Funmilayo

Formed of 11 black Brazilian women and non-binary people, the Funmilayo Afrobeat Orquestra began through a collective frustration over the lack of representation of black women in Afrobeat, a primarily black genre. Funmilayo, their debut album, is a nod to Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti, an educator and women's rights activist in Nigeria, mother to Fela Kuti, the widely-accepted founder of the Afrobeat genre.

The record's fusion is evident in the horns and playful, samba-like tonalities; ‘Ondina’, with its impressive combination of timbres, blends deep, powerful vocals with a multitude of percussive sounds, including the cuíca (laughing gourd); ‘Foz’ brings in staccato jazz piano riffs and brass hooks over tight rhythms and intricate instrumental passages; ‘Aaliyah’ slips into a more laid-back groove, similar in style to the likes of Kokoroko, gentle vocals adding soul and emotion to the mix. The entire album is performed with a distinctive energy and flair, and is a great introduction to the band and their unique sound. This debut is a powerful and bold statement; a unique dialogue between Afrobeat from West Africa and Brazilian music from the African diaspora.