Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents information about Nigerian master drummer Babatunde Olatunji and showcases several of his YouTube video performances in the United States.
In addition to the music and dancing, I'm particularly interested in sharing examples of the types of traditional African clothing that Olatunji and his band/dancers wore throughout these videos, with particular attention to examples of Nigerian traditional caps that many of the men had on.
Since Olatunji and his entourage were among the first, if not the first, majority African groups to widely perform traditional African music in the United States, in addition to its music, that group introduced Americans to and fostered an appreciation for certain types of traditional African clothing, including the custom of males wearing certain types of traditional African caps.
The Addendum to this pancocojams post presents a video of one type of fila (Yoruba word for "cap") that Olatunji wore.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Babatunde Olatunji for his musical and cultural legacy. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/fila-red-ozos-kufis-and-some-other.html for Part I of a two part pancocojams post entitled "Filas, Red Ozos, Kufis, Aboki Cap, And Some Other Names For Traditional Nigerian Male Caps (information)".
Also, click the Olatunji tag for more pancocojams post about Babatunde Olatunji.
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INFORMATION ABOUT OLATUNJI
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babatunde_Olatunji
"Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer, youtuber, educator, social activist, and recording artist.
[...]
Biography
Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nigeria. A member of the Yoruba people, Olatunji was introduced to traditional African music at an early age. He read in Reader's Digest magazine about the Rotary International Foundation's scholarship program, and applied for it. He went to the United States of America in 1950.
Education
Olatunji received a Rotary scholarship in 1950 and was educated at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he desired to, but never sang in the Morehouse College Glee Club. Olatunji was a good friend of Glee Club director Dr. Wendell P. Whalum and collaborated with him on a staple of the choir's repertoire, "Betelehemu", a Nigerian Christmas carol. After graduating from Morehouse, he went on to New York University to study public administration. There, he started a small percussion group to earn money on the side while he continued his studies.[1]
Musical career
[...]
Olatunji won a following among jazz musicians, notably creating a strong relationship with John Coltrane, with whose help he founded the Olatunji Center for African Culture in Harlem. This was the site of Coltrane's final recorded performance. Coltrane wrote the composition "Tunji" on the 1962 album Coltrane in dedication to him. Olatunji recorded with many other prominent musicians (often credited as "Michael Olatunji"), including Cannonball Adderley (on his 1961 African Waltz album), Horace Silver, Quincy Jones, Pee Wee Ellis, Stevie Wonder, Randy Weston, and with Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln on the pivotal Freedom Now Suite aka We Insist!, and with Grateful Dead member Mickey Hart on his Grammy winning Planet Drum projects”…...
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Video #1: Babatunde African Drum Performance.
Derbeno, Apr 8, 2007
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Video #2: Babatunde Olatunji Jin-Go-Lo-Ba (Drums of Passion) [sound file]
Marcinenwu, Jun 9, 2008
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Video #3: Baba Olatunji & his Drums of Passion- Odunde
BabaOlatunjiMusic, Jul 17, 2008
Baba Olatunji & his Drums of Passion perform Odunde, The Harvest Dance celebrating the New Year.
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Video #4: Baba Olatunji & his Drums of Passion- Ajaja
BabaOlatunjiMusic, Jul 17, 2008
Baba Olatunji & his Drums of Passion perform at a New Years Eve Concert in 1986 opening for The Grateful Dead. Concert intro song Ajaja.
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Video #5: Spirit Drum 1999 THREE "Babatunde Olatunji"
911TVorg, Nov 16, 2013
Babatunde Olatunji is "Master of Drums," a virtuoso of West African percussion. Born and raised in Nigeria, Olatunji was educated in America. Since he opened the Olatunji Center for African Culture in Harlem over thirty years ago, Baba has been committed to providing education in traditional African performing arts to adults and young people. Baba has become one of the greatest teachers of all time.
the band:
Babatunde Olatunji
Joan Baez - backing vocal/dancing
Sikiru Adepoju - talking drum
Rasaki Aladokun - talking drum
Sanga-Of-The-Valley - djembe
Danjuma Adamu - guitar
Gordy Ryan - djun djun
Val Serrant - steel drums
Mawuena Kodjovi - guitar
Brian Loftus - drumset
Brent Zeller - shekere
David Price - bass
Tom Little Bear Nason - MC/flute
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ADDENDUM: Kube Traditional hats
Susan Iliyan, Feb 5, 2016
This piece features the hand crafted process of the Kube traditional hats worn predominantly by Hausa men and the intricate cleaning process required to maintain these hats which range in price depending on how long it took to make and which prominent figure it was named after. It also speaks of how the Bama Massacre affected the Kube making capital of Bama but did not bring the Industry to an end.
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Although this summary indicates that these hats are predominately worn by Hausa men, notice that Babatunde Olatunji was Yoruba and not Hausa.
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