Logistix's second "An Ear to the Ground" event, featuring hot African rhythms, will be more of a party than a concert when it fires up tonight.

With Afro-beat band "Mitabe" and French DJ Mselektor thrilling the audience with inciting rhythms, the Yan Club will be sweating.

Meaning "Togetherness," "Mitabe" started off as a family band by a Madagascar diplomat in Beijing in 1983.

The band wrote its own reggae, soukous and zouk songs.

But as time passed, some of the family members were sent to diplomatic postings in other countries. However, those remained in Beijing started performing with Chinese, American, Indian and African musicians in various bars until 1999. "Mitabe" now has some new faces from both China and other countries but it is still loyal to the African beat.

DJ Mselektor came to live in Beijing in the early 1990s. The last 15 years have seen him evolve between music and China itself.

Setting up a studio in Beijing was a way to cooperate with those who shared the wish to see the music sector strengthened and valued, creating new opportunities for improvement.

Tonight's concert at the club, located near the Dashanzi Roundabout on the Airport Expressway, will feature him spinning tunes from Nigeria's Fela Kuti to Senegal's Orchestra Baobab, from Djoliba's Salif Keita to African-American Osunlade.

"I spin tunes in order to create an ambiance, to fascinate the audience by offering a selection of good understanding and rare music," the 32-year-old said.

(China Daily August 28, 2003)