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!
