African music

Ikenga Drummers

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polski

Fot. Press

The name of the band comes from the Igbo language, which is spoken by one of Nigerian nations. It means the Guardian Ghost – a ghost which every human being possesses. Nigeria is the country where the founder and composer - Larry Okey Ugwu comes from.

Ikenga Drummers is a band founded in December 1997 in Sopot.

Group, except founders consist of Slavs by birth, perform ethnic music which is a combination of traditional African and Polish rhythms and elements of high life, rock and afro jazz. The musicians define their music as "elelekulele music". Ikenga Drummers is a several-member big band: drummers, dancers, guitar players, a saxophonist, a keyboard player and singers. Their music is arranged in such a way that it is not based on individualities. Every instrument has its own specific place and function thanks to which one great, unique rhythm with remarkable harmony can be created. Gospel songs from West Africa and Polish folk songs based on trance drum rhythms are their basic inspiration.

Ikenga is an interesting band as 80% of their instruments are self-produced. The artists use many original instruments which are not popular in this part of the world. The musicians organize workshops where they teach how to construct instruments, how to play those instruments and how to dance Afro Dance. From time to time they present on stage a fervent, exotic dance show performed by their students.

The songs of Ikenga are sung in the Igbo dialect as well as in English and Polish. Most of the lyrics praise the Highest Creator, God Almighty, expressed with full optimism and joy of life. The band performs in colorful, African traditional clothes. This is why their concerts are a unique experience - lively and full of energy. They cause a real fire among the audience and their music shakes the Heavens and the Earth.

Ikenga Drummers has released several music materials recorded in the studio of Radio Gdańsk. The first one comes from the year 2000 and the second one, with such excellent musicians as: Janusz Mackiewicz (bass guitar), Leszek Możdżer (piano) and Przemek Dyakowski (saxophone) was recorded in January 2002. In 2005, Ikenga released their first official album recorded in the Radio Gdansk studio, entitled “Lustereczko”.