Lagos Afro-Funk Collective ft Dele Sosimi

Let yourself be carried to the West Africa of highlife, Afro Jazz & the mesmeric rhythm of Fela's Afrobeat with musicians who were there. For regular attendees of my various parties and book launches, various incarnations of The Afro Funk Collective will not be strangers. However, the opportunity provided by the perfect venue that is The George IV in Chiswick will not only enable us to put on a show with a full line up but this time with the addition of a genuinely special guest. My brother by another mother, polymath Ed Emeka Keazor, will again lead from the front and this time will be joined by a giant of Afrobeat, Dele Sosimi. Dele Sosimi played keyboards with Fela's Egypt 80 from 1979–86. He featured on major tracks and albums of the period including; Army Arrangement, Original Sufferhead, Authority Stealing, ITT (International Thief Thief), Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense and several others. In 1986 he left to found Positive Force with Femi Kuti and from then until 1994 he played keyboards and was musical director of the band. Dele relocated to London and has released five studio albums of his own, toured extensively as well as being musical consultant and keyboard player for the National Theatre production of ‘Fela, The Musical’ in 2010. In 2019 his “Too Much Information” (Laolu remix) became one of the UK’s Afro-House anthems. Dele’s story is included in the many interviews in the outstanding and recent Podcast ‘Fela Kuti. Fear No Man’ by Higher Ground which I highly recommend. https://highergroundmedia.com/podcasts-archive/felakutiaudible ) This is an amazing chance to hear outstanding musicians who have played on groundbreaking, award winning albums who will be performing West African Highlife, Jazz Funk and, of course, serious Afrobeat. The Line Up will include; Percussions/vocals: Ed Keazor (Ex-Funkees, Wrinkars Experience, Dele Sosimi, Amaranto Fernandez etc), Drummer: Yoann Julliard (ex-Freddy Massamba, Wizkid, Yaaba Funk, Yung Afriqan Pioneers), Guitarist: Jake Elkan (ex-Boney M, Bukky Leo, Dele Sosimi, Ronnie Gordon Legacy etc), Bassist: Mike Idowu (ex-Femi Kuti, Lagbaja, Osibisa, Miatta Fahnbulleh etc) and Saxophonist: Ayo Odia (ex-Fela Kuti, Osibisa, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Yung Afriqan Pyoneers etc). Plus, of course our very special guest, Dele Sosimi. Doors will open from 6.30 and the band will commence from about 7.30. For those of you that do not know the Boston Room at the back of The George IV, it will be seated but definitely room to dance. There is a full bar but I recommend coming to the pub early and enjoying their food menu.