Babatunde Olatunji

Bio:

Babatunde Olatunji was a renowned percussionist and music educator born in Ajido, Nigeria. Blending traditional Nigerian rhythms with elements from Ghanaian and Afro-Caribbean music, Olatunji is credited for being one of the first musicians to bring African music to Western audiences en masse. His debut album Drums of Passion (1959) was the first known album of traditional West Africa drumming and chants to be recorded in the United States. In addition to his career as a performer and recording artist, Olatunji led drum and dance workshops both nationally and internationally, teaching at colleges, universities, and cultural organizations; and composed for film and theatre.