Interview with band leader Akindimeji Onasanya By N. Yakova
Africa, the center of the world, is not just a song by Fela Kuti but it is a fact. Africa is the starting point of everything. And the story we will tell you begins right there, in Lagos, Nigeria, the land of Ogun, the iron God. In a deeply spiritual environment, rich in art and culture, Akindimeji Onasanya began playing traditional African instruments at an early age. He is a drummer, percussionist and vocalist. His parents both came from another town called Abeokuta, Ogun State. A city of power where most Nigerian artists were born, including Fela Kuti himself. In 2006, holding his cultural background close to his heart, Akin set off in search of new musical experiences and opportunities, facing the difficulties of those who, without family and friends, encounter different ways of thinking and acting.
A.O. : โWhen I got to Europe without family and friends, It was hard. Being a black African in another community is not easy! It is something that has changed my life a lot and I am so happy to share it with you! It’s so difficult to be among the great musicians in Europe because there is a lot of experience and competition in the music industry. As they say in Nigeria: – Money makes life better – But to move or support myself with music alone in Madrid it’s like swimming in the ocean with military boots!”
This drastic change helped Akin understand what his calling was and focus on it. According to him, moving to Spain was not what he had in mind. Soon after he left Lagos, he first moved to Greece for couples months, enriching his experiences and performing as a drummer, percussionist and vocalist at local festivals. Subsequently he went to Madrid.
A.O.: “Once I arrived in Madrid, I felt a different atmosphere. It’s a city where you can meet musicians from all over the world and you can share with them your experiences, the nightlife style… Then I started to going to jam sessions and festivals and everything took a positive turn. Things went so well in Spain that I couldn’t help but stay. I started doing something new in the Afro community with people who believe in me and my abilities as a musician.”
For some time, in his heart he had been cultivating the dream of making his own project, bringing together pro musicians with different musical backgrounds and creating something that would make people dance and broaden the horizons of the genre. He wanted to contaminate the strong African roots of Afrobeat with sonic and aesthetic elements from different cultures to produce a more global enterprise. The band members come from different countries of the world.
A.O.: โI met all the members in Madrid. With someone I played together in other bands, with someone else we played together at recording sessions or at some jam sessions. There are so many band members who came to Spain for the same reason I came! It happened that someone left the city, and so did the band, so I looked for new musicians, with new styles and I started again. The music continues to grow in all Spanish communities and we have already recorded 4 albums as a band. We stayed together as a band because we believe in unity. Ogun Afrobeat is a musical project that is not only Nigerian but is a project in which there are musicians from other parts of the world such as America, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Italy, Morocco, Puerto Rico, Romania, Senegal, Spain, Venezuelaโฆ”
The engaging Afrobeat with Yoruba influences, consisting of the Fuji music characteristic of the internal districts of Lagos island; from Juju music, coming from Oyo state; and the sakarasi music of the Sakara ceremonial drums; it is contaminated with Moroccan, Senegalese, Ethiopian, Mediterranean music, incorporating Cuban, Colombian, Venezuelan sounds with neo soul and electronics, featuring Spanish, English, Yoruba and Arabic lyrics. The style starts from afrobeat to evolve into a plurality of languages genres and aesthetics. The wonderful rainbow of sounds and musical genres is drawn from the melting pot of African music that developed in global diaspora. They are sounds that share a basic affinity, just as the band members do. Since its inception Ogun Afrobeat has immediately crossed geographical and musical borders, touring Holland, Morocco, Hungary and France, and releasing three albums: The Observer (2012), Koko Iroyin (2016) and Unite (2021) and a vinyl single Eje Ka Jo Yo (GPS/INAEM, 2018). participating in international festivals and boasting pestigious collaborations that include vocalist and keyboardist Dele Sosimi, Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti MD, vocalist and keyboard player; Spanish hip-hop pioneer Frank T.; the Ethiopian singer Sara Habasha, the well-known flautist Javier Paxariรฑo.
Letโs meet the band members!
Akindimeji Onasanya, also known as Akin. Beside being the drummer, lead vocals, percussionist and leader of the band, he is a brilliant composer and lyricist with an extremely musical feeling. Pablo Hernรกndez plays alto sax and is responsible for the horn section. He comes from Badajoz, Spain and is Akin’s right-hand man. Pablo has been joining Ogun longer than anyone else.
He is a free spirit, he also lived in Morocco and is a fan of Afro-Maghrebi and Middle Eastern music. Frank Santiuste, trumpeter, from Matanzas, Cuba is handsome and extroverted, he exudes energy from every pore and is also a good percussionist. Costanzo Laini aka Coco plays the baritone sax, from Pisogne tourist resort overlooking Lake Iseo, in the province of Brescia, Italy. Very friendly and outgoing with an exceptional sax sound. Antonio Guzmรกn is the rhythm guitarist. He is from Puerto Rico and studied at the Berklee College of Music. He is a very good guitarist and a talkative and sociable guy.
Gherardo Catanzaro aka the professor, is the keyboard player. A calm and friendly soul with a strong Italian accent. He is from Catania, Italy, and also lived in London. Since about 23 years he lives in Spain.
Vincenzo Apicella aka Enzo, is the bass player from Naples, Italy. In addition to being a brilliant and friendly man, he is an energetic and engaging bassist who lively supports rhythms of every musical genre, giving them vigor and a strong body.
Arnaldo Lescay: Percussion, sabor from Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. He is a discreet and quiet boy, perhaps a little shy, with a great talent also as a drummer.
Ogun Afrobeat, as you can see and listen to is a great example of integration of diversity, without rifts, aimed at beauty and harmony. Through its powerful vibrancy Ogun Afrobeat makes even stones dance!
Their performance cannot only be listened to but must be experienced.
