Sunday, July 27, 2003

LONG LIVE THE KING

As previously mentioned, I'm too old for outdoor music festivals. So, I was not at WOMAD this weekend. Good too as it sounded a wee bit damp on Saturday night.

Instead it was off to the comfy seat (but no leg room) of the Royal Festival Hall to see the legend of Nigerian music, King Sunny Ade. I remember seeing Sunny way back in the early 80s on TV when it was thought that African music would be hugely popular, sort of on the coattails of reggae. He was in the vanguard of African. The breakthrough never came, but African music is now part of the scene, albeit within the World Music niche.

I was quite excited to see King Sunny Ade, as I didn't realise he was still touring. As much as anything it was a colourful, lively, party atmosphere at the Festival Hall if slightly anarchic with the stewards barely coping with dancing in the aisles and everyone and their mother trying to take photos or video of the great man.

It may be an exaggeration, but it seemed like the whole of London's Nigerian population was there, mostly dressed the part. King Sunny came on stage with nicely pressed white trousers and sparkly black and gold baggy shirt. His huge band sported colourful Nigerian garb.

Outside it was miserably and rainy (good London July weather); inside, the stage was alive for 90 minutes and the audience did their best to follow suit. Ju-ju has a reputation as fun, dance music. That's exactly what we got. Superb fun.

:: Posted by pete @ 17:50