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Lágbájá is
widely considered to be one of Africa's most exciting and
interesting contemporary artists. Combining sophisticated
compositions with a dynamic stage show and enigmatic personality, he
is the current rage in Nigeria, in constant demand for live
performance and ubiquitous on the airwaves. His monthly shows at his
own Motherlan' Niteclub, in the heart of Ikeja - the capital of
Lagos state, sell-out well in advance.
Lágbájá
- which in the Yoruba language has a simultaneous
multiple-translation meaning of "somebody",
"nobody", "anybody" and "everybody" -
has always performed masked. On one level, by never
revealing his human identity, Lágbájá represents the common
man and the faceless voice of the masses. On yet another
level, his elaborate masks and stage costumes link him to the
ancient tradition of Egungun: Africa's ancestral masqueraded
spirits, who come out in times of crisis helping to guide the people
towards truth and resolution.
Musically
speaking, Lágbájá's sound is unique, incorporating a range of
influences from Afrobeat to Highlife, Juju, Pop, Funk and
Hip-Hop. Generally his music is identified under the umbrella
of Afrobeat, which is one of his major influences.
Incorporating contemporary elements such as horns, guitars and
keyboards alongside the most traditional of Nigerian instruments
(such as Bata and Dundun drums), Lágbájá's music spans the
generations of African expression.
With
his first U.S. cd, "We Before Me", slated for
Spring release on the IndigeDisc/Ryko label and a U.S./Canadian tour
slated for this summer, North American audiences will soon
have the opportunity to see and hear for themselves why Lágbájá
has become such a dominant musical force in his native
Nigeria.
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