After their first successful instalment at The Alchemist with Mufasa Poet and Swahili Ally, Muthurukishion is back, this time in tribute, commemoration and continuation of the legacy set by one of Africa’s greatest percussionists Babatunde Olatunji (1927-2003)
In 1959, Babatunde Olatunji did a wildly successful percussion album (Drums of Passion) in the United States that sold over five million copies. He was the first ever African drummer to make inroads and popularize African music in the West.
The album, and especially one single titled Jin-Go-Lo-Ba was so popular that it was covered by Santana as Jingo in his first album ‘Santana’ (1969), as Marabout by Serge Gainsbourg (1964), by James Last in his 1971 album, ‘Voodoo-Party’, by Pierre Moerlen in his album ‘Downwind’ (1979) and by Fatboy Slim on his 2004 album ‘Palookaville’.
AmillionWays Wakake has been working on his own version of “Drums of Passion” an East African edition. Together with his team of seasoned, new and young talent playing alongside Michel Ongaro and Jackson Munala Anduuru on the sax, he will be bringing the team home to an electrifying debut performance at Nairobi’s The Alchemist Bar after delivering a performance at Førde Traditional and World Music Festival in Norway with Omar Mwatela, Saumu Mwatela and Faith Malkia.
The King of the afterparty is none other than DJ Somi of Ubantu Festival!
Mwl. Gregg Tendwa is the guest Dj for the night. Known for experimenting with a future sound and urban style of benga music through the Bengatronics collective, he will be adding some sugar-cane spice to the night.
And a very special appearance from AfroXchange,coming straight from the Berklee College of Music. The AfroXchange Program is in Kenya on a cultural outreach program and is comprised of musicians from the United States, Puerto Rico, and Nigeria. These musicians are Dokun Oke, Alex Gasser, Richard Dye, Alexander Anderson, VanDarrel Woods, and Ayinde Webb. All of the members have studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
Check out the AfroXchange catalagoue on Bandcamp.
This is definitely one event not to be missed, so head on down to the Alchemist this Friday for Muthurukishion! Tickets are KES 500 at the gate, and the party goes on from 8:00PM to 4:00AM. See you there!
