Gboyega
Akerele
CFCP
NEW VOICES
OF IRELAND
SERIES 8
Against The Odds 2:
Open Studios
Gboyega Akerele
Launched originally as Colours Afrobeat Foundation – ‘Boye PapaGee (Gboyega Akerele) is a Belgian/Nigerian (Yoruba) born drummer/percussionist, saxophonist, singer/song-writer, musical director/producer, cultural envoy and custodian, overseer and keeper of authentic, genuine Afrobeat in Ireland; he is the founder and leader of Colours Afrobeat a 12-piece Band, Ireland’s first and foremost multicultural Afrobeat band that premiered before a sold out audience at the Drogheda Arts Centre. With own tunes; the repertoire of songs are all original; culturally pro-active, consciously progressive in nature and the roots of the music is African blended with all the elements of West African music such as Juju music, Fuji/Apala music, and high-life music intermingled with funk and jazz with emphasis on chanted vocals in the form of call-and-response, intricate criss-crossing rhythm on the drums usually in the form of polyrhythmic percussion and all families of percussions such as Congas, Claves, Shekere, Akuba: a set of 2-3 piece small stick-hit Yoruba Congas that plays accompaniment/solos and ostinatos.
Bio
Gboyega PapaGee Akerele Gboyega ‘Papa Gee’ Akerele is a band-leader, singer/song writer, drummer/percussionist, and saxophonist born in Nigeria in West Africa.
‘Boye formed Odura Afro Jazz band in 1999. Odura an 8- piece band with its own original songs played in major cafes, cities and main festivals in Belgium and Holland. Odura African Jazz Band performed at the big stage in the ‘Gentse feesten’ 1999-a festival of world Culture and it was a huge success.
‘Boye moved to the Republic Of Ireland in January 2004 and Studied Music performance/sound technology at the Kylemore College in Dublin where he was awarded a FETAC level 5 certificate in Music performance & Sound technology in May/June 2005. Boye has an Higher National Diploma in Media Production and Music/Events Management from Balyfermot College of Further Education in Dublin-Ireland, he is also a graduate with B.A (Hons) in Music Entertainment and Arts Management from Buckinghamshire New University, United Kingdom.
His long years of experience as a freelance musician in different bands both in Nigeria and Europe inspired him into introducing a new and fresh sound in the Irish Jazz scene. After over a year of living in Drogheda-Ireland and being musically active, ‘Boye formed Colours Afro-beat Orchestra with friends and fellow musicians in 2005. After 3-months of intensive rehearsals, the band was ready to hit the stage with their music-if its groovy, if its Jazzy, that is Afro-beat!.
Colours Afro-beat Orchestra combines all the colours in the traditional West-African music from the 60’s in a compact modern form. Colours Afro-beat Orchestra was formerly launched at the Drogheda Arts Centre in April 2005 with support and cooperation of the Arts office of the Drogheda Borough council, Drogheda Partnerships, the society of St. Vincent de-Paul and the Drogheda Arts Centre-It was a success as the show was completely sold-out. Since the band’s launching ‘Boye (as fondly called by his friends and fellow musicians) and his 15-piece multi-national band has played club/festival gigs and also performed at the Drogheda Samba Festival in July 2005, as well as played the Main stage at Dun-Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures-Dublin in 2006-It was also a huge success.
Colours AfroBeat Orchestra was formed by Boye ‘PapaGEE’ with musicians from all over the world: Cote Calmet (Peru) on Drums, Frailan Moran (Cuba) on Congas, Jose Dominguez (Spain) on Bass, Julien Colarossi (Italy) on Guitar, Gianpiero Quartarone (Italy) on Trumpet, Segun Akano (Nigeria) on Drums, Gbenga Akinborewa (Nigeria) on Piano, Clare Carolan (Ireland) on Baritone Sax, Ronan O’Donell (Ireland) on Tenor sax, and Taiwo Wilson, Kenny Wilson, Joy Chinwego & Praise Chinwego on backing vocals (Nigeria).
Colours Afrobeat Orchestra is a fusion of American-Jazz, funk/soul, Hi-life, Rock & Roll and Reggae blended with heavy African/Latin/Cuban percussion rhythm-as long as it grooves, such that moves the body and soul- that’s Boye ‘PapaGEE’ & Colours Afro-beat Orchestra-the music makes perfect live sound for Festivals and live music venues, guaranteed to bring massive happiness as experienced by the Drogheda Samba Festival 2011 and Castlepalooza 2011 audiences in Tullamore respectively
My Work
This is the soundtrack I titled ASHE meaning AMEN – goodwishes for our journey in life. The world needs a lot of courage in this extraordinary times the world is living in right now and it’s a cool tune to inject some sunshine.
Find out more
To find out more information please click the link below.
CFCP New Voices of Ireland Series 8: The Work
Open Call
Call for submissions for visual arts and multidisciplinary projects by or involving migrant and culturally diverse artists for the Centre for Creative Practices’ 2025 programme
Deadline – 25/02/2024
Intro
The Centre for Creative Practices invites submissions from PROFESSIONAL migrant and culturally diverse artists and local artists working with culturally diverse artists for our 2025 visual arts and multidisciplinary programme. We especially welcome participatory, collaborative, multidisciplinary and experimental proposals by individual artists and collectives. All projects have to include an artist’s talk and a participatory workshop for audiences.
We are inviting project proposals for two strands of our programme:
- New Voices of Ireland Series
- Third Space
The
Programme
THE NEW VOICES OF IRELAND SERIES aims to offer broad audiences a unique chance to engage with high-quality work by selected migrant and culturally diverse artists of various disciplines.
THIRD SPACE – collaborative projects between migrant and culturally diverse artists
Artists’ fees, production and marketing costs will be covered, and curatorial and production support will be offered by CFCP for the selected project. Up to 10 projects will be selected.
How to
apply
Interested artists should submit ONE SINGLE PDF document containing the following information:
- Project/Exhibition proposal – 500 words max
- CV/History of artistic practice – max 1 A4 page
- 6 images of recent work – with titles and medium, where appropriate with dimensions
- Artistic workshop proposal
- Project budget
- Proposed timeline venue
Please submit your proposals via email to monika@cfcp.ie In the subject line please state: Programme proposal 2025, CFCP
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch via email monika@cfcp.ie or just give us a call at 086-6084020.
The submission deadline is Sunday – 25/02/2024. Late applications will not be accepted.
CFCP
CFCP is committed to professionally supporting, effectively showcasing and developing the talent of migrant artists, offering tailored artistic and capacity-building programmes, mentoring, and resources, and helping artists to access the local arts scene and build sustainable careers.
Migrant-centred and migrant-led, CFCP is acknowledged as a pioneer and catalyst for promoting cultural diversity, intercultural collaboration and exchange.
Join In
BACKGROUND TO THE NEW VOICES OF IRELAND SERIES
The New Voices of Ireland Series is a flagship project of integrative, cultural practice between migrant and local artists as well as audiences curated and presented by the Centre for Creative Practices.
The New Voices of Ireland Series aims to:
- Connect creative talent from new communities and various social groups from all over Ireland
- Give migrant and culturally diverse artists an opportunity to share their work and talent with a wide local and international audience
- Engage artists to express their views on social challenges and the role of culture in modern society through artistic practice
The New Voices of Ireland Series is kindly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Queries: If you have any questions, please contact monika@cfcp.ie or call 086-6084020
