Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra

From Egypt 80 to London

Bamidele Olatunbosun Sosimi was born on February 22, 1963 in Hackney, London, moved to Nigeria aged four and grew up in Fela Kuti's circle. From 1979 to 1986 he was the rhythm keyboardist of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's Egypt 80, playing Glastonbury, Montreux and the Hollywood Bowl, and he was musical director from 1984 to 1986 while Fela was imprisoned, when Femi Kuti led the band. He is credited on keyboards for "Parambulator", "Power Show", "Original Sufferhead", "Customs Check Point" and "ITT". In 1986 he left with Femi Kuti to form the Positive Force, and made No Cause for Alarm (1989), Mind Your Own Business (1991) and Wonder Wonder (1995, Tabu/Motown). He left the Positive Force on December 27, 1995, moved to London and from 1996 led residencies at Nigerian venues, including Gbedu Resurrection at the Africa Centre and The Shrine at Brixton Fridge.

His solo career began after Fela's death in 1997, with Turbulent Times (2002, Eko Star) and Identity (2007, Helico). He performs in three formats: a 15-piece Afrobeat Orchestra with a five-piece horn section and dancers, a six to nine-piece band, the most common, and a trio or quartet. In November 2010 he became Afrobeat music consultant and keyboardist for the London production of Fela! at the National Theatre. He signed to Wah Wah 45s in 2015 for You No Fit Touch Am, which Songlines gave 4 of 5 as polished but pulsing with anger, followed by You No Fit Touch Am In Dub (2016, with Prince Fatty), Cubafrobeat (2018, with Lokkhi Terra), State of Play (2022, with Medlar) and Take to the Streets (2023, with Eparapo). He runs the Afrobeat Vibration all-nighters in London and the Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Foundation.

The Arts Desk's Howard Male reviewed a vibrant ten-piece at the Purcell Room in September 2009, finding Fela's "Zombie" a highlight with an audience sing-along. Setlist.fm has sparse listings, 17 for Dele Sosimi and 9 for the Afrobeat Orchestra.