- Dele Sosimi
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Dele Sosimi 
In Paris, 2009Background information Born 22 February 1963 Origin London, England Genres Afrobeat, Funk, Nigerian traditional music. Instruments Keyboard Years active 1979–present Associated acts Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Tony Allen, Femi Kuti Website delesosimi.org Bamidele Olatunbosun Sosimi, known as Dele Sosimi, is a Nigerian-British musician (born 22 February 1963, London).
Biography
His career began when he joined Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's Egypt 80 (1979–1986). Then he created Positive Force band with Femi Kuti, with whom he performed from 1986 to 1994. In both bands he was keyboard player, also musical director taking care of re-orchestrating and arranging music as well as handling the recruiting and training of new musicians.
Based on Afrobeat, Dele's music is a blend of complex funk grooves, Nigerian traditional music (including hi-life), African percussion, underpinning the jazz horns and solos from other instruments, as well as rhythmical singing.
His keyboard work can be heard on Fela's several albums,[1] as well as Femi's ones.[2] Dele has also performed often with Tony Allen.
Following his first solo album Turbulent Times,[3] he was invited to select the tracks for the 3-CD compilation "Essential Afrobeat" (Universal, 2004). He was producer and co-writer of "Calabash Volume 1: Afrobeat Poems" by Ikwunga,[4] the Afrobeat Poet (2004). He is a central member of the Wahala Project.[5] He has also featured on British rapper TY's album Closer[6] and his Turbulent Times is featured on The Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project (2006). His album Identity[7][8] has been described by Songlines magazine as “A sizzling set from London’s Afrobeat leader”.
His performances include The Montreux Jazz Festival, Joe Zawinul's Birdland (Vienna) the Treibhaus (Innsbruck ), Paradiso (Amsterdam), Bimhuis (Amsterdam), Oerol Festival (Terschelling, Holland), the Ollin Kan Festival (Mexico City), Canada Afrobeat Summit (Calgary, Canada), Sensommer Int Musikkfestival (Oslo, Norway), Festival Musicas Do Mar[9] and Festival Musicas do Mundo (Portugal), Festival Art des Ville - Arts des Champs (France) & the London African Music Festival, Hot Club in Lyon and Cave à Musique in Mâcon (France).[10] In November 2010, Dele Sosimi was appointed Afrobeat music consultant for the London production of Fela! at the National Theatre, London, in which he also plays keyboard.
Based in London, Dele Sosimi is an educator and instructor in Afrobeat (via his Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Foundation, and as a Visiting Lecturer in Music and Media, London Metropolitan University). Dele performs in one of three formats, each as compelling and funky as the others – a 15- piece Afrobeat Orchestra (featuring a 5-piece horn section and dancers), a 6-9 piece band (the most frequently used format) or a trio/quartet (with bass and drums/percussion).
Sosimi is abetted by a group of musicians. Afrobeat is given a virtuoso treatment by a core combination of Femi Elias (bass), Kunle Olofinjana (drums), Phil Dawson (rhythm guitar), Maurizio Ravalico (percussion), Justin Thurgur (trombone), Tom Allan (Trumpet) & Eric Rohner (Tenor Saxophone).
References
- ^ Power Show, Original Sufferhead, MOP 1 (Movement of the People), Authority Stealing, Army Arrangeement, ITT (International Thief Thief), and Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense
- ^ No Cause for Alarm and Mind Your Own Business
- ^ Eko Star 2002, http://www.amplified-online.co.uk/features_det.php?featureno=38
- ^ Ikwunga website : http://www.rebisihut.com/home.html
- ^ featured on Puma's 2006 Soccer World Cup Compilation CD
- ^ on the track Sweating for your Salary
- ^ http://www.ejazznews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=9912&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
- ^ http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=135:dele-sosimi-afrobeat&Itemid=30
- ^ http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=52361489
- ^ http://palmwinerecords.com/events/fela-tribute-dele-sosimi-hotclub-afrobeat-orchestra-babaliah.html
External links
Categories:- Nigerian people
- 1963 births
- Living people
- Nigerian musicians
- British funk musicians
- World music musicians
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