We wonder who in the Kabaka family has the best anecdotes to share at Sunday dinner. While his son is the drummer for the Gorillaz group, Remi Kabaka, one of the godfathers of Nigerian funk, is enjoying a well-deserved rest after a career that has been close to the best of music of his time. Kabaka (senior) now lives in the United States, enjoys his status as a retired funk master, and can look in the rearview mirror at a teaser record pack like son of africa, an album that became cult years after its release.

the son of africa

Remi Kabaka was born in Ghana in 1945 and grew up in Nigeria before moving to London. There she met the cream of the local music scene and performed in some clubs where the music of Africa was celebrated. Little by little, her mastery of percussion opens the doors of studios, festival stages and large venues in the country, where she lends a hand to many groups that have marked the spirit of the time.

In 1969, he provided percussion for the Rolling Stones in London in Hyde Park during an extended performance of “Sympathy for the Devil”, in front of a crowd estimated at half a million people. Released, Remi Kabaka Collects Legendary Collaborations, Paul McCartney On His Project At, to South African jazz giant Hugh Masakela, through studio sessions with Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Deep Purple and Stevie Wonder, the master of rhythm is much in demand. At the same time, Remi Kabaka participates in the development and dissemination of music from the African continent, both solo and with the Osibisa group, which he accompanies in the rhythm section.

In the mid-1970s, Chris Blackwell, owner of the Island Records label, suggested that he release a solo album. At this point, Blackwell has gold on his fingers. YO’islander it produced Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals and helped popularize reggae around the world and particularly in the UK where the genre is hugely popular. This collaboration with Blackwell is very good news for Remi Kabaka, who sees in it the opportunity to make her art known to the general public.

supply and demand

It is from this collaboration that son of africa, concentrated rhythm elixir, born. The album is excellent, it speaks to the pelvis and perfectly responds to Remi Kabaka’s desire to spread the rhythms of Ghana and Nigeria, afrobeat or highlife, to a wider audience. Unfortunately, the record was a commercial failure.

Released at the height of the popularity of reggae and dub, the galette failed to win over audiences and ended up relegated to the bottom of record bins and gathering dust. Undaunted, Remi Kabaka puts out a few more records and continues legendary collaborations by playing with Fela Kuti in Lagos in the ’80s. The mixed reception reserved for her record represents just a gray area in a glittering career.
In the 2000s, son of africa is enjoying a resurgence in popularity on the web. On resale sites, they go up to £700 each, a small fortune. Over the years, a group of prospectors noticed the genius of the record and scrambled over the rare gold-priced printed copies. Good news, you can save your packages, no more speculation, now reissued by BBE Music label. Registration is hot and available on your page. band camp. Handle with gloves to avoid burns.