KASERNE BASEL – ROSSSTALL
In Kooperation mit Culturescapes 2023 Sahara & Kaserne Basel
«Afropop»

Olufemi Sanyaolu a.k.a. Keziah Jones was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He left Nigeria at the age of eight to be educated in England at Millfield, a Public School in North London.
Keziah says, "I had to find a way out of all that, and music was it!" By the age of 13 he had discovered the old school piano, and taught himself how to play and write songs. Three years later, he picked up the guitar and began busking in London on the streets, clubs and underground/metro, all the while constantly having to avoid the police.
Moving between London and Paris and always accompanied by his guitar, Jones acquired a reputation as a unique musician and charismatic performer with a unique "hard funk" style. In 1992 he released his debut album Blufunk Is A fact including the first single and now classic, “Rhythm Is Love" which went on to be a global hit . Keziah has now releases six studio albums which have spawned more hits including ‘Where Is Life’, “A Million Miles From Home”, “Beautiful Emilie”, "Femiliarise""Kpafuca” and “1973”.
Keziah has cited Fela Kuti, Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix as important musical influences. His now legendry sound is described as “Blufunk”, which at its base is an infusion of punk-funk attitude crossed with Yoruba rhythms which he has evolved over the years As a true live artist, Keziah constantly performs shows and festivals around the world. 
He is currently working on his first live album, which he recorded in May in his hometown Lagos, with his long-term band consisting of McNasty, the late, Joey Grant and new edition, Alex ‘Beanz” Miller. He is also working on several musical projects including a long awaited seventh studio album and a collaboration with Philippe Cohen Solal entitled Class Of 89.
Keziah, who lives and works between two worlds, has always assessed the relationship between the northern and southern hemispheres in his art. “What I want to show the world is the modernity of post-colonial Africa, far from the image that the western world carries of a continent devastated by famine and/or war. I’m talking about young urban Africa. 25 million people live in Lagos! Modern contemporary African culture is a reality. Today, African culture has proven its vivacity in music with the burgeoning sound of Afrobeat, in fashion and art, all of which is nourished by the Diaspora.”