Abdul Tee-Jay

The Music of West Africa:

Before electric guitars and amplifiers, big band and highlife, acoustic palm wine music was popular and was one of the main traditional forms of music played across West Africa.

In a lot of palm wine bars, a traditional box (thumb piano) called Agidigbo in western Nigeria was played by musicians. Then came the acoustic guitar versions of the same music and palm wine music naturally evolved into something special. 

Palm wine music is still popular throughout West Africa. In Sierra Leone, it's known as Maringa. First popularised by Ebenezer Calendar and his Maringa Band. It never stopped evolving with the times.

Abdul Tee-Jay has blended the various African forms. Highlife, Milo Jazz, Makossa, Soukous and Benga, incorporating all these styles to create his own particular unique sound with his band Rokoto.

Gumbe was also another form closely associated with the music of West Africa.

Tee-Jay will be playing a cozy set in Camden North London next month during the 12th London African Music Festival. 

To watch this set, it's advisable to book your tickets early. 

SATURDAY 20th SEPTEMBER
ABDUL TEE-JAY
SOLO PERFORMANCE
GREEN NOTE CLUB
106 Parkway, London, NW1 7AN
Doors: 1.00pm
Tickets: £7.00 Bookings: www.greennote.co.uk

Since arriving in the UK in the early 80s Freetown, Sierra Leone, guitarist, songwriter and singer ABDUL TEE-JAY has made an important contributions to British-African music through tours and releasing acclaimed albums like “Palm Wine A Go Go and E’Go Lef Pan You. He continues to push the boundary as he did when he formed his band “Rokoto” in 1988 and the band he still leads.

In this festival appearance Abdul Tee-Jay plays solo as he looks back over his recordings and featuring new versions and arrangements of palm wine classics that takes the music there...

Produced by Bodees Productions

It's going to be a blast. I can assure you!

Stay cool,

Derek Soyemi