If you have not yet been to the Palava, here are two very good reasons to go. They are throwing a party on Christmas Eve and another on New Year's Eve. Celebrate the year that was 2008 in style with great music, tasty eats, and an impressive selection of mixed drinks.

Both events begin at 7pm at the Palava - 11002 E Yale Ave. in Aurora

Luckily not everyone in Colorado missed out on seeing K'naan in concert. He did make it to the show at the Fox Theater in Boulder. Thanks to Jesse Swift for the pictures. Jesse reported that K'naan was very positive and told a couple stories between songs. If you have pictures from the show, please share them with us by sending them to metroafrican@gmail.com.

This is the space that was supposed to have been reserved for my rave review of K'naan's performance at the Ogden this past Saturday. The only problem with that is that he didn't actually show up to the concert. When we arrived the opening act Trevor Hall was on stage, so we made our way toward the front of the stage, settling in behind a few rows of people. We were in good position for when Mr. Warsame took the stage.

Trevor Hall was followed by a long period of setting up, sound-checking, and a whole lot of waiting. After half an hour of nothing, there was movement backstage. The lights were dimmed, and the crowd crescendo-ed in cheering. As the band walked out onstage and got behind their respective instruments, I was thinking, "This is K'naan's band?". Somehow, they just didn't look like what I was expecting. But it wasn't until I saw Matisyahu's lanky frame emerge from the darkness, that I really began to realize that there was something very wrong.

Somewhere amidst Matis' three hour long show (which was incredible) I came to terms with the fact that we wouldn't be experiencing a K'naan performance, so we might as well enjoy the rest of the night. Following the show I spoke with a manager of the Ogden Theatre who informed me that K'naan and his crew had gotten stuck in the mountains due to the snow. She said the theatre employees didn't even know K'naan wasn't going to make it until about 9pm, when the show was set to begin.

EDIT: After publishing this article, we've come to find out K'naan had a show in Aspen the night before the Denver show that was not a part of the Matisyahu tour. Thus making the following rant unjustified. Please feel free to skip to the end.

(Warning: This is where this article devolves into rant-mode.)

Now, I can understand that when people come to Colorado they want to go to the mountains. That's what people do here. But as a performer, you do have a responsibility to your fans. That responsibility should include something as simple as checking a weather forecast, and perhaps putting off your plans to go do whatever you were doing in the mountains (a Somali friend suggested he was there smoking weed, but that's beside the point). People payed money and adjusted their plans (some of us cancelled Thanksgiving travel plans) to see you perform.

All I'm saying is that it would behoove K'naan to find a way to make the missed show up to his fans. Whether that means rescheduling a show in the area, offering a free copy of the upcoming album Troubador to attendees of the show, or some kind of acknowledgment that you screwed over the people that are most eager to see you succeed.

We will continue to promote and support K'naan's music, because at the end of the day he is creating beautiful music with poetic and meaningful lyrics. And despite our personal disappointment at missing a performance, we wish him all the success in the world. But K'naan, next time you come to Denver, stay away from the mountains.

Performers treated the audience to song and dance, and in usual ACC style everyone ended up on the dance floor before the night was over.

EDIT: The Rocky Mountain News covered the Thanksgiving party here. I liked this quote from ACC Director Jennifer Gueddiche, commenting on the community-led event:

"It's not us putting on something for them," said Jennifer Gueddiche, director of the African Community Center, which hosted the event. "It's them putting on something for each other."

Here's short video of some of the fun:

www.africancommunitycenter.net

The ACC is looking for volunteers to help coordinate the Thanksgiving event. Call Elizabeth at 303-399-4500 x19 or elizabeth@africancommunitycenter.net

Artist of the Year went to D'Banj, while Naeto C won Best New African Act. Kenya's Wahu picked up the Best Female award, and Best Video of the Year went to Ikechukwu of Nigeria.

Other winners included Nigeria's P-Square for Best Group, South Africa's Jozi for Best Live Performer, D'Banj for Best Male, Nigerian 9ice for Best Hip-Hop, and Alicia Keys for Best R&B.

All images from Getty Images via Ladybrille

Naeto C receives award for Best New African Act

D'Banj Receives Award for Artist of the Year

Wahu Receives Award for Best Female

Jay Jay Okocha performing on stage

Ikechukwu Arriving on the Red Carpet

This past Friday the African Students' Association at the University of Colorado at Boulder hosted the 6th Annual Taste of Africa. The event featured performances by hip-hop group Democracy in Dakar and the Pan African Drum and Dance Ensemble, among others.

