Atlanta, USA – Nigerian percussionist and Afro-Jazz artist, Adeyemi Adebesin, known as YemiConga, is more than just a musician; he’s a cultural ambassador. His infectious rhythms and dedication to preserving African drumming traditions have propelled him from his Nigerian roots to international stages. Now, with an upcoming album and a major music festival in the works, YemiConga’s dream of using music to bridge cultures is gaining momentum.
Q: How did your journey as a percussionist and Afro-Jazz artist begin, and how has it evolved?
A: As a percussionist and afro-jazz artist, it has been a wonderful experience to continue doing what I love to do, which is teaching on how to play congas and other African drums, recording, and performing. I have kept to my African jazz sound for a while, but I am planning to lean more into fusion in my upcoming album in 2024.
Q: How did living in different countries like South Africa and the USA influence your music and cultural perspective?
A: The language, culture, and just the experience of living in a new country, especially South Africa, where I became a professional musician, shaped my sound, approach to music, and building on top of my exposure to music from Nigeria, this continues to be a great influence on my music career.
Q: You see music as a tool for cultural diplomacy. How have you experienced this in your career?
A: In my experience, music acts as a catalyst for positive diplomatic relations. Cultural exchanges facilitated by music allow individuals to engage with foreign cultures in a non-threatening, enjoyable manner, leading to deeper connections and appreciation for one another’s heritage. Additionally, initiatives that use music education as a means to bridge cultural gaps and promote cross-cultural understanding have shown remarkable success in fostering relationships between different societies and countries.
Q: Collaborating with artists from various countries must have shaped your musical style. Can you share some experiences?
A: I have collaborated with artists from different countries; these collaborations not only shaped me as an artist, but also contributed to the evolution of my music and genre. They create opportunities for me to experiment, leading to the birth of entirely new styles or sub-genres that carry the essence of multiple cultures but i make sure my Yoruba culture, which i am rooted in, is dominant and resonates in my music
Q: Performing at prestigious festivals like Jazz in the Alley (USA) and Standard Bank Joy of Jazz (South Africa) must have been incredible. How did they contribute to your growth?
A: I have always had dreams of playing/performing in front of thousands of people as either a session musician or an artist. I have experienced both now, which means my dreams have come to pass, but performing as an artist has just started, and the journey is to infinity. Performing at festivals gives me the push I need to keep growing in music, keeping in mind that there is more music to be recorded, shared, and performed for my fans and beyond.
Q: As someone who teaches African drums globally, what impact do you hope to make in preserving and promoting African musical traditions?
A: My hope from teaching African drums globally is the cultural preservation of African drums, global appreciation, community building and cross-cultural understanding
Q: How do you balance infusing traditional African drums into modern music while maintaining authenticity and respect for the cultural heritage?
A: Music and sounds keep evolving, so in order to stay relevant, I need to evolve. In order to keep my sound, culture and authenticity intact, i always find a creative way to fuse my congas and other African drums into my music, not forgetting my authentic Nigerian accent too “laughs”
Q: What challenges and memorable moments have you encountered while spreading the love of African drums?
A: One of the major challenge i have faced is finding sponsorship to execute and continue spreading the gospel of African drums but with the little resources and every little opportunity that comes my way, i continue to spread the history and love of playing African drums
Q: What exciting projects are you currently working on, and what future endeavors do you have in mind?
A: Currently, I am working on my second album, which I am very excited about. It’s going to be a blend of sounds with African jazz, world music, and my drums in the mix. I want people to dance, and I will deliver that music for them to dance to this year. I am also working on a major music festival, “Baawa Music Festival,” coming up later this year in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. It will be an exciting one for me, the Egba people, Nigerian’s, my fans around the world, national and international music lovers, and art and culture enthusiasts around the world.
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring musicians navigating the international music scene?
A: My advice to aspiring musicians is to continue putting good music out there and make use of the evolution of social media to connect with organizations or individuals that have the connection to take you to where you want to be in the local and international music scene, but make sure you are always ready at all times for opportunities that might come your way.