"I think this is the first time we are ever playing with African artists in India. We have done that in Africa which was fantastic...Would love to go back there whenever given a chance," vocalist and guitarist of the band Susmit Sen told PTI before a recent gig here to celebrate 'World Africa Day'.
The band improvised and set the mood with its popular number "Kandisa" in which vocalist Rahul Ram modified to "hille le jhakjhor re Afrikaa" throwing in a rap "am a winner/ am a champion."
As part of IndiAfrica: A Shared Future, an initiative supported by the Public Diplomacy division of the Ministry of External Affairs and managed by a design and strategy firm theIdeaWorks, Indian Ocean revisited its popular songs including "Melancholic Ecstasy", "Jhini", "Des Mera" and "Bandeh".
Calling the initiative a "gesture", the globally renowned band teamed up with boys as young as 12 belonging to a hip-hop collective "Slumgods" and Nigerian group "Amazing Talent" to deliver a mix of African and Indian folk numbers.
While "Slumgods" features Bboys (breakdancers), rappers, graffiti artists and Djs, African bands like "Amazing Talent" comprises African students pursuing their studies in India.
"We never thought we will perform on World Africa Day in India. Jamming with Indian Ocean band is is fantastic", says Anderson Emmanuel,a band member. MORE
