Students past and present join in the Felabration
6 October 2022
Current and past students of the School of Music will join Dele Sosimi and members of his Afrobeat Orchestra to perform and celebrate some of Fela Kuti’s considerable Afrobeat songbook at Felabration Caerdydd | Cardiff 2022.
Fela Kuti is regarded as one of Nigeria’s musical icons. He is the pioneer of Afrobeat, an African music genre that fuses West African music with American funk and jazz.
Felabration is a worldwide festival celebrating Fela’s life during the month of his birth. Dele Sosimi played in Fela’s Egypt 80 from 1979 - 1986 and continues to be the leading educator and ambassador for the Afrobeat genre in the United Kingdom.
The concert, taking place at Chapter Arts Centre, will follow a workshop for School of Music students, led by Dele.
School of Music alumnus Ollie McLoughlin will play alongside Dele at Felabration.
Of his time at the School of Music, Ollie said: “I think what makes studying music so unique is the social aspect of the course. You have to play with other people, you have to work with others to make music and create, and the course encourages that. I think this aspect of the course has helped me in my professional career.
“I loved the ethnomusicology modules – so much so that I completed a master’s in Ethnomusicology at SOAS University of London after my time at Cardiff. 'Ethno' offered something very different and opened our minds to different cultures, ways of thinking and ways of researching music. If it weren't for that course, I wouldn't be performing with Dele Sosimi!”
Felabration Caerdydd | Cardiff 2022 takes place at Chapter Arts Centre on Friday 14 October at 7.30pm. You can book tickets online.