We have all experienced the consequences of our tendency to rush to judgment without having all the facts. This Afrobeat jam channels the legacy of the great Fela Kuti with its blaring horns, its fun, raucous energy, and its Afro-centric take on raw funk. The groove really took me over and inspired me to break out with some rap – in Nigerian Pidgin English, of course.

"Sometimes you take an unseen action, you take half-heard remarks/ and you construct a story – character, props, and plot/ you judge a situation with inadequate information/ you ain’t supposed to do that"

Conclusion

This track serves as a reminder that there is more to life than what we see and that there is One that transcends even our most trusted systems of understanding. We focused here on creating a dynamic sound that brought together some of my favorite influences, merging smooth Afro-jazz, contemporary soul, and the lyrical sharpness of spoken word poetry.

"What’s forecasted won’t necessarily happen/ don’t you judge by the clouds in the sky ’cause/ the environment could change in the blink of an eye/ some things the weatherman will never, ever know"

Weatherman

Sometimes we lose ourselves chasing after the wind, pursuing things that do not last.  Materialism, vanity, and compromised self-worth are all just the result of a loss of perspective, when we lose sight of our true destiny and purpose. On this track, we worked to strike a balance between the Afro-pop groove that drives the song forward and the fluid jazz-soul vocals that whisper like the elusive wind.

"See the wind slips through my fingers, money doesn’t always linger/ clothes get moths and food will rot/ but what I’ve got isn’t meaningless; this blessing will endure for eternity"

Chasing After The Wind

Efik Praise Medley

Edidem

Legitimate Child

Singer/songwriter Offiong Bassey is a soul, jazz and gospel fusion artist. As a first generation American-born Nigerian, her artistry fuses West African rhythms and American jazz with powerful vocals and harmonies to create a sound that is fresh and exciting. 
 
As a child, Offiong began to see her name, which means "God’s Moon," as a call to reflect the creator’s light through story and song. Inspired by many musical traditions and teachers--including her grandmother, who sang traditional Efik songs that passed down the richness of her culture--Offiong's style is influenced by a range of artists from Angelique Kidjo and Fela Kuti, to Lauryn Hill and Jonathan Butler.
 
Offiong's music has garnered praise from diverse audiences as far as South Africa, to Boston's GreenFest and Washington, DC. Her debut album, Offiong Bassey, is a genre-bending mix of African rhythms, funk, jazz and American R&B that debuted at number 2 on the #CMJ New World Music chart. To purchase it, visit iTunes and Amazon.

Offiong Bassey

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