Fela Kuti’s Birthday tribute concert is the annual event to celebrate the originator of Afrobeat, who died in 1997.
The concert comes to Birmingham on Friday 14th October 2011 at The Hare & Hounds.
The concert will be led by Fela’s Egypt 80 keyboardist and musical director of award winning musical “FELA”, Dele Sosimi and his ensemble. Dele moved to London in 1995 from Nigeria and stands out as one of the most active musicians currently on the Afrobeat scene worldwide. His dedication to Afrobeat has contributed to the development of many musical influences and interests in multi-cultural London.
From his early discovery as a green 16 year old keyboardist by Fela Kuti, who brought him into his band Egypt 80, Dele rose to prominence as musical director of the 30 piece band during the ’80s and ’90s. Whilst at the helm he hatched a plan for a new more aggressive sound, with an old school mate, who just happened to be Fela’s son Femi Kuti. The result was the band Positive Force, with whom he toured globally for a decade, honing his craft and exploring all the richness of this amazing music.
Increasingly Jazz and other styles started to feature in his thinking and Dele opted to jump ship and pursue his own musical vision, packing his bags and heading to London to form his own group. Being his own man has really suited him, allowing the realization of his own vision – one that’s faithful to the Fela blueprint, but also clearly bears Dele’s own DNA, exploring the jazzier side of Afrobeat.
