70’S Nigerian Afrofunk Pioneer Blackman Akeeb Kareem To Play London
So this looks amazing. Blackman Akeeb Kareem has been making afrofunk killers for the best part of 40 years. Now, Palm Wine Beats have booked the Nigeria musician to headline a one day festival at Stoke Newington's Total Refreshment Centre, celebrating music of Africa and the African diaspora. Let's just drop a Kareem track now so we're all on the same page –
Good, right? Kareem is going to be fronting the Palm Wine house band, performing tracks his 1977 album Tomorrow and more. The day has got all sorts of fine activities – this lifted from their events page;
*The Akano Rhythm Brothers leading a juju workshop for music enthusiasts who like to get between the notes
*House band transforming PWB into a live polyrhythm shakedown featuring the Nigerian Soul/Fusion legend Blackman Akeeb Kareem, MeaKoom, Chongo and other guests
*Panel discussion [From the Root to the Fruit] – Is Africa Benefiting from its Cultural Archive? featuring Kwaku (British Black Music), Quinton Scott (Strut Records), Bekke Popoola (Black British Girlhood), We Need To Talk About: and more
*A/V rescoring of PWB VOL 1 LIVE WITH BAND and audio preview of VOL 3 by Lo-Fi Odysseys
*DJ sets by Chief Commander Yaaba, Volta 45, Duncan Brooker B2B with Amar Patel (Soul Labels)
*Live radio broadcast throughout the day hosted by We Need to Talk About featuring interviews with rising stars and collectors
*Delicious food will be served on the day from the kitchen
Early bird tickets are currently available for a tenner – sort yourself out over here.