Get Ready to Dance with Jamarek!

Jamarek Will Share Their Mix of African & Caribbean Infused Music at Cafe Kopi this 4/20 in Kailua

Although Hawai’i is an ethnocentric state, it has evolved to include a plethora of cultural diffusion. Food, art, and language are all expressions from people with unique stories, but one of the more underrated aspects of O’ahu is its music scene. There are tons of local artists from all musical backgrounds– whether you’re looking for some reggae tunes, indie riffs, or soulful ballads, the O’ahu music scene has it all.

Jamarek’s Beginnings

Jamarek is a Caribbean and West African inspired drumming group based in O’ahu. The band’s sound mainly takes inspiration from traditional West African and Caribbean drumming techniques. Kapono Ciotti and Lori Kimata, both founding members of the group decided to name the group “Jamarek”, meaning, “peace only” in Wolof, the native language of Senegal, where they have travelled extensively. Their goal was to take these traditional techniques and turn it into a modified collision of music meant to inspire dancing, catalyze peace, and create community.

Jamarek was an instrumental-only band until 13 years ago, when the lead vocalist, Kahnma, brought another element of color into their sound. Originally from Liberia, Kahnma incorporated music and lyrics from her homeland into the mix. Today Jamarek’s cohesive vibe consists of their original West African and Caribbean percussion, but also adds another layer of creativity through deep, jazzy guitar and lively vocals.

Jamarek shows are a place for love and laughter to foster. Their 2023 show at Cafe Kopi in Kailua, O’ahu consisted of fun, drinks, and lots of dancing. Jamarek has a unique way of unifying themselves with their audience through their fiery stage presence. Their performance feels less like a band servicing an audience and more like a family extending their passion to others. In their upcoming show at Cafe Kopi in Kailua, Jamarek will play a spirited set list lasting about 2 hours– the perfect amount of time to dance away the sunset at an island soirée.

Keeping Hawai’i Dancing for Many Years to Come!

Although Jamarek has been established for 20 years, they have no intention of slowing down. Its members still carry well-sustained enthusiasm to continue to deliver dance to Hawai’i. Erica McMillan, one of Jamarek’s percussionists, states, “Everyone in the group lead very diverse and busy lives individually but we all share a strong love for the music we play together and I think that connection will continue to keep us playing together moving forward into the future.” Kapono Ciotti shares that Jamarek is working on a brand new set list, which they teased at their last show with two new songs, and their goal is to continue to make Hawai’i dance for years to come.

Support Jamarek and follow their Facebook account at: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jamarek/100065044658552/

and download their music at:

https://jamarek.bandcamp.com/album/fechal

by Vanessa Hathaway

As a writing intern for Honolulu Vibes, Vanessa Hathaway is passionate about creating quality content that allows audiences across oceans to collectively share her zest for adventure. Raised in Washington D.C and Las Vegas, Vanessa moved to O’ahu to pursue a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in English at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. She spends her free time playing gigs with her band, Blue Tuesday, and surfing at the local longboard spots in Honolulu.

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