"Voices Of Africa" Perform "Akiwowo" @ 40th Street Summer Series, July 13, 2019

The 40th Street Summer Series is a beloved concert and dance series that happens once a month, May through September (though shortened to June-August this year). These events are promoted heavily by University City District and Penn. https://www.universitycity.org/40th-street-summer-series.

"Voices Of Africa" was the headliners of this event in company with Netos de Kansala and Tyehimba/Camara Arts.

This musical selection is called, "Akiwowo", Chant to The Trainman. It is VOA's rendition of the familiar song brought to us by Babatunde Olatunji, from Nigeria, West Africa. Baba Olatunji came to the US in the 60's and he taught many the African percussion rhythms and songs, one of his star pupils was Santana who later recorded "Akiwowo" with Babatunde on his album Babatunde Olatunji ‎– Dance To The Beat Of My Drum
https://www.discogs.com/Babatunde-Olatunji-Dance-To-The-Beat-Of-My-Drum/master/298299
AKIWOWO (CHANT OF THE TRAINMAN) http://www.originals.be/en/originals/82
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VoWJW6vIJM
Drums of Passion is an album released by Nigerian percussionist Babatunde Olatunji in 1960. Unquestionably, it was the first recording to popularize African music in the west,[3] becoming immensely successful and selling over five million copies.[4] In 2002, it was released as a single layer stereo and 5.1 SACD by Columbia Records. In 2004 the album was added to the National Recording Registry.[5]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drums_of_Passion
https://www.slideshare.net/nanabaakan/voices-of-africa-west-african-cultural-music-workshop

VOA as an organization , has been around some 40 years. We have traveled the continental expanse of the USA; appeared in Canada, Jamaica, London, Hawaii, and Ghana. VOA started out as a children's ensemble. VOA has now become an "African Cultural Arts Collective" that works with a variety of committed African Cultural Artist from around the Diaspora. Many of these artists are actively involved in the arts through dance, singing or drumming and lend their time to VOA to give it the professionalism, style and power that comes from well-seasoned artists in the field. VOA is exploring its expansion and enjoying the new faces; the new energy; the new excitement and has over the past years been demonstrating this to our audiences nationwide. And while we are not primarily an All Women's Ensemble anymore, we are able to gather up enough women to do a presentation when that is requested. VOA shares the power and joy of its music, which spans the African Diaspora, through traditional African and African American songs, message music, gospel, inspirational and healing percussion rhythms.

VOA is available for performances worldwide. Web: www.voicesofafrica.net Email: nanabaakan@voicesofafrica.net

Photo Credits: Ben Tran Photography
Videography: Latanya McKelven