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Okodoro Oro "The Realistic Reality"

The excellent debut CD from Nigerian-born Cincinnati transplant Baoku Moses was inspired by African music icon Fela Kuti and other AfroBeat artists. Fans of Kuti will be magnetically drawn to Moses' similar vibe, as he effortlessly blends traditional African sounds with Western Jazz and Pop influences. The disc is stunningly accomplished, showing Moses to be a master of his craft despite only first journeying into the world of AfroBeat about seven years ago. Okodoro Oro is a truly remarkable achievement that could and should push Baoku Moses to the upper echelon of his field. By - Mike Breen (City Beat)

 

 

Baoku Moses releases debut CD

By Mike Breen


AfroBeat Magnificence
Okodoro Oro, the astounding debut CD from Cincinnati transplant Baoku Moses, will be released this Saturday in conjunction with a concert and cultural event at the Syrian Shrine Temple (217 William Howard Taft Road, Corryville). Besides celebrating the disc's release, Moses' group, African Image Arts Organization, will also be on hand to promote and educate attendees about the many facets of African culture through exhibitions and displays. The Nigerian-born Moses -- also a professional African drummer -- was inspired by African music icon Fela Kuti and other AfroBeat artists. Fans of Kuti will be magnetically drawn to Moses' similar vibe, as he effortlessly blends traditional African sounds with Western Jazz and Pop influences. The disc is stunningly accomplished, showing Moses to be a master of his craft despite only journeying into the world of AfroBeat about seven years ago. The disc was produced by Rob Fetters (Raisins, The Bears, psychodots), who enlisted local musicians like Chris Arduser and Randy Villars (and himself, on guitar and bass) to help bring to life Moses' textural, vibrant and passionate songs. Okodoro Oro is a truly remarkable achievement that could and should push Baoku Moses to the upper echelon of his field. The event kicks off at 5 p.m.

Baoku Moses, "Okodoro Oro" -- Cincinnati could, indeed, use a little more world beat and we got it thanks to this Nigerian who moved to Norwood three years ago. His creative use of native percussion instruments and Afro-Cuban rhythms mixed with strains of American pop and jazz is a masterpiece that deserves recognition way beyond Cincinnati on the world beat scene. Moses utilizes local players ranging from horn men Randy Villars and Gary Winter to psychodot guitarist Rob Fetters, who produced the effort.

Biography:

Baoku Moses is a Yoruban native from Nigeria living in Cincinnati, Ohio (United States). He’s a multi talented professional artist.

Baoku started his artistic career in 1994, as an actor at Ajumobi Theater Group (Lagos, Nigeria). He proceeded to Odunfa Theater Organization (Lagos, Nigeria) in 1995, where he continued as an actor and a drummer under the direction of Araosan, Ogogo, Yinka Quadri, Abey Lanre, and Kaka. In 1996 Baoku joined Ivory Ambassadors, (N. A. C. A. C.) National Theater Iganmu Lagos, Nigeria, under the direction of Steve James Eshemokhai. Performing with Ivory Ambassadors exposed Baoku to the unique cultures of numerous Nigerian/African tribes. Baoku has participated in numerous productions locally, nationally and internationally.

Baoku discovered his ability for composition in 1994 after joining Ajumobi Theater Group. He had a talent for Afro beat music, and started composing songs in 1997, immediately after the passing away of Afro beat legend Fela Anikulpo Kuti. Since then Baoku has composed over sixty Afro beat songs.

Afro beat, a musical combination of western jazz with African instrument and languages is a musical expression of peace, love, unity, truth and justice. Baoku uses Afro beat to preach, teach, entertain and educate about the issues facing all of humanity. As an African drummer, Baoku integrates additional African drums into his compositions which makes Baoku’s Afro beat music unique. Baoku uses the power of music "to promote unity helping to make the world a more beautiful, respectful and peaceful place to live."

