Afrobeat legend Dele Sosimi to Galvanise White Rock Theatre
DAN MCCARTHY
On 23 April, multiple award-winning Afrobeat ambassador Dele Sosimi is set to bring his signature grooves to Hastings’ White Rock Theatre. Hackney-born and UK-based, Dele has long been a prolific, worldwide performer, having earned his musical chops as a young keyboardist in Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 band between 1979 and 1986.
Dele Sosimi at Brick Lane Jazz Festival
Now, four decades later, he remains a restless champion for the musical movement. His blend of complex funk grooves, traditional Nigerian music, African percussion and jazz is all tied together with his virtuoso keyboard skills and rhythmic vocals – making him one of the most respected Afrobeat authorities of his era.
Following his foundational years with Egypt 80, Sosimi teamed up with Fela’s son, Femi Kuti, to form Positive Force, serving as the band’s musical director. After touring the globe and gracing the stages of major international jazz festivals – from Montreux to Montreal – Sosimi relocated to London in the mid-90s. There, he infused his Yoruba rhythms with the city’s multicultural landscape, absorbing the influences of deep funk, Latin music and UK jazz.
His globetrotting life and diverse musical influences have spawned some captivating collaborations, from his hit single Mo Se B’ólá tán alongside The Estuary 21 and Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly, to his work with Lokkhi Terra on collaborative album Cubafrobeat. But for those unfamiliar with Dele’s own infectious Afrobeat sound, look no further than his celebrated 2015 album You No Fit Touch Am.
For his upcoming White Rock appearance, audiences can expect a high-energy live show. Presented by African Night Fever in collaboration with The Guildhall Trust and WemsFest, the Afrobeat Experience with Dele Sosimi Quintet takes over the venue’s Studio space from 8:00 pm. For this standing event, the room is perfectly primed for a feel-good, carnivalesque atmosphere. Backed by his world-class quintet, Dele delivers raw horns, energetic percussion and soaring melodies that The Guardian notes balance a “typically joyous Afrobeat sound” with “intriguing experiments into downtempo grooves”.
Dubbed a “total music legend” by BBC 6 Music’s Cerys Matthews, the Afrobeat pioneer promises to uplift the spirits with his irresistible soul. Tickets are £20 – come ready to dance.
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