Bongozilica

 

A woman resplendent in a beautiful red feather headdress with diamante jewels twinkling in the light sashays and grooves to thunderous bongo accompaniment. Whistles shriek, drums clatter and the percussive wall of sound rises to a fabulous crescendo. Muso Bango, Yeah Yeah Party Party Freedom Drummers, Sambalanco and  Dende Drummers, all cheer and whoop each other’s performances in mutual respect and admiration. Each collective dressed in their own ‘colours’ adding another dimension to the already radiant event. Poi dancers sway to Samba whilst swinging lit weights through a variety of rhythmical and colourful geometric patterns. There are gorgeous, Lucy FX bodyart paintings vying for attention on dancer’s bodies and Christmas lights sparkle around gyrating limbs. The vivid rich vibrant colours against the austere club brickwork give the place an otherworldly feel. Everywhere you look the visuals and projections are spellbinding enriching the celebratory Brazilian Carnival feel of the evening. But this is not Brazil. This is Hastings.

The brainchild of the ever effervescent Remi Vibesman, Bongozillica landed in West Exit Nightclub last Friday, and things will never be the same again. Following on from Africazillica held at the Roomz back in May, Bongozilica was bigger, better and quite possibly the most joyous uplifting experience I’ve experienced in quite a while. Promoting live music alongside circus performers, samba dancers, and DJs in the wrong hands can be a recipe for disaster but Remi’s enthusiasm and passion for his events are a force to be reckoned with. This was no quick assemblage of random acts to make a quick buck. The whole event had been lovingly programmed over months and all proceeds were being donated to St Michael’s Hospice. Nothing better than dancing to amazing music knowing it’s all for a good cause. Allan ‘Funki’ Francis had the crowd rocking earlier and now DJ Bad Muthafunker took to the decks and the attention seamlessly moved from under the brick arches to the main dancefloor. Both drummers and punters dancing to her brilliant tribal carnival set. As she spins her tunes a striking dancer takes to the small stage and under the flashing lights - creating spiral zebra stripes over her - with silk and fans she mesmerises the crowd. I walk past huge mounds of tropical fruit and venture into the second room where Loic Kinstre and Mark Ramsden have been rocking the party with their uplifting tunes all night. Such an uplifting joyful and life affirming night.

There’s talk of another Bongozilica in December and I can’t think of a better way to drive those winter blues away. Don’t sleep!