Funmi Olawumi
Funmi Olawumi leads a 12-piece band
4 female vocalists | keyboards, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, electric bass,
kit drum, conga | 2 talking drums
Nigerian diva Funmi Olawumi fuses the rhythms of afrobeat, juju, hi-life and fuji together to create the music she calls “faaji music”. Faaji is a Yoruba word for “having a good time” and faaji music is percussive modern dance music that is layered with guitar lines and driven by the rich eloquence of the talking drum.
Funmi Olawumi founded the vocal group QUEENS OF LAGOS in 2000 and established THE YORUBA WOMEN CHOIR in 2002 and started her collaboration with THE FAAJI DRUMMERS OF NIGERIA in 2005.
In 2005 Funmi Olawumi created “Lagos Massive” – the 20-strong contemporary revue show that brings new singers and musicians from the hot house of Lagos music scene to the international stage. Funmi Olawumi is making Yoruba song repertoire her own. Her live show includes outstanding versions of classic songs by the likes of King Sunny Ade, Chief Ebenezer Obey, Fela Kuti, Prince Nico Mbarga, King Wasiu Ayinde and others.
Funmi Olawumi’s Yoruba soul coolness and the ferocious rhythms of her 8-piece band, THE FAAJIS have made her live show a spectacular event. Funmi Olawumi and the awesome Faajis dig deep into the Nigerian musical heritage to create one of the most passionate dance music on the planet.To be a member of the drum super group, Faaji Drummers of Nigeria you must have played and recorded with selected Nigerian super stars like King Sunny Ade, Kollington Ayinla, Ayinde Barrister, King Wasiu Ayinde, Queen Salawa Abeni, Dele Abiodun, Adewale Ayuba, Obesere, Pasuma and Funmi Olawumi. This is a drummers project and drummers rule okay. The talking drums are the real stars of Nigerian music.
They produce the fire that burns the records and live shows by stars like of Chief Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, King Wasiu Ayinde, Queen Salawa Abeni and all the great artists of Nigerian music. Without the talking drummers Nigerian music lacks sparks and invention that makes its unique. The Faaji Drummers of Nigeria command the utmost respect in Nigeria . Whether it is juju music of King Sunny Ade or fuji music of King Wasiu Ayinde the talking drummers are at the top of everything. Seeing Faaji Drummers of Nigeria live is one of the wonders of world music. One of the most unique groups in the world music today.The 15-piece group, The Faaji Drummers of Nigeria was put together by music producer Biyi Adepegba, singer Funmi Olawumi and talking drummer Ayanlere Alajede for the Millennium Celebration. Their performance on that night confirmed the band's instant status as the pride of Nigeria.
See also: The Faaji Drummers, The Yoruba Women choi, Lagos for Show, Queens of Lagos
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