olaiwola with Goje

Yoruba House Project – Cultural Education Visit 2010

Am determined to help Olaiwola Sakara Group travel to Canada this summer to share their musical talents and Orisha blessings with us in the new world.

Olaiwola is my immediate younger brother, and  I have lots of respect for him, as he was called to the Orishas just as I was. “…..your late calling was destined..”, my mother said. Even though I had the Orisha (Umale) Aju on my head from birth, I could not speak.  Many offerings and rituals to the Orishas helped me to regain my voice at the age of 5. I am grateful that I can now use the same voice to sing praises of the bountiful blessings I do enjoy from Orisha work.

Olaiwola who did not suffer the same fate as I, was also called to the Orishas earlier in his life.  He is a master drummer, with over 30 years of experince, He plays GOJE, the traditional violin of the Yoruba people which very few traditional musicians can play today; He is the residence drummer and traditional performer for the King of Lagos  and the Oje Egungun cult in Epetedo Lagos Island. The more reason, I am  determined to help preserve this ancient musical tradition through my own brother. As a master drummer, Olaiwola plays the mother Yoruba drums such as: Sakara; Bata; Gangan (talking drum)  he also sings and chants.

Yoruba House Project – Cultural Education Visit is for the preservation of a culture that is fast eroding in Africa, and for cross cultural education in Canada. With this visit, we hope to showcase Yoruba drumming in and accross Ontario, and to tranfers some of the knowledge to Canadians through presentations and workshops.

The visit would present Prince bamidele Bajowa and Olaiwola Sakara Group performing traditional drumming, musical chants and songs of the orishas,  Egungun ancestral masked dance, Angere stilt walker, and Igunnu masquerade wherever we are called upon. We would teach Yoruba drum techniques and drum language at workshops and drum circles.

We would also present contemporary music of Juju, Highlife and Afrobeat along with Gospel songs.

drummingforegungun

playingsakaradrums

allofus

My tasks are to organize presentations, performances and book gigs with festivals and to help secure travel visas for Olaiwola and two other drummers.

To view sample video clips, or listen to my music please follow the link below

http://www.youtube.com/PrinceBamidele

http://www.youtube.com/princebamidele#p/a/u/2/kJ1lEhQyXIg

http://www.myspace.com/princebamidelemusic

FOR BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT

Prince Bamidele Bajowa

Yoruba House Project – Cultural Education Tour

Tel:416 704 6531

email: bamidelebajowa@gmail.com

Aju celebration Odojomo Quarters, Igbotako Osooro

December 2008 was a special time in Odojomo Osooro, Umale Aju was celebrated. For renewal of blessings for the community at large.

please follow this link to see photos of games

http://picasaweb.google.ca/bamidelebajowa/Sportsprog#