Babá Ken Okulolo

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Babá Ken Okulolo
Born(1950-09-12)September 12, 1950
Aladja, Delta State, Nigeria
Genrestraditional, Afrobeat, Afrorock, highlife
Occupation(s)Musician, instructor
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, drums, vocals
LabelsInner Spirit Records
Websitebabaken.com

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]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • 1976 – Ken Okulolo Talkin' Bass Experience (E.M.I Nigeria Ltd)
  • 1990 – Babá Ken and Kotoja Freedom Is What Every Body Needs (Inner Spirit Records)
  • 1991 – Babá Ken and Kotoja Freedom Is What Every Body Needs (Mesa/Blue Moon Recordings (Re-Issued))
  • 1992 – Kotoja "Sawale" (Mesa/Blue Moon Recordings Inc.)
  • 1994 – Kotoja "Super Sawale" (Putumayo World Music)
  • 1998 – West African Highlife Band Salute To Highlife Pioneers (Inner Spirit Recordings)
  • 2001 – Babá Ken Okulolo & The Nigerian Brothers Songs From The Village (Inner Spirit Recordings)
  • 2008 – Babá Ken Okulolo and the Afro Groove Connexion "Deep Down Beat" (Inner Spirit Recordings)
  • 2009 – Babá Ken Okulolo "We Are All From Africa" (Inner Spirit Recordings)
  • 2012 – Babá Ken Okulolo "African Drum Songs" (Inner Spirit Recordings)

Contributions[edit]

  • 1971 – Monomono – Adele (E.M.I Nigeria Ltd)
  • 1972 – Monomono – Give a Beggar a Chance (E.M.I Nigeria Ltd)
  • 1973 – Monomono – Dawn of Awareness (E.M.I Nigeria Ltd)
  • 1978 – Emma Dorgu We Need Freedom (E.M.I Nigeria Ltd)
  • 1979 – Tee Mac Collections Wake Up (E.M.I Nigeria Ltd)
  • 1983 – Orlando Julius Ekemode Dance Afro-Beat (Afrobeat Recordings Inc.)
  • 1995 – King Sunny Ade E Dide/Get Up (Mesa/Blue Moon Recordings)
  • 1996 – Bata Ketu Bata Ketu (Bembé Records)
  • 1998 – Chalo Eduardo "Samba Nova" (Carnaval Records)
  • 1998 – King Sunny Ade Odu (Atlantic/Mesa Recordings)
  • 2003 – Kelly Takunda Orphan "Give It to the People" (All of One Records)
  • 2016 - Santana IV "Freedom in Your Mind" (Santana IV Records)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Darling, Cary (June 10, 1996). "Kotoja's Ken Okulolo is at home in California's city by the bay". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
  2. ^ "Baba Ken at Yoshi's". SanFrancisco.com. October 28, 2009. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  3. ^ "Baba Ken at LACMA". Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  4. ^ "Baba Ken Okulolo Comes Home". Berkeley Daily Planet. September 3, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2010.

External links[edit]

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