Babatunde Olatunji

Drums of Passion was the first album released by Babatunde Olatunji in 1960. Olatunji was a drummer, social activist and musician, born in Ajindo, Nigeria. In this album he has recaptured some of his early impressions in drum beats and giving them new zest. The African drum rhythms are not only musical melodies and songs but also ways of communication. For instance, the first track Akiwowo was the name of a train conductor who shouted his humorous cry against the fading rhythm of the freight train. Baba Jinde is a dance play and the title track Gin-Go-Lo-Ba was sampled by many contemporary artists (Santana and Fatboy Slim amongst others) and covered in 1979 by latin jazz / percussionist Candido for his disco chart smash Jingo. Drums of Passion is mainly a danceable album and often cited as one of the first African albums recorded in (the then called) stereophonic sound in the United States in 1960.