Babatunde Olatunji facts for kids

Babatunde Olatunji, second from right, at the Tal Vadya Utsav International Drums & Percussion Festival in New Delhi, 1985.

Michael Babatunde Olatunji (born April 7, 1927 – died April 6, 2003) was a famous Nigerian drummer. He was also a teacher, a social activist, and a recording artist. He helped introduce African music to many people around the world.

Early Life and Dreams

Babatunde Olatunji was born in a small village called Ajido in Nigeria. He was part of the Ogu people. His name, Bàbátúndé, means 'father has returned'. This is because he was born shortly after his father passed away. People believed he was a new version of his father.

His father was a fisherman who was going to become a village leader. His mother was a potter. Babatunde grew up speaking both the Gun and Yoruba languages. His grandmothers were priestesses, which means they led religious ceremonies.

From a young age, Babatunde was expected to become a chief like his father. But when he was 12, he decided he wanted a different path. He read about a scholarship program in a magazine. He applied and won a scholarship to study in the United States. In 1950, he moved to America to attend college.

Education and First Steps in Music

Olatunji went to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He wanted to sing in the college choir, but he never did. He became good friends with the choir director, Dr. Wendell P. Whalum. They worked together on a Nigerian Christmas carol called "Betelehemu." This song became very popular with the choir.

After Morehouse, he studied public administration at New York University. To earn some money, he started a small drumming group. This was the beginning of his amazing music career.

A Career in Music

In 1958, a big record company called Columbia Records signed Olatunji. They heard him play with a large orchestra. A year later, he released his first album, Drums of Passion. This album was a huge success. It helped many Americans discover world music. His band was also named Drums of Passion.

Olatunji became popular with jazz musicians. He mixed Nigerian rhythms with sounds from Ghana and the Caribbean. He became close friends with the famous jazz musician John Coltrane. Together, they started the Olatunji Center for African Culture in Harlem. Coltrane even named a song "Tunji" after him.

Olatunji played with many other famous musicians. These included Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, and Carlos Santana. In 1969, Carlos Santana had a big hit song called "Jin-go-lo-ba." This song was a cover of a track from Olatunji's first album.

Olatunji continued to release many albums. Some of his later works include Drums of Passion: The Invocation and Love Drum Talk. He also worked on projects like Planet Drum with Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead.

Music for Movies and Plays

Olatunji also composed music for movies and plays. He created music for the Broadway play and 1961 film Raisin in the Sun. His music helped make the stories even more powerful.

In 1986, he helped create the music for Spike Lee's film, She's Gotta Have It. He worked with musician Bill Lee on the soundtrack. This showed how he could mix traditional African sounds with modern music. His work on this film also showed his support for new artists.

Activism and Teaching

Olatunji was known for speaking out about social justice. He believed in fairness for everyone. His autobiography, The Beat of My Drum, talks about his beliefs. He even toured with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the American South. He also joined King in the historic march on Washington.

Once, he performed for the United Nations General Assembly. The Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, was so moved that he took off his shoes and danced! Olatunji was also one of the first foreign artists to perform in Prague.

Olatunji was a dedicated music teacher. He created a special way to teach drum patterns. He called it the "Gun-Dun, Go-Do, Pa-Ta" method. He taught drum and dance workshops for many years. He taught at colleges, universities, and cultural groups all over the world.

He also co-wrote a book called Musical Instruments of Africa. He taught summer drumming and dance courses with his wife. He shared his knowledge at places like the Omega Institute and the Esalen Institute.

Later Life and Legacy

In the late 1980s, Olatunji's career saw a new rise. He released more albums like Olatunji - Drums of Passion, The Invocation. In 1991, his album Planet Drum with Mickey Hart won a Grammy Award. This album was number one on Billboard's World Music Album chart for a long time.

Olatunji toured a lot in the 1990s. He performed at many different events, from peace universities to cathedrals. He also continued his educational workshops. In 1997, his album "Love Drum Talk" was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Babatunde Olatunji passed away in 2003, one day before his 76th birthday. He had been suffering from diabetes. He left behind his wife, three children, and seven grandchildren. His music and teachings continue to inspire people around the globe.

Awards

• In 1991, Olatunji's album Planet Drum won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album. This was the first time this award was given.
• He was added to the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2001.

Discography

Albums

• Drums of Passion (Columbia, 1959)
• Zungo! (Columbia, 1961)
• Flaming Drums (Columbia, 1962)
• High Life! (Columbia, 1963)
• Drums!, Drums!, Drums! (Roulette, 1964)
• Soul Makossa (Paramount, 1973)
• Dance to the Beat of My Drum (Bellaphon, 1986)
• Drums of Passion: The Invocation (Rykodisc, 1988)
• Drums of Passion: The Beat (Rykodisc, 1989)
• Drums of Passion: Celebrate Freedom, Justice & Peace (Olatunji, 1993)
• Drums of Passion and More (Bear Family, 1994)
• Babatunde Olatunji, Healing Rhythms, Songs and Chants (Olatunji, 1995)
• Love Drum Talk (1997, Chesky)
• Drums of Passion [Expanded] (2002)
• Olatunji Live at Starwood (2003)
• Healing Session (2003, Narada)
• Circle of Drums (2005, Chesky)

Videography

• Olatunji and His Drums of Passion (Video) (1986)
• Love Drum Talk (Video) (1998)
• African Drumming (Instructional video) (2004)
• Olatunji Live at Starwood (DVD) (2005)

See also

• Polyrhythm