Soji and the Afrobeat Band

Making his debut as a leader of his own band and celebrating the release of his CD, “In the Flow,” Nigeria’s legendary guitar master and singer Adesoji “Soji” Odukogbe was, among other things, the lead guitarist for the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s groundbreaking Afrobeat band. Odukogbe draws on an extensive background in Nigerian Afrobeat, highlife, and spiritual music, bringing a unique sensibility to his highlife guitar interpretations. He has become well-known since moving to the Bay Area, where he is a member of the West African Highlife Band, Babá Ken & Afrobeat ConneXion, Kotoja, and the Nigerian Brothers. With an ensemble featuring bass, guitars, drums, and a full horn section, Soji and the Afrobeat Band set the dance floor afire with a churning, polyrhythmic style that he simply calls, “authentic original Afrobeat” in a world of endless Afro-fusions. Most of the music comes from his new CD, full of Odukogbe’s original songs and arrangements, “except for a few of Fela’s that I will perform on stage only.”