- country:Nigeria
- region:West Africa
- style(s):Afro, Jazz
- label:not signed
- type:Band
- gender:male, female
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal
- artist posted by:Ritmo Artists
Line up
- Lagbaja (Band Leader, Vocals, Saxophone)
Links
"Society blooms when each of its members place the group's interests above his individual interest... WE BEFORE ME."
- Lagbaja
----------------
Lagbaja is widely considered to be one of Africa's most exciting and interesting contemporary artists. Combining sophisticated compositions with a dynamic stage show and enigmatic personality, he is the current rage in Nigeria, in constant demand for live performance and ubiquitous on the airwaves. His monthly shows at his own Motherlan' Niteclub, in the heart of Ikeja - the capital of Lagos state, sell-out well in advance.
Lagbaja - which in the Yoruba language has a simultaneous multiple-translation meaning of "somebody", "nobody", "anybody" and "everybody" - has always performed masked. On one level, by never revealing his human identity, Lagbaja represents the common man and the faceless voice of the masses. On yet another level, his elaborate masks and stage costumes link him to the ancient tradition of Egungun: Africa's ancestral masqueraded spirits, who come out in times of crisis helping to guide the people towards truth and resolution.
Musically speaking, Lagbaja's sound is unique, incorporating a range of influences from Afrobeat to Highlife, Juju, Pop, Funk and Hip-Hop. Generally his music is identified under the umbrella of Afrobeat, which is one of his major influences. Incorporating contemporary elements such as horns, guitars and keyboards alongside the most traditional of Nigerian instruments (such as Bata and Dundun drums), Lagbaja's music spans the generations of African expression.
With his first U.S. cd, "We Before Me", slated for Spring release on the IndigeDisc/Ryko label and a U.S./Canadian tour slated for this summer, North American audiences will soon have the opportunity to see and hear for themselves why Lagbaja has become such a dominant musical force in his native Nigeria.