Force of Nature on tour and coming to a library near you in spring 2024

Force of Nature brings the global to the local in a conversation about climate change and inequality through a free afternoon of music, spoken word and live performance suitable for all the family.

Audiences at Rochdale Central Library, Leigh Library, Manchester’s North City Library and Longsight Library and Learning Centre are promised an afternoon of powerful live music and spoken word from the Song Warriors: Sarah Yaseen, Emmanuela Yogolelo and Meduulla accompanied by a five strong band.

 The band combines global sounds: Sufi-soul, African Agwaya, hip-hop and spoken word, served with powerful inspiration from the trio. Force of Nature was premiered in 2023’s Manchester International Festival.

Sarah, Meduulla and Emmanuela have roots in the countries of Pakistan (Kashmir), DCR Congo and Zimbabwe respectively.

Like many countries in the Global South, these countries are experiencing the negative impacts of climate change, including flooding and drought leading to shortages of food and people displaced from their homes.

The climate emergency is disproportionately affecting countries in the Global South. It is becoming clearer that the climate crisis worsens inequality and, in turn, inequality worsens the climate crisis with the Global North producing  far higher levels of carbon emissions.

Force of Nature will connect local communities in Greater Manchester with global issues and aims to grow awareness and empower people to take positive action by making personal changes or getting involved in local groups to address climate change.

Each showcase features performances by local community groups and schools.

Rochdale – Sarah is working with the Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association, engaging with Pakistani women in the borough.

Leigh – Emmanuela is working with Bedford High School’s music students who are exploring the theme of climate change in GCSE Music.

Longsight – Sarah Yaseen is working with Better We, engaging with Bangladeshi women in the area.

North City Library – Meduulla is working with Obado, an African community group in North Manchester.

Force of Nature tour

Free, no booking required.

12 noon to 3pm

Saturday 20 April – Rochdale Central Library

11am to 1pm

Saturday 27 April – Leigh Library

2pm to 4pm

Saturday 4 May – North City Library, Harpurhey, Manchester

2pm to 4pm

Saturday 11 May – Longsight Library and Learning Centre, Manchester

The Song Warriors

Sarah Yaseen

Sarah Yaseen, aka Sarah the Sufi, is an acclaimed British-born songwriter/composer of Kashmiri/Pakistani heritage and is the daughter of the internationally acclaimed Nasheed singer, Mohamed Yaseen. Sarah fronts the world-music ensemble Rafiki Jazz and regularly guests with Denmark’s all-women global ensemble Radiant Arcadia who sing in many genres, including Qwaali. She was a guest singer on the Electric Sufi Breathe in Love album with Professor Chill and Mina Salama. She has appeared at venues and festivals, including WOMAD and MIF. Some of Sarah’s recent work explores climate justice and empowers South Asian women to learn more about climate change and how it will impact Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.

Emmanuela Yogolelo

Originally from the DRC Congo, Emmanuela Yogolelo is an acclaimed singer-songwriter. Her musical influences include African gospel, Afro-jazz, music from Congo’s neighbours Rwanda and Burundi and Congolese styles like Rumba, Seben, and Agwaya, and music from the streets and Congo’s nganda pubs. As a soloist and in bands, Emmanuela has toured internationally, appearing at venues and festivals, including South Bank’s Women of the World Festival, Shambala, Cropedy, MIF, Manchester Jazz Festival, and the Horizons Festival. Emmanuela has worked with bands, including the multi-award-winning Afro-Celt Sound System. A strand of her music now focuses on climate justice as land in Congo faces destruction, and African people are increasingly displaced due to the impacts of climate change.

Meduulla

Meduulla is an award-winning young Zimbabwean-born conscious rapper, poet and DJ who uses a blend of jazz-inspired instrumentals and hip-hop. Meduulla has a growing profile in the UK’s rap scene. Meduulla was a finalist in BBC’s The Rap Game UK and appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2022. Meduulla’s single, Mish Muulla was Track of the Week on BBC 1Xtra Radio in 2021. In 2023, Meduulla’s debut EP, Oblongata, was released.

Force of Nature is a partnership project led by Sarah Yaseen and Community Arts North West, with support from Manchester, Wigan and Rochdale Library Services and Band on the Wall.

Partners and Funders

Rochdale Borough Libraries, Rochdale Borough Council, Touchstones, Your Trust, Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association, Obado, Band On the Wall, Wigan Council, Better We, Bedford High School, Manchester City Council and Lankelly Chase.

Photos by Karina So of Vague.