When: Sat., Nov. 9, 9 p.m. 2019 Price: $15 Advance / $18 Day of Show
Vocalist, songwriter, and master bass player Baba Ken Okulolo has been keeping people happy with his charismatic showmanship and deep knowledge of African rhythms since he helped kick off the Bay Area’s world music scene with his band Kotoja in 1985. Okulolo fell in love with the East Bay after passing through with the bands of Sunny Adé and O. J. Ekemode and, after the success of Kotoja, he began exploring the other sounds he grew up with in Nigeria. With the encouragement of Ashkenaz’s late founder, David Nadel, he created the West African Highlife Band, intent on introducing the sounds of highlife and other West African rhythms to the Bay Area and beyond. The band regularly sells out the club, so get there early and bring your dancing shoes.