Metroland Online: “Chicago Afrobeat Project”

This article originally appeared on Metroland Online.

Club Helsinki, Saturday

Chicago world-music collective the Chicago Afrobeat Project bill themselves as “traditional Afrobeat meets ’70s funk,” celebrating the genres of music that became super popular in both Nigeria and in the United States in the ’60s and ’70s. The ever-morphing seven-to-14-piece lineup comprises a percussion section, guitars, keys, bass, and at some shows, even African dancers. Their self-titled debut disc was released last year to rave reviews; The Chicago Reader said, “In its tightly wound grooves, the group displays strong jazz sensibility a la electric Miles Davis.” This activist band lend their talents to events like World AIDS Day, when they recently played in tribute to Afrobeat founder Fela Kuti to benefit the foundation Journalists Against AIDS Nigeria. (Dec. 2, 9 PM, $10, 284 Main St., Great Barrington, Mass., 413-528-3394).

CAbP to Perform at Tribute to Fela in Brooklyn on World AIDS Day

Members of CAbP are excited to perform with other afrobeat bands at a tribute to Fela Kuti on Friday night, December 1, 2006. Brooklyn’s Northsix will host the event free of charge, and the event takes part on World AIDS Day. in the spirit of Fela’s late night performances, the show will be late-night at midnight. Money raised from the performance will benefitJournalists Against AIDS Nigeria (JAAIDS). The Northsix has donated the facilities and all performers have donated their time for the event. 100 percent of the money collected at the door is going to JAAIDS.

The bands and musicians involved all perform afrobeat music throughout the United States and abroad. As of November 13, the line-up consists of members from CAbP, Kokolo (New York), Chopteeth (DC) and Boston Afrobeat Society (Boston). More artists are expected be added.

JAAIDS is a media-based non-governmental HIV/AIDS prevention advocacy organization. JAAIDS constructs and implements innovative communication programs to help change behavior to reduce the spread of AIDS. According to UNAIDS, 5.4% of the population in Nigeria is infected with HIV. In addition, at least 270,000 Nigerian children are infected with HIV, and the country has the world’s highest number of AIDS orphans.

Last month Omololu Falobi, founder/executive director of JAAIDS, was killed in Nigeria from injuries sustained in an armed robbery operation on his way home in Alagbado. The robbers shot at him while trying to avoid the shoot-out. Falobi was on his way home from a speaking engagement where he addressed young entrepreneurs on the importance of social responsibility.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: Friday December 1, 2006
Time: Midnight
Location: Northsix 66 N. 6th Street, Brooklyn,NY11211
Web site: www.northsix.com
Cost: Suggested donation between $7-$10.
Restrictions: Open to the public
Confirmed Performers: www.chicagoafrobeatproject.com
www.kokoloonline.com
www.chopteeth.com
www.bostonafrobeat.com

Killed: Omololu Falobi, JAAIDS Founder and Executive Director

It is with deepest sympathies that we announce the death of Omololu Falobi, founder and executive director of Journalists Against AIDS Nigeria (JAAIDS), the non-profit organization that creates innovative communication programs to help combat AIDS in Lagos, Nigeria. Falobi was killed during an armed robbery on his way home from a speaking engagement to teenagers about social responsibility.

On a personal note, Omololu showed immense enthusiasm in partnering with Chicago Afrobeat Project from our very first email exchange. He worked dilligently with us to craft appropriate messages for our CD release party and ongoing communication at our performances.  We are further saddened that Omololu did not live to see CAbP’s largest donation to the organization which we contributed just days after his death (prior to hearing the news).

We look forward to working with the organization further and helping to promote Omololu’s vision for JAAIDS.