From the Windy City to Lagos (Highlife)

From the Windy City to Lagos

The afrobeat sound never dies! Afrobeat is the musical mixture of Yoruba rhythms and African highlife mashed together with James Brown-style funk. Heavy drums, catchy guitar riffs, giant horn lines, and call & response lyrics are the ingredients to the afrobeat sound. It was created in the late 60s/early 70s by the legendary Nigeria band leader Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who used the music as a tool for revolution and political expression. His songs were untraditionally long arrangements (some lasting 15-20 minutes) with a highly danceable groove, various solos, and commanding vocals. Amazing stuff!

Even though Fela's passed away in 1997, the afrobeat movement is stronger then ever. Two of his sons, Femi and Seun, have been keeping their father’s legacy alive by record new music and touring worldwide. But the real impact of the music can be seen by the amount of young musicians who have embraced afrobeat and put it into their own music. Artist like Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, NOMO, Femm Nameless, Wunmi, and others are now bringing the afrobeat sound to a whole new generation of music lovers.

Tonight at World Cafe Live(3025 Walnut Street), The Chicago Afrobeat Project will give you more proof that afrobeat is alive and stronger then ever. They are in Philly to celebrate the release of their new album Move to Silent Unrest (CAbP Music). On this new project, the 8 man crew draws from the influences of rock, hiphop, and jazz while maintaining the rawness and political realness of Fela's music. Once the music starts, expect to be dancing the entire performance.

Chicago Afrobeat Project
@ World Cafe Live(3025 Walnut Street).
Wednesday Oct. 10th.
Doors 8pm, Show 9pm
$10 cover.

Here is a little Fela video to give you an idea of what Afrobeat is all about...

Fela Kuti - Teacher Don't Teach Me

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Posted by David Adams on October 10, 2007 9:22 AM | Permalink

Comments (1)

ill-literate:

yo dave! i'm feelin your lil (dave!) blog here. the fact that i missed this show means i need to check the blog more frequently! good lookin out

btw, this is ill-literate from the double down

word...

Posted by ill-literate | October 13, 2007 5:10 PM

Posted on October 13, 2007 17:10

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on October 10, 2007 9:22 AM.

The previous post in this blog was Better than staying home.

The next post in this blog is Living Legends with Large Professor..

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Highlife

The best of the Philadelphia area's nightlife scene from a guy who knows it firsthand.