The Tribe (dance band)
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The Tribe, formerly the World Wide Message Tribe (WWMT), were a British Christian dance band. Their aim was to "to communicate the gospel to young people in Greater Manchester".^[1] They were part of the Christian charity, " The Message", which is famous for its Eden projects in Manchester^[2].

Background

The World Wide Message Tribe formed in 1991, and grew out of an evangelistic project called "Message to Schools" run by fashion designer Mark Pennells and singer Andy Hawthorne.^[3] The Tribe disbanded in 2004.^[4]

The line-up of "the tribe" varied over the 13 years and included many recognised christian artists including, Andy Hawthorne (director of the message), Mark Pennells (co-director of Innervation trust), Zarc Porter (also co-director of Innervation Trust as well as producer for most of the Tribe's musical output), Elaine Hanley, Lorraine Williams, Sani, Beth Redman (internationally known artist and author and wife of Matt Redman; She was later in a band called Storm which released an eponymous album in 1998.^[5]), Cameron Danté (formerly of Bizarre Inc.), Deronda K Lewis, Collette Smethurst, Claire Prosser, Emma and Tim Owen, Lindz West, George Mhondera and Quintin Delport (George and Quintin were formally members of SA band, M.I.C. and have now set up a new bands known as Whistlejacket and Shackleton respectively.

The Tribe's parent company, The Message Trust, have since created two bands, BlushUK (a girl band) and LZ7, a hip hop band fronted by ex-Tribe member Lindz West. "Genetik", the tribe academy has been set up with the vision to train up young evangelists in an Urban or Creative course at its Manchester base. Mark Pennells and Zarc Porter have also continued to put together evangelistic bands as part of the Innervation Trust including Shinemk, V*enna, thebandwithnoname, tbc and others.

The group won three GMA Dove Awards.^[6]

Discography

• WWMT - Take A Long Hike With The Chosen Few (N*Soul/Diamante, 1993) - N*Soul's first cd
• WWMT - Dance Planet (N*Soul/Diamante, 1995) - Compilation, #1 radio hits
• WWMT - Jumping in the House of God (Warner Alliance, 1995)
• WWMT - We Don't Get What We Deserve (Warner Alliance, 1995)
• Jumping in the House of God II (Alliance, 1996) - Various Artists
• WWMT - Revived (Warner Alliance, 1996) - Compilation
• WWMT - Heatseeker (Warner Resound, 1997)
• Jumping in the House of God III (Alliance, 1998) - Various Artists
• WWMT - Frantik (Resolve/Diamante, 1999)
• The Tribe - Take Back The Beat (Alliance, 2001) - 3 tracks/video cd-rom
• The Tribe - Raise Your Game (Authentic, 2003)
• The Tribe - Message to the Masses (2004) - Compilation

Singles

References

• Andy Hawthorne, Diary of a Dangerous Vision, Kingsway Books, 15 April 2004, ISBN 1-84291-184-8
• "Tribal History", Cross Rhythms 83, 14th November 2004.
• Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "World Wide Message Tribe", Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, First printing, Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1056-1057. ISBN 1-56563-679-1. 
• "World Wide Message Tribe" (September / October 1998). 7ball Magazine (20). 
• "World Wide Message Tribe" (July / August 1996). 7ball Magazine (07). 

Notes

1. ^ http://www.thetribeuk.com/main.cfm?section=aboutus
2. ^ The Message Trust
3. ^ Jesus Army: Magazine - Talking to
4. ^ http://web.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove/news_tribe.asp
5. ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Storm", Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, 888. 
6. ^ http://www.thetribeuk.com/main.cfm?section=news

External links

• Official website
• CrossRhythms articles
• Interview with Andy Hawthorne of The World Wide Message Tribe (May 1998)
• Page on N*Soul Records
• Christian Music Artist Database entry
• The music behind the Tribe and others