Babá Ken Okulolo | |
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Born | Aladja, Delta State, Nigeria | September 12, 1950
Genres | traditional, Afrobeat, Afrorock, highlife |
Occupation(s) | Musician, instructor |
Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, drums, vocals |
Labels | Inner Spirit Records |
Website |
babaken |
Babá Ken Okulolo (born September 12, 1950) is a Nigerian bassist and bandleader who was first seen in the U.S. in 1985 with King Sunny Ade's world-touring band. He has played with renowned Afrobeat creator Fela Anikulapo Kuti, highlife master Victor Olaiya, and was a founder of the Afro-rock group Monomono in the 1970s. Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he leads four bands that represent his various musical specialties: Kotoja (an international Afro-funk band); the Nigerian Brothers (traditional folk music); the West African Highlife Band (highlife hits of yesteryear); and the Afro-Beat Connexion (modern Afrobeat collaboration with other African and American musicians). [1] Babá Ken has also headlined such venues as Lincoln Center, The Fillmore, The Warfield, LACMA, the Oakland Coliseum, Yoshi's, The Greek Theater, and the Great American Music Hall. [2] [3] [4]
Babá Ken Okulolo | |
---|---|
Born | Aladja, Delta State, Nigeria | September 12, 1950
Genres | traditional, Afrobeat, Afrorock, highlife |
Occupation(s) | Musician, instructor |
Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, drums, vocals |
Labels | Inner Spirit Records |
Website |
babaken |
Babá Ken Okulolo (born September 12, 1950) is a Nigerian bassist and bandleader who was first seen in the U.S. in 1985 with King Sunny Ade's world-touring band. He has played with renowned Afrobeat creator Fela Anikulapo Kuti, highlife master Victor Olaiya, and was a founder of the Afro-rock group Monomono in the 1970s. Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he leads four bands that represent his various musical specialties: Kotoja (an international Afro-funk band); the Nigerian Brothers (traditional folk music); the West African Highlife Band (highlife hits of yesteryear); and the Afro-Beat Connexion (modern Afrobeat collaboration with other African and American musicians). [1] Babá Ken has also headlined such venues as Lincoln Center, The Fillmore, The Warfield, LACMA, the Oakland Coliseum, Yoshi's, The Greek Theater, and the Great American Music Hall. [2] [3] [4]