The emerging singer-songwriter, LGBTQIA activist musician and notable Tanzanian live performer Tofa Jaxx will perform an acoustic music set accompanied on guitar by Leon Michael King. With his unmistakably smokey, unique and mysterious voice this musical conversation will carry the audience to the sun-soaked shores of the Indian Ocean utilising West African troubadour-historian griot style historical narratives and oral traditions.
Refreshments and food will be provided.
Tofa Jaxx is an emerging singer-songwriter, LGBTQIA activist musician and notable live performer from Tanzania. His smokey, unique and mysterious voice carries the musical genres R’n’B, Neo Soul, Jazz, and Reggae perfectly just as a dhow sailing through millions of diamond splinters into a sunset in the Indian Ocean. While still a college student in 2015, Tofa participated, and ranked fourth place, in the international singing competition “Airtel Trace Star“. A year later, he dropped out of college, following his dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter. One among his very first attempts as an aspiring singer-songwriter was to participate in a four-days musician’s boot-camp in Zanzibar, held at the Red Monkey Hotel. This was the platform that launched the artist he is today, followed by a series of live shows he did in Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam. In 2016 he was the opening act for Grammy Winning Artist Joss Stone at one of her “The Total World Tour” concerts in Zanzibar. He also performed live with the Dhow Countries Music Academy band at one of the largest cultural events in East Africa “Zanzibar Film Festival”. GOETHE institute headquarters in Munich selected him and seven (7) artists from around the world to participate in a Musician’s Bootcamp in Berlin, Germany, coordinated by Music Board Berlin for the Pop-Kultur Nachwuchs. His first release “I Want You”, which was produced by Victor The Traveler, was nominated for Best R’n’B and Soul Song from an East African Artist at AFRIMA 2017. Tofa’s music is notably divergent: ranging from electro swahili pop to the sad sensual ballad such as “Restart“, which contributed to an HIV/AIDs awareness campaign by raising funds for an HIV research centre in Tanzania—in partnership with the Spanish Embassy Dar Es Salaam—as part of global UNAIDS Strategy 2021-2026, “End Inequalities. End AIDs: Inclusion for All“.
Leon King is a highly regarded and well respected guitarist within the UK Music Scene. Having recorded with many acts of various genre’s, toured the world and played to thousands if not millions, Leon is regarded and respected for his unique sound as well as his adaptability to different musical situations; hired for his sound and vibe. Leon has playing for Grammy Award winning singer Joss Stone on her Total World Tour, as well as playing for renowned UK artist Natty in his his band The Rebel Ship doing venue and festival dates across Europe. Leon also wrote and arranged guitars on DJ Vadim’s album Grow Slow featuring Sena. He also writes, arranges, tours and records with his own band The Drop as well as with The Hempolics and also works with artists such as Rokhsan Heydari, Jesse Sheehan, Fawn and Function Band Loveshovel. In the past he has worked with acts such as Lee Scratch Perry, Dj Vadim, Dennis Bovell, Roots Manuva, U.N.K.L.E, Frank Hamilton and Jimmy Screech to name a few. There is always a project going on in which Leon is involved. Leon King has also been teaching Guitar Privately and in Small groups for over 6 years in and around London and has built up a highly regarded reputation for his inspiring contemporary style of teaching, believing the reward is not the money. Currently working for 4 different schools on top of having dedicated private students. On top if this, Leon also works for Level 11 Booking agency, booking acts onto venue and festival tours over the UK and Europe. He also works as programer for various nights and festivals in the south of England. As far as Leon is concerned, he is happy being able to have music as his profession, yet always strives top learn more, meet new people and progress in all aspect of his musical life.
