STAGE TUBE: THROW DOWN YOUR HEART: Fleck Brings the Banjo Back to Africa

Throw Down Your Heart: Béla Fleck Brings the Banjo Back to Africa will premiere at the Rialto Center  Thursday, March 4th at 7:00 PM.

"Throw Down Your Heart" follows American banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck on his journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo and record an album. It's a boundary-breaking musical adventure that celebrates the beauty and complexity of Africa - an Africa that is very different from what is often seen in the media today.

As Ugandan folk musician Haruna Walusimbi states in the film: "There is this negative thinking about Africa. There is nothing good in Africa. They are beggars, there is HIV/AIDS, they are at war all the time. But that is just a very small bit of what Africa is." Béla's trip provides a glimpse into the incredibly rich and diverse musical traditions of Africa.

See the award winning film which documented Béla Fleck's journey through Africa as he explored the African roots of the banjo. We are hosting a free screening of the film in the Rialto theatre as a precursor to Béla Fleck's concert on Saturday, March 6th.

Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, Béla Fleck is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. 

The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University, is an intimate, cultural centerpiece of downtown Atlanta. Our mission is to inspire, educate, and entertain diverse audiences by presenting innovative and exceptional arts programming and cultivating community partnerships.

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