Kefee Opens For Indie Arie at Chicago Fiesta

Sapele-born artiste, Irikefe Obareki aka Kefee is preparing for the performance of her life as she gets the unenviable task of opening the stage for American soul singer India Arie at the African Festival of the Arts, Chicago (AFA).

With her performance, Kefee would join the exclusive club of music greats to fly the African banner on the AFA platform like Angelique Kidjo and Hugh Masekela. 

The show is expected to be seen by an estimated 30,000 crowd on Labour Day Weekend, September 5, 2011 at the main stage of Festival Dee Parmer Woodtor, named after the co-founder.

Kefee who jetted out of the country two weeks ago with her band members is on a month’s six-city tour of the United States.

“If I ever liked African music, this experience has made me like it more now than I ever did. I am very proud of what I do. The reception of my kind of music has been overwhelming even though some of my audience don’t understand my language yet they respond enthusiastically”, she told EE exclusively from her US-based.

AFA is regarded as the largest neighbourhood festival of its kind in the United States.

Currently on its 22nd anniversary, the festival is a yearly spectacular celebration of arts and culture from across the African Diaspora. The fiesta features a parade of African-cuisine, fabrics and visual arts.

Other American stars that would perform at the event include gospel duo, Mary Mary and Bootsy Collins among others.

In time past, it has played host artistes including as James Brown, Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Bobby Womack, Gil Scott Heron, Nona Hendryx, Dwele, Goapele, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Slave, Les McCann, Rachelle Ferrell, Kool and the Gang, The Brothers Johnson, and Kindred the Family Soul to name a few.