Songs from the Village

Ken Okulolo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 2001)
• Original Release Date: June 15, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Inner Spirit
• ASIN: B00005MG8B
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,682 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

(Henri-Pierre Koubaka)

It's so deep, I have to keep on listening. It's the real roots and meaning of African music. (Henri-Pierre Koubaka, "Kumpo Beat" (KALW), June 2001)

Product Description

"We invite you to enjoy and dance to this music, which springs from our earliest village memories: songs our parents sang to us, the poly-rhythms we danced to in the moonlight, the lilting harmonies we enjoyed at the palm-wine vendor's cottage. We recorded it in the old-fashioned way, with only our voices, hand drums, percussions, and acoustic guitars. It brings a message of love, from the African soil which gave birth to us all, and from our blessed ancestors, to whom we offer our thanks and praise."

--Babá Ken Okulolo and the Nigerian Brothers

Nigerian master musician Babá Ken Okulolo is one of the few popular African musicians of today whose roots extend deep into traditional village life and folk music. Better known as the bandleader whose warm, smiling personality enlivens the popular Afro-beat band Kotoja and the all-star electric West African Highlife Band, in this acoustic project he and the Nigerian Brothers bring forth the universal healing magic of African music with their sweet vocal harmonies and intricate, intoxicating rhythms. This long-awaited, recording, "Songs from the Village," reveals rhythms from several cultures and includes lyrics in Urhobo, Yoruba, Itsekiri, Pidgin, and Hausa.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great African Music, May 18, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Songs from the Village (Audio CD)

This is a fantastic album. Its very raw and not over-produced like a lot of albums out there. It really captures the warmth, simplicity, and honesty of the African way. A couple songs are simply multi-part harmony over almost hypnotic percussion using traditional instruments. The rest incorporate an acoustic guitar or two to provide a nice melody line. The singing is almost all in tribal language. On a couple songs they use their pidgin English a bit which at first may sound "un-African" but you get used to it especially when you realize that's part of their background. Very chill beautiful music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of African roots music, April 24, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Songs from the Village (Audio CD)

If you are a fan or new to traditional African music, this recording must be added to your collection. The music is well recorded. Songs are listed to increase your listening pleasure. Great as a companion travel music in your car or for workout headsets. Best of all, a great educational material for musicologist and general music educators of all levels.
To listen to sound clips of this CD and other recordings by this great artist from Nigeria West Africa, log on to
www.africanmusicsource.com

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars songs from the village, August 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Songs from the Village (Audio CD)

it is one of the most joyful and soulful experiences to listen to this collection of songs.