Hundreds of Coloradans gathered in the recreation center at CU Boulder to enjoy the music, dance, poetry, and fashion. Guests were treated to food provided by local restaurants, food from various countries including Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

The music and dance performances were energizing, and before long people were on their feet and dancing. Long lines at the food tables did not dampen the spirits of diners happy to receive a free meal made up of such diverse dishes.

All in all, it was a great night of celebration of African music, food, fashion and fun. We're definitely looking forward to the next Taste of Africa.

Many thanks to the African Students' Association for organizing the event.

Well, you're in luck. It's time to vote for your favorite African music for MTV's first ever African Music Awards happening November 22nd in Abuja, Nigeria.

The postponement of the Kora Awards from December of this year to April of 2009 has given MTV a perfect window through which to introduce their Mama Music Awards. The event also establishes another frontier on which MTV Base is challenging competitor Channel O, whose Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards happened just last month.

Prior to the awards show, an all-star concert tour will visit Kinshasa, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Lagos beginning this week.

So you probably want to know the nominees:

Best Female Artist
Wahu (Kenya)
Asa (Nigeria)
Dama Do Bling (Mozambique)
Sasha (Nigeria)
Zonke (South Africa)

Best Male Artist
Jua Cali (Kenya)
2Face (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
DJ Cleo (South Africa)
HHP (South Africa)

Best Live Performer
Samini (Ghana)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
P-Square (Nigeria)
Cassette (South Africa)
Jozi (South Africa)

Best Group
P-Square (Nigeria)
Freshly Ground (South Africa)
Jozi (South Africa)
The Parlotones (South Africa)
East African Bashment Crew (Uganda) - Bebe Cool and Necessary Noize

Best Alternative
Buraka Som Sistema (Portugal)
Goldfish (South Africa)
Seether (South Africa)
The Parlotones (South Africa)
Coldplay (UK)

Best Hip-Hop Artist
9ice (Nigeria)
HHP (South Africa)
Professor Jay (Tanzania)
Lil Wayne (USA)
The Game (USA)

Best R&B
P-Square (Nigeria)
Akon (Senegal / USA)
Loyiso (South Africa)
Alicia Keys (USA)
Rihanna (USA)

Best Artist of the year
Asa (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
P-Square (Nigeria)
HHP (South Africa)
Seether (South Africa)

Best New Act
Kwaw Kese (Ghana)
Wahu (Kenya)
9ice (Nigeria)
Naeto C (Nigeria)
Da L.E.S. (South Africa)

Best Video
Movaizhaleine (Gabon) – Nous
Ikechukwu (Nigeria) – Wind Am Well
P-Square (Nigeria) – Roll It
Freshlyground (South Africa) – Pot Belly
Pro Kid (South Africa) – Uthini Ngo Pro

Listener's choice award
- Jax Panik (South Africa) - ’Cigarettes and Cinnamon’
- D’Banj (Nigeria) - ’Why Me’
- Naakaya (Tanzania) - ’Mr. Politician’
- JB Mpiana (DRC) - ’Zadio Kongolo’
- P Unit Featuring DNA (Kenya) - ’Una’
- Toniks (Uganda) ’Beera Nange’
- Ofori Amponsah Featuring Samini (Ghana) - ’Odwo’

The winners of the MTV Africa Music Awards will be unveiled at The Velodrome, Abuja, on Saturday, 22 November 2008 and broadcast on MTV base (DStv Channel 322, GTV), partner networks and terrestrial channels RTGA (Democratic Republic of the Congo), TV3 (Ghana), NTV (Kenya), AIT (Nigeria), STV (Nigeria), TBC (Tanzania) and WBS (Uganda), from 29 November 2008.

How to vote for your favorite musician
To vote for your favourite artist or video, please go to mama.mtvbase.com. Music fans with WAP/GPRS enabled phones may also vote at m.mama.mtvbase.com (standard internet charges apply). Voting closes on Tuesday 18 November 2008.
For details of SMS voting go to mama.mtvbase.com.

So get out the vote in support of your favorite artists.

From Spirituals to Freedom Songs to Hip Hop

November 15, 7:30 PM.

Newman Center, University of Denver

www.spiritualsproject.org for more info.

Hosted by the Elias Fund and The 1010 Project, two local non-profit organizations, this event will bring together the Denver community for an evening of advocacy, action, and music. We have the honor of hosting an acoustic performance by Hearts of Palm, a local Denver band, and Ngumo ye Rudo, a group of Zimbabwean musicians, as our special guests.