Kevin Nathaniel Hylton
A visionary musician who, with voice and ancient African instruments, channels sound as a universal healing force. Together, breathing rhythms to the beat of our synchronized hearts, Kevin Nathaniel resonates songs of unity and the “big picture” of love in beautiful ways. A celebrated composer of healing music; a long-time practitioner of the healing arts of mbira, kalimba, circle song, shekere, dance, meditation, and yoga; a world-traveled music healer and performer, sharing the medicine of the ancient, the now, and the beyond, Kevin Nathaniel brings a fresh, deep experience of the beauty of sound.
Kevin Nathaniel’s music is an invitation for us to come together, to share in song, laughter, positivity, movement, and prayer.
Kevin Nathaniel is a Scholar of the House of Yale University. Following Yale, Kevin intuitively devoted himself to the healing music of Africa, especially mbira music. He began constructing instruments, transitioning to vocal music, the playing of various instruments of the African world, dances of Africa, and sacred healing music. His journey has led him to today, where he is an innovative force in the development of a new kind of shamanic music, performing music festivals and ceremonies the world over. His recordings have developed a strong following not only among lovers of uplifting dance grooves, but also among the healing and natural medicine world, while healers have verified that his recordings and performances helped heal trauma, sleep disorders, physical pain, depression and anxiety.
Kevin has worked with shamans, channels, doctors, healers, mystics, and medicine people from Africa, Asia, South and North America. He has also worked with Alice Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Jonathan Demme, Madonna, Niles Rodgers, Ephat Mujuru, Dumisani Maraire, Bobby McFerrin, Maestro Manuel, Tito La Rosa, Nana Vasconcelos, Carlos Roberto, Miriam Makeba, Thomas Mapfumo, Dr. Mitch Gaynor, Pedro Cruz Garcia, Titos Sompa, Chief Bey, and Omega Institute (where he serves as musician-in-residence).
Kevin also produces New York City’s most well-loved world music series, Afro Roots NYC: www.facebook.com/AfroRootsTuesdaysYippie/
Kevin Nathaniel is easy to connect with on Instagram: @kevinnathanielhealing
Latest Videos
Kevin Nathaniel & Spirit (Spirit Ensemble)
The legendary ensemble performs at Jazz Festivals worldwide. A pioneering force in the bridging of world instruments, Africa and its diaspora, and jazz.
Upcoming Shows
November 15th
Golden Drum Anniversary
Golden Drum, 97 Green St, Brooklyn NY
Check details at www.goldendrum.org
Featured artist: Kevin Nathaniel
November 18th
The Healing Harp of Africa
Featuring Salieu Suso, with Kevin Nathaniel, Saco Myoji, and Wizdom Nichole Gillman
Place: Holistic Healing Arts NYC located at Union Sq, NYC
Time: 7:00 to 8:30pm
Address given upon RSVP via email at kevinmbira@hotmail.com
December 7th
The 528 Hz Healing Jam
Place: Rokmil
274 Lenox Ave
Harlem
Time: 3:30 to 6:30pm
Featured artists: Kevin Nathaniel, Jeremiah Hosea, and Hasan Bakr
Daily mbira music performances in NYC’s Union Square where people come to experience a blissful moment and even dance in the streets.
Past Releases
Mbira Sanctuary
Mbira Magical
Bands & more music
To book any of these bands, please email kevin@kevinnathaniel.com
BrightSayings
Kevin Nathaniel and Hasan Bakr – music project from 1988
Village Meditations
Kevin Nathaniel and Atiba Kwabena – from 6 years ago
AfricanVoices
African Voices (Narada 1996)
The Peace Now Dept
Afrika meets India
Afro Roots NYC
Afro Roots NYC, formerly Afro Roots Tuesdays is a music series that features great live music at various venues. More recently, Afro Roots has become focused on one of the most crucial conversations of our time – sound healing and music healing. In this regard Afro Roots also acknowledges a common thread of all of humanity. By Afro Roots, in a sense we are saying “human roots”. And in a sense we are saying music is vibrational medicine. What kind of medicine are you consuming? Afro Roots has a strong commitment to artistry, to life, to culture, to breath, to movement, community, joy, and to healing. We have a strong commitment to keeping culture alive and available to all, regardless of income. As part of our new focus, we will be giving voice, platform, and spotlight to the indigenous art forms of sound and music healing. We are excited to now be co-producing at a healing arts studio right at Union Square NYC as well as other venues.
The series is in its 10th year of amazing concerts. We ran 8 consecutive years at both 9 Bleecker St and Goddard Riverside, and after Goddard discontinued its arts programs during the lockdown of 2020, Afro Roots went independent again. Due to the expense of maintaining a pivotal arts series, we are more than proud to go to our community and ask for their kind support in the form of community sponsors who “keep the roof” on Afro Roots NYC so we can keep the healing work in flow.
We ask that you please follow the link to contribute monthly to Afro Roots NYC at any rate you feel comfortable with. You get to “vote” with your dollar to keep Afro Roots alive. The options begin at $1/month, or more. And $1/month will have a huge impact and go a long way to keep Afro Roots NYC thriving. As a community sponsor for Afro Roots, you become one of the “producers” of the series and your contribution will be acknowledged. And just as or more important than contributing, we ask you to please share and tell your friends about Afro Roots. Every share goes a very long way toward creating a sustainable path for Afro Roots NYC.
