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Starting with nothing but raw talent, dedication and a handful of drums, Ongoma has grown from a traditional African Percussion and
A Cappella ensemble to a popular entertainment group with an ever extending repertoire of original compositions. Drawing on the
rich musical history of Southern Africa the group has added more instruments to deepen its sound, drawing on an ever widening
pool of musicians.
Local audiences as well as listeners from abroad have been full of praise for the musical originality and the talented
presentation of Ongoma's show, representing one of Namibia's finest world music performance groups, with the talent and dedication
to establish popular appeal both locally as well as internationally.
Over the past few years Africa and African music has moved more and more into international main stream focus. Drumming in Africa
has always been an integral part of African pastoral life celebrating life, love and unity. Because rhythm is a universal
language, our 'mother tongue', drumming creates a unity that transcends the barriers of culture, gender, age, religion and
hierachy. Anyone can drum. If your heart is beating you have rhythm!
When an idea, fuelled by passion and pursued with dedication, evolves by its own volition into a free- spirited, creative process,
the result is more than the sum total of its parts. For example Organic Groove: A 3-piece cross-cultural, musical interaction
fusing the Australian Didgeridoo, the African Drum and the European Guitar into a harmonic, tangible whole, creating new
possibilities for cultural explorations.
From the onset the group consisting of Gerhard Beyleveld (Didgeridoo), Richard Redecker (Lead Guitar), Noddy Alfred (African
Percussion) decided not to over-conceptualize their material, but rather allow each individual musician and instrument to harmonize
and express creativity without dominating the whole. In a word: organic.
The easy listening repertoire of the group includes tunes reminiscent of a more aesthetic philosophy, celebrating life for life's
sake, without excluding the realities of everyday challenges. Musical genres easily identified in the spontaneous melodies are
African Kwela tunes, American folk-rock and Western Jazz improvisations.
The trigger for her love of music started at the tender age off five, when she first heard the emotional notes of Bolero in her
family home. Then, whenever she had a chance, she attacked the piano and created her own melodies to challenge boredom and her
love for music. In her early teens, she found the instrument that spoke clearest to her, the guitar.
Since then, the guitar and Danella have become inseparable. Often, she can be found sharing her magic with an audience, whether
friends or strangers.
Danella studied the classical guitar with the late Professor Dietrich Wagner from the University of Stellenbosch. Today she
continues to evolve her talent under Fred Kazandjian, renowned classical guitarist in Windhoek, from the College of Arts.
Her love for the classical guitar is the cornerstone for the music she composes and writes. When making music "I feel life is
great and without problems. I feel truly connected to my soul. Everything makes sense to me."
Danella wakes up with melodies and is inspired by life events....sad and happy. She has written 20 songs and is passionately
dedicated to her art, her music.
In the near future, she would like to record her first album. Her style captures life's up and downs, and as only true artists
can, her listeners often find solace in her lyrics and sound.
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