Lekan Babalola

In addition to having a pretanatural sensibility for percussion in post-modern improvisational music, Lekan Babalola is a curator at heart. Founder of the Ifa-Yoruba Contemporary Arts Trust, his singular passion has been to elucidate and bring full forward the culture and arts of the Yoruba, encompassing the wide range of its expression in Africa and the diaspora.

He started his career playing in the Yoruba-Christian church owned by his father, Olayiwola Babalola. As his skills as a master percussionist grew, he was invited to join Gasperlawal in 1980. His career continues with performances with the likes of Fela Kuti, Ernest Ranglin, Roy Ayers, Tony Allen, Branford Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Pinse Saul, Queen Salawa, Abeni, Axelle Red, Kllb Band, Bola Are, Jean Toussaint, Tessa Souter.
 
Songs of Icon is a unique recording that draws it’s musical influences and inspiration from Santeria, an Afrocuban version of the spiritual system of the Yoruba, Ifa. The album is a double CD featuring remixes of most of the original songs by the top names in the broken beat/ leftfield scene; thereby targeting the world music and dance markets. Remixers include: Mark de Clive Lowe, Afronaut, Misa Negra, IG Culture and Le Pico.