By Sammy Moyniham : Photo by Dallas Howell

Get ready, Canberra! A musical storm is brewing and is set to hit the Ainslie Arts Centre with electrifying energy and pattering percussion. AUSECUMA BEATS, the dynamic Melbourne-based ensemble renowned for its fusion of traditional multicultural melodies with contemporary production flair, will grace the stage on Friday, 26 April.

At the heart of Ausecuma Beats lies a passion for bringing people together. In a world that can be divided by borders and barriers, this eclectic group of musicians have a simple yet noble mantra: to transcend cultural boundaries with their infectious rhythms and soul-stirring performances.

Boubacar Gaye, one of the band’s driving forces, embodies this fervent dedication to unity.

“Music, dancing, partying, and performance are the best ways to bring people together,” he enthuses. It’s great to see people dance to the music and connect through the power of sound.”

Indeed, the band’s name is a deliberate fusion of the four cultures of its founding members (Australia, Senegal, Cuba, Mali—AU–SE–CU–MA), an instant metaphor for bringing together different musical traditions.

A Global Connection: Music During Lockdown

During the 2020 COVID lockdowns in Melbourne, Boubacar felt that people were very disconnected. He turned to social media on a mission to unite people from across the globe.

“I just wrote one Facebook post saying I wanted to hear what people were doing and what they were making, and it completely took off,” he recalls. “I could see the views moving very quickly, 3k likes to 5k likes, almost overnight.”

He connected with many musicians worldwide through this initiative, allowing the band to expand and explore different musical styles.

“We met with people from rock backgrounds, traditional cultural music backgrounds, and more modern dance music backgrounds—all with completely different styles.”

Dakar Bamako: A Musical Collaboration Across Continents

Reflecting on the challenges of working across genres and creating something from these meetings, he says:

“Despite these different backgrounds and styles, everyone shared the same love for music and community. That unifying force made it easier to fuse the genres together and create a new album with all these ideas in the mix.”

The new album in question, Dakar Bamako, features an impressive 14 musicians from three different countries. They come together in a true cross-cultural collaboration that celebrates stories of migration, cooperation, and the unifying power of music and dance.

With every strike of the drum and making of the melody, they champion the values of diversity, inclusivity, and cultural exchange. Their music reminds us that despite our differences, we are all united by our shared humanity.

Music In Exile: Amplifying Voices, Building Bridges

Behind the scenes, a driving force propels Ausecuma Beats forward and amplifies its message. That perpetual motion machine is Music In Exile, a not-for-profit Melbourne-based record label, promoter, and support organisation run by the lovely Joe Alexander, dedicated to showcasing and supporting artists from refugee and migrant backgrounds.

“Music in Exile changed everything for us,” Boubacar enthuses, gratitude permeating his tone. “Talk about bringing people together! They’ve done so much for us.”

Boubacar reflects further on this happy growth.

“We were just playing in our local bar,” he recalls. “Now we perform all across the country and all over the world, and we get to make music in all kinds of places, meeting so many fantastic musicians along the way.”

An Electrifying Night to Remember

The 26 April gig will mark Ausecuma’s second visit to Canberra. Boubacar brims with excitement for this long awaited return.

“Canberra seemed very quiet at first, but it felt like a big celebration when we started playing,” Boubacar says. “We met so many new fans, and we hope they all return and bring more people with them so we can grow our community even further.”

As we eagerly await their arrival, Boubacar urges audience members to pop over to the Ausecuma Beats Instagram page to see all the stories about how the music came about.

“The show will also feature lots of stories in between the songs so that people can really understand what the music is about and how it came to be.”

Ausecuma Beats promises an evening of boundless energy and unbridled joy. From the hypnotic rhythms of the djembe to the fiery grooves of Afrobeat, each note resonates with a spirit of celebration and unity.

Let the irresistible rhythms of Ausecuma Beats wash over you, ignite your spirit, and fill your heart with the joy of connection.

As Boubacar says: “Get ready to boogie. Get ready to feel the music. Feel the dance. Feel the love.”

Ausecuma Beats is playing at the Main Hall, Ainslie Arts Centre, on Friday, 26 April at 7pm. Tickets are $25 + bf via Humanitix.

Listen to the new album via Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music