Yorubeat

Yorubeat is a fusion music of African and western styles. The word yorubeat is derived from the Yorubas of Nigeria. The drum pattern that is played in yorubeat music took its influence from both African and western drum patterns, with the strongest accent on the last beat rather than the first beat. The drum rhythms are mostly offbeat, the fusion of Yoruba music and western music styles such as pop, jazz, funk rhythms, and classical music fused with jùjú , apala, fuji, waka African percussion and African talking drums. The music was created and named yorubeat by Nigerian saxophonist Tunday Akintan in 2001 at Goldsmiths, University of London, when he studied pop and jazz music.
Origins of yorubeat
Yorubeat music is derived from music of many genres from Nigeria and western music such as jazz and pop.
Akintan started his music from the church, his family was a member of All Saint Anglican Church 6 Raimi Street, Off Oremula Street, Orile Agege, Lagos Nigeria. At the age of nine he started visiting Fela Kuti’s band rehearsals in Kalakuta Republic. His father sent him to London to study accountancy, but Akintan changed his mind and he started studying music at Goldsmiths university London. In 2001, Akintan collaborated with London-based musicians to create the style of what he called yorubeat in 2001. He started with a twelve piece band called the yorubeat band which went on touring round the United Kingdom and Europe. The yorubeat band consist of many music from different music styles. They released their first DVD called Genesis of Yorubeat: Live in London on 12 February 2007.
Characteristics of yorubeat
* The brass section starts the music before other music starts to create a counterpoint between singer and the rhythm section
* The yorubeat drum pattern is often the same all through the music
* The structure of improvisation are performed based on cue
* Performed mostly by a large group of musicians playing various instruments
* Energetic, exciting and with high tempo, polyrhythmic percussion
* The same musical movements are repeated many times
* Combination of various genres and musical influences
 
< Prev   Next >