Trinity Laban presents: Sounds from West Africa

This October we celebrate West African music in an extraordinary event featuring Dele Sosimi, Ola Akindipe and Nathan Dawkins.

Kicking off the night, the inimitable Dele Sosimi will lead a band comprised of Trinity Laban popular music and wind, brass and percussion students, performing Afrobeat classics by Fela Kuti. The set also features Trinity Laban dancers from 1syllable music and dance company, led by Raliat Oyewole-eletu and supported by Keith Corprew.

Dele is well known as one of the leading Afrobeat musicians in the UK. Starting his career as a member of Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 in 1979, he has gone on to work with Fela’s son Femi and other legends in the scene, from Tony Allen to Lucky Ranku. His 2015 album ‘You No Fit Touch Am’ on Wah Wah 45’s garnered critical and popular acclaim and provides a musical representation of Dele’s strong socio-political opinions, as well as delivering classic songwriting that could have come straight out of 1970s Lagos.

They will be followed by electric and double bass student, and recipient of the 2024/25 Fela Kuti scholarship Nathan Dawkins. His band will take us on a journey of Afro-infused jazz and R&B, taking influence from his mentors and music from across the African diaspora.

Finishing on a high, alum Isreal Olaoluwa Akindipe, popularly known by friends as ‘Olamony’, presents his band Ola + The Amalgam, whose signature Afro-fusion style merges strong rhythmic drive, punchy horns, Latin-inflected piano and thought-provoking lyrics. Olamony was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria where he grew up listening to his heroes, Yinka Ayefele, Fela Kuti, Angelique Kidjo, to name a few. The band is proudly multinational which reflects in their unique sound, energy and groove.

More information
The history of West African music, particularly Afrobeat, at Trinity Laban is a long one. Fela Kuti, also known as the ‘King of Afrobeat’ studied classical trumpet here (then Trinity College of Music) in the 1950s. Although West African music would not have been taught in the curriculum during Fela’s studies in London, our students are now encouraged to explore music from a wide range of backgrounds, including opportunities to take part in Afrobeat bands, and tutor Dele Sosimi leads an Afrobeat module with our popular music students each term.

Fela’s legacy here lives on with alumni such as Ezra Collective, KOKOROKO and SEED Ensemble citing Fela as an influence on their music, and the Fela Kuti Scholarship supporting supporting students from the African diaspora to study on our Jazz and Composition programmes.

Tickets £15 / £10 concessions

Part of Black History Month 2024 and Trinity Laban’s Black Culture 365