REVIEW: Sampa The Great at Sound Control

Mwika Bulaya | 23rd November 2017

Sampa the Great, performed a headline show in Manchester this month at one of the city’s oldest music venues: Sound Control. She is a rapper, poet and singer songwriter who debuted music from her brand new mixtape ‘Birds And The BEE9′ , released this November.

The Zambian-born artist graced the stage with sounds of jazz and hip-hop while adding splashes of funk, spoken word and a plethora of soul.

Press Shot

Musician and DJ, Kwes Darko – otherwise known as Blue Daisy, warmed up the crowd before Sampa’s entrance with some old school classics that complemented the performance that followed. Sampa did not forget to incorporate her African roots into her performance as she invited people on stage to dance to some tribal-inspired music provided by Blue Daisy.

Although the venue was fairly small, Sampa filled the room with her unique music, especially during the performance of a spoken word piece before ending the show. The evening felt very personal as during intervals and through her music, Sampa spoke of the troubles she has faced as a woman of colour and how she overcame this.

Photo by Aria Shahrokhshahi

Throughout the evening, it was clear that the issues facing black women are an important part of Sampa’s music, and so she became more admirable not just an artist, but also as an activist. The concert was filled with a variety of musical fusions which showcased her creativity and confidence in the project, making her new mixtape that much more special.

Overall, Sampa The Great is a must-see artist for anyone interested in music with an old-school feel and effortless cool.

‘Birds And The BEE9’ is out right now. Listen to it here