Babatunde Olatunji
AfrobeatsActive
Biography
Babatunde Olatunji (1927–2003) was a groundbreaking Nigerian musician and educator from Ajido who became one of the first African musicians to achieve mainstream recognition in the United States. His 1959 debut album 'Drums of Passion' introduced American audiences to Yoruba drumming and influenced musicians from the Grateful Dead to Carlos Santana. He spent decades teaching African music and philosophy across America.
