing a new Album due to be released by the end of 2023.
“Pure spiritual uplift” – Metro
“Music to banish Sadness” – The Times
Norwich Business Improvement (BID) brings you a summer of FREE entertainment on a Sunday afternoon.
Across five stages in Norwich (The Forum, Gentleman’s Walk, Westlegate, London Street and St Gregory’s Green) every week from 30 July – 3 September, you can enjoy a range of entertainment, including street entertainment from Covent Garden Entertainers, jazz, folk, blues, dance and world music.
Find out about the whole programme here.
