Bossaphonik Presents Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra

+ Guest DJ Shadeda

Presented by: Bossaphonik

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0	OXFORD: Cowley Workers Social Club
P	Friday 21st March, 2025
N	8:00pm

Event information

Happy spring Bossaphonik goers!
Whilst enjoying the changing of the seasons we can look forward to the March Bossaphonik night which takes place on Friday 21st. It features an artist regarded as the UK ambassador of Afrobeat music, returning to Bossaphonik for the first time in over 5 years – the Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra.

Dele Sosimi, at the tender age of 16 joined Fela Kuti’s band The Egypt 80, where he resumed his role as rhythm keyboardist for 7 years between 1979 and 1986. For many Bossaphonik goers, Fela Kuti needs no introduction but for those unaware, he was the African continent’s biggest musical superstar of the 20th century. He founded the Afrobeat music genre in the late 1960’s – developing a fusion of West African highlife with funk and big-band jazz. A joyful and complex polyrhythmic groove-infused sound which was irresistibly soulful and highly danceable. The music was used as a tool of dissent of Nigeria’s corrupt political regimes and he became one of the strongest voices of anti-colonial and black power ideology in Nigeria and West Africa during his lifetime. He consistently risked his life at the hands of the Nigerian military-run regime and became a voice for the marginalised masses, particularly the urban poor becoming affectionately referred to as The Black President.

Dele Sosimi lived in Fela’s legendary commune, The Kalakuta Republic for many years and featured on Fela’s hit albums of that period including Original Sufferhead, Authority Stealing, International Thief Thief, Power Show, Army Arrangement and many others. During Fela’s incarceration between 1984-1986, Dele along with Fela’s son Femi Kuti became musical directors and arrangers of the Egypt 80 band. The two school friends eventually left and formed Femi Kuti & The Positive Force band. Again, Dele had the role of musical director and bandleader and they released three albums and toured internationally. In 1995 Dele settled in London and began his own career as an Afrobeat artist. Carefully gathering collectives of top UK based musicians, his current band have developed near-telepathic communication - he gives Afrobeat his own brand of loving virtuosic treatment. Three albums to date have been released in his own name as well as many collaborations with international Afro-centric artists. We can look forward with relish to the hypnotic grooves of his 8 piece band emitting classic Afrobeat drum patterns, groovy bass lines, fiery percussion, interlocking funky rhythm guitar and rhythm keyboards, dazzling multi-part horn harmonies and call and response vocal lines. We are privileged to have a legend of African music here in the UK gracing our Bossaphonik stage.

“A sizzling set from London’s Afrobeat leader” Songlines Magazine (on Dele’s 2nd LP “Identity”)

“On his groundbreaking new album, you’ll find the most fluent Afrobeat you’re going to hear today…” Straight No Chaser Magazine

Check out Dele’s website to learn more:
https://www.delesosimi.org/

Check out a live video from Dele’s band performing at Afrika Festival in the Netherlands:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TfGi7Y8Aak

Check out a live video of four tracks performed last year in La Note Bleue Bar in Monaco:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUZN6rQydZI

Check out Dele’s Bandcamp page to hear his recent releases:
https://delesosimi.bandcamp.com/

Following on from Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra is a Bossaphonik club session til 1:30am. For the first time at Bossaphonik we’ll be welcoming guest DJ Shadeda to the Bossaphonik decks. An Oxford-born and Manchester-based DJ and radio host with an affinity for soul-centred dance music spanning Afro-Latin and jazz spectrums. With regular radio shows on Balamii & Stream Radio and his own events @elody.mcr Shadeda’s selections have adorned music scenes across the north and London. He endeavours to open ears to new perceptions of what “club music” can be and revitalise a new movement of dancefloor jazz amongst younger generations. We can expect his selections to be wide and choosy, deep and beautiful and above all – music that moves the soul as well as the feet.

Friday 21st March
Bossaphonik Presents Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra + Guest DJ Shadeda
Cowley Workers Social Club, Between Towns Road. OX4 3LZ (Near Templars Square Shopping Centre. Regular buses 1 and 5 from City Centre go up Cowley Road til 3am. Stopping opposite the venue)
8pm – 1:30am
Band starts at 9:30pm

See you there!

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