Art’s Own Kind: Afrobeat & The Art Of Lemi Ghariokwu

This celebration of Lemi Ghariokwu’s work just keeps on growing as the Afrobeat community worldwide continue to tune in. Along with his own artworks at Rich Mix expect to find Lemi collaborating with local artists and in the company of fellow Afrobeat practitioners - Tony Allen, Wumni and Dele Sosimi.

The art of Lemi Ghariokwu cannot be detached from the radical Pan Africanist perspectives of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s lyrics and music. Their art was created within the harsh realities of life in Nigeria – repression and corruption were (still are) the order of the day. The stance they took was a hazardous one and Fela more than paid the price – his mother died from injuries sustained after being thrown from a window by government troops who raided the Kalakuta Republic.

Art’s Own Kind: Afrobeat & The Art Of Lemi Ghariokwu is part of the Bass Festival and opens at Rich Mix in London on Monday 9 June. It celebrates the visual representation of a culture of resistance and is essential viewing for a generation who came into being in the wake of the Black Power movement in the US and the African liberation struggles in South Africa, Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Lemi Ghariokwu’s working relationship with Fela spanned 19 years and 26 powerful and memorable album covers. They met in 1974 and became collaborators and friends. As the news editor for YAP (Young African Pioneers) he was responsible designing two cartoons a week depicting and criticizing what was happening in Nigeria plus he became involved in making ’subversive’ posters which were subsequently banned. By frequenting the Kalakuta Republic and The Shrine, by working there and assimilating the ideology espoused by Fela, Lemi extended and confirmed his commitment to a Pan Africanist perspective.

Today, Lemi is an established artistic presence in Nigeria and his reputation extends to Ghana, Cameroon and beyond. He continues to produce sculpture, paintings, graphic works and magazine paste-ups. Regular visitors to his studio include local dons like Ras Kimono, Charlie Boy, Shina Peters, Sunny Ade, Alhaji Kollington, Evi Edna Ogosi, The Mandators, Majek Fashek and Alex O.

One of the highlights of Art’s Own Kind will be the Edge09 Forum - AFROBEAT: A CULTURE. This lunch-time session for all Afrobeat headz unites a stellar panel on 10 June that includes Lemi Ghariokwu, Tony Allen (Afrobeat Master drummer), Rich Medina (Jump’n'Funk NYC), Wunmi (Afrobeat Queen), Dele Sosimi (Egypt 80). This is an open session that reaches across generations and aims to assess the global impact of Afrobeat – a culture of creativity and resistance.

Paul Bradshaw / Straight No Chaser

Art’s Own Kind: Afrobeat & The Art Of Lemi Ghariokwu 8 June – 6 July www.richmix.org.uk
Edge09 Afrobeat Forum Weds 10 June 12.30-2.30pm
All events are free

Part of BASS 09 British Arts And Street Sounds Festival www.bassfestival.co.uk
www.myspace.com/ghariokwulemi

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// ALSO

• Tony Allen
• Seun Kuti Interview - October 2007
• Black Man’s Cry - The Inspiration Of Fela Kuti
• Tony Allen, Afrobeat ace
• Seun Kuti and Fela’s Egypt 80 live at Cargo
• DJ Floro, Chart
• Rich Medina and Bobbito, Rich Medina and Bobbito // The Connection
• Joe Bataan & James Pants live at Cargo 11 June plus dates in Leeds and Birmingham
• Live and direct from Bogota La 33 play COLOMBIANAMENTE Sunday 19 July



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