Babatunde Olatunji
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Babatunde Olatunji, also known as Baba Olatunji, was a Nigerian drummer, percussionist, recording artist, educator and social activist. He is best known for helping introduce traditional West African drumming and chants to Western audiences. His official website describes him as a Grammy Award-winning virtuoso drummer, producer, educator and recording artist who rose to prominence in the late 1950s.
His most important album is Drums of Passion, released in 1959/1960, a landmark recording of African percussion and chanting. Important songs and pieces connected with him include “Jin-Go-Lo-Ba,” “Akiwowo,” “Oya,” “Shango,” “Kiyakiya,” and “Baba Jinde.” Apple Music and Spotify both highlight Drums of Passion as a central release in his catalogue.
Musically, he is associated with African drumming, world music, traditional Yoruba rhythms, percussion music and African roots music. He is known because Drums of Passion became one of the most influential African percussion albums in the West, inspiring jazz, world-music and popular musicians and helping make African rhythm a major influence in global music culture.