Baoku’s debut CD is Okodoro Oro[The Realistic Reality]. Currently, Baoku is the Creative Coordinator of African Image Arts Organization (Cincinnati, Ohio), an African arts and culture organization established to “Preserve, Protect and Promote African Image and Heritage”.

Baoku plans to create a 30-person Afro beat band to take Afro beat music around the world.

Official Web Site: www.baokutcr.com & www.africanimagearts.org

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2011

Baoku Moses: A Unity of Sounds

Like so many that have come before him, Baoku Moses left everything he knew in Nigeria and immigrated to the United States in hopes of a better life. Along with a few personal items, Moses brought something entirely unique and intangible: his exceptional skills as a drummer and dancer. Combining traditional African drumming and dancing into the modern sound of Afrobeat, Moses came equipped with hopes and a rare talent.

However, unlike many before him, Moses didn’t begin playing music until he was in his twenties. After a short stint working in the Nigerian film industry, Moses joined Ivory Ambassadors, a cultural organization that preserved, celebrated and taught traditional African music, drumming and dancing in 1996. Before joining Ivory, Baoku felt he was “blind” to his own culture. After becoming a company member, Baoku was immersed in the diverse traditional music of Nigeria and beyond. Music mesmerized him in a way that it had never before and he began contemplating the possibility of a life in music. From the outset of his training, it was apparent he had a creative and natural ability to write songs. Baoku explained that, “the training was intense, the exercises could make you cry, and it was very hard on the hands. We didn't use a microphone, everything was vigorous and very technical.” After learning various styles, Baoku quickly developed a unique approach as a “drummer dancer”, that is, on stage he had the ability and flexibility to dance while drumming. At Ivory, he learned the traditional music of over twenty five African tribes, absorbing their cultural practices, their rhythms, and their dances. By the end of his time at Ivory, Baoku had worked his way up to lead drummer, and began directing many music shows.

In 1997 Baoku first heard Afrobeat, the same year Fela Anikulapo Kuti died. Having never listened to much Afrobeat, Moses became intrigued and soon became entranced with its sound. As Baoku explains, “I began to eat it up like food, day and night, to listen to it, to rip it apart.” Baoku claims that Fela's spirit came to him, “Afrobeat became a calling for me from God, with Fela as the messenger. Within two days of first hearing it, I wrote my first Afrobeat song, within the space of a month, I don't know how many Afrobeat songs I wrote. We have a saying in Nigeria, no one can trap breeze or water.” Indeed, Afrobeat’s influence on Baoku's drumming can be heard in such tracks as “Free Nigeria” on his album Okodoro Oro with its infectious multi-layered rhythms and the hypnotic sound of the talking drum underlying the track.

Baoku is a gifted musician, but he also has a passionate commitment to justice as did Fela Kuti. After moving to Cincinnati, he has brought musicians from different genres together to perform in what he calls a “Unity Jam.” He started it in December 2009, as a way to use music to bring people together. The Image Afro-beat Band, his current group, also brings together musicians from different backgrounds. “Kowa de na sa” (‘everybody with their own’) is a song about unity. As he says, “The pain, the gain, suffering, smiling, situations, conditions, sadness, happiness, feeling and dying are all absolutely the same all over the world.” He does not believe that the Nigerian traditions should be preserved for Nigerians alone. Baoku embraces all people through his music. He wants to bring the rich rhythms of Africa to the public at large so that these musical traditions can be celebrated and preserved. He shares his understanding in teaching both children and adults. When I asked him about his understanding of unity, Baoku said, “One message that is important about unity is for people to begin to understand that we do need each other. The first thing I am is a person. It is not too hard for a rich person to look at a neighborhood and to see that the people are not eating three meals a day. People shouldn't suffer like this. People need other people to grow. They need each other to survive. They need to embrace each other.”

For more information about Baoku, you can visit http://www.baokutcr.com/

- Dorothy Johnson-Laird