Ajo Rebirth

Wura Samba (Wura meaning ‘gold’ in Yoruba) from Nigeria and his nine-piece “drumming and percussion” band return with Ajo Rebirth, aptly named, as many tracks were previously recorded with just vocals and percussion. Now they are reborn, enriched by a full ensemble of horns, rhythm guitar, bass, drums and an array of Yoruba percussion, including dundun, batá, sekere, agogô and Wura’s own invention – the sambabe, a set of eight square samba drums. Recorded live, the album is bursting with energy, but two standout tracks – incidentally also the longest – steal the show. ‘IBA ELEDUA’, clocking in at eight and a half minutes, is steeped in Afrobeat, with bold horn riffs, wah-wah guitar, and call-and-response vocals. A thundering drum voice, strikingly prominent in the mix, occasionally cuts through the canopy of relentless percussion adding thrilling intensity. ‘ IGBA’ (seven minutes) highlights the band’s Afro-folklore fusion; beginning with a talking drum solo before settling into a brass-heavy groove reminiscent of Kokoroko, it’s carried by Wura’s storytelling verses before a full jazz break emerges at the four-minute mark, featuring trumpet and flute solos over intricate jazz drumming. It seems Wura Samba and band thrive best when given the time and space on a track to explore, delivering a rich soundscape which evolves in exciting directions.