Oduduwa

Description

Reissue of the 12" single from the 80s by Trinidadian musician Oluko Imo (Black Truth Rhythm Band), featuring Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti.Recorded between Lagos and New York in 1988, the tracks lie at the fault line of the Trinidad-Yoruba connection, blending calypso heritage with Nigerian afrobeat and jazz.On side A, the track "Oduduwa" is a moody slice of the transatlantic afrobeat of the era, blending a heartfelt plea for social justice and equality with a haunting piano line, mixed drums, and an ethereal sax solo.The song takes its name from Oduduwa, the founder of the Ife empire, who is also considered a divine Orisha (deity) in Yoruba culture, often invoked by Trinidadian musicians and activists as a signifier of the island's Yoruba heritage.On the flip side, "Eyes Are Getting Red (Were Oju Le)" is a long-lost Afrobeat track featuring Fela and Femi Kuti. Classic Nigerian horns and keys combine with Oluko Imo's Caribbean-influenced guitar and Fela's virtuosic saxophone solo, bridging the musical gap between Lagos and Port of Spain.