Dele Sosimi

Dele Sosimi, born in Hackney, London, and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, is a renowned Afrobeat musician, keyboardist, and composer. He was introduced to the music of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti during his youth, which led him to join Fela's Egypt '80 band in the early 1980s. As the band's rhythm keyboard player, Sosimi played on several classic Fela tracks, including "Perambulator" and "ITT." When Fela was imprisoned, his son Femi took over leadership, and Dele became the musical director of Egypt '80, later co-founding Femi Kuti & The Positive Force. In the mid-1990s, Dele returned to London and began fronting his own band, maintaining the Afrobeat tradition while incorporating jazz, funk, and other influences. His first solo album, *Turbulent Times*, was released in 2002, followed by *Identity* in 2007. Dele Sosimi continues to perform globally with his Afrobeat orchestra, lecturing on Afrobeat and Fela's legacy through his foundation and teaching roles. His recent work, *You No Fit Touch Am* (2015), exemplifies his commitment to keeping Afrobeat vibrant and relevant.