Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra

Dele Sosimi, the Nigerian-British Afrobeat Ambassador, Musician and Educator, has been at the heart of the global Afrobeat scene since relocating to the UK in 1995. Having started his musical career with Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 band in his teens, he then teamed up with childhood friend Fela's son Femi Kuti (back in the late eighties) to kick start the Positive Force - touring, recording and performing worldwide.

Over forty years later, he remains a tireless ambassador for the unique musical movement all over the world. His blend of complex funk grooves, traditional Nigerian music, African percussion and an underlying sense of jazz combines with his virtuoso keyboard skills and rhythmic singing to make him one of the most respected Afrobeat authorities of his era.

*“A true master of the form.” - Clash Magazine*

*“Organically shimmering with sun-lit horns and synth powered grooves.” ★★★★ - Songlines Magazine*

*“Horn fanfares create a typically joyous Afrobeat sound but there are also intriguing experiments into downtempo grooves” -The Guardian*

Dele Sosimi will be performing with an all star live band featuring special guests:

**Nikolaj Hess** - Multiple award-winning pianist and composer and a sophisticated, boundary-pushing virtuoso artist with a sound that spans Nordic jazz, post-bop, new-classical, and Global jazz traditions. His touch on the piano is described as effervescent and golden, and Mitch Myers from Magnet Magazine/Down Beat calls him “one of the most inventive pianists working today”.

**SUPPORT FROM**

In The Name Of Ra - East London Jazz Fusion Quartet blending jazz, world and improvised music