Brunei may be a whopping 8,674 km from Nairobi but Alifchief's music has crossed borders and now has fans jamming to it at indie music events across the city thanks to Ugandan Instagram reels. That's how most Nairobians discovered him. Alichief is currently based in Kampala and his music is gaining traction across East Africa.
The singer and guitarist from Brunei has developed a unique sound incorporating Asian, European and African influences, ranging across psychedelic rock, original '70s Afrobeat, Lingala and Funk.
His debut 2020 EP, BODA BODA, was pressed to vinyl and enjoyed favourable reviews, including from prestigious British magazine The Arts Desk, which compared Alif's guitar playing to Santana. The title track featured on Apple Music's Sho't Left playlist, showcasing the best of new experimental African music.
Alifchief's 2021 album NUSANTARAFRIKA takes us on a psychedelic guitar journey around the world, traversing yet more strange and exotic territory in his quest for musical enlightenment.
Alifchief has performed in Tanzania and Uganda, most notably at the Zanzibar Water Sports Festival (with Swahili bluesman Leo Mkanyia) and Reggae On The Nile Festival (with Jhikoman.) He will be performing this Sunday 19th December at Geco Cafe along Mbaazi avenue. Entry Free!
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Mon. 13th May, 2019 at 8:29AM