DOB: 15th May 1960
Further Education:
1991-92: Northern School of Film & Television, Leeds. PG Film-production 1990-91: Central St. Martin’s School of Arts and Design. Advance Diploma in film and Video
Recent Work:
In July 2022, I co- composed and performed the ʻCall to gather’ song for the opening ceremony for the 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham UK.
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The Birmingham Music Archive commissioned Lekan Babalola to write and record an original song that responded to the word Birmingham as part of the On Record album, ʻa sonic love letter to Birmingham’, as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival.
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In February 2022, I participated in the Roots of Jazz at the Congo Square New Orleans with Jason Marsalis-Drummer.
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In 2020, Lekan co-founded the BJF Creative Ensemble, to provide an alternative learning ground for young Birmingham based artists, which is cross arts cross genre and performance based and draws on Yoruba Arts and Culture as a stimulus.
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It offers the young artists an opportunity to: learn about one another’s work, collaborate – virtually- with one another and create their own work.
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BJFCE is linked to the Birchfield Jazz Festival (www.birchfieldjazzfestival.com), in order to bring young talent into the North Birmingham and celebrate the young talent that originates in Birmingham.
In July 2019. I conceived an idea, research, developed, performed and produced series of concert on The JOURNEY OF HAND AND STICKS DRUMS, live streamed concert the concert Birmingham studio, featuring world-class percussionists.
Presented a comprehensive journey of Black musical heritage from Yorubaland, Africa to the New World, celebrating shared cultural beliefs and musical grooves through an interwoven timeline of traditional music with a contemporary twist.
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In 2015, he co-founded the annual BIRCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL www.birchfieldjazzfestival.com as a celebratory weekend of free music in Birmingham.
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In 2012, I established a The Lekan Babalola’s Sacred Funk Project to bring a style, sophistication, African Diaspora sound and warmth that I find uplifting to work with and which, I feel, deserves an opportunity explore new musical material and raise their level of understanding of the musical genre.
In 2011, received a research grant from Arts Council England, to develop a stage play new stage project, THE KALAKUTIANS, a new stage work.
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We have recently secured Arts Council funding to undertake initial R&D with writer Oladipo Agboluaje to workshop the draft script this spring 2012, with a view to raising funds to tour THE KALAKUTIANS nationally across five venues in the UK.
In 2008, I established The Lagos based Eko Brass Band, in order to nurture and develop young Nigerian musicians, assisting them in their musical development, offering them performance opportunities and celebrating their knowledge and skills in their own musical culture of Faaji music, as well as recognising their links to the African Diaspora e.g., New Orleans Second Line Brass Bands.
The band is a 12 piece, consisting of 3 marching drummers and 1 sakara/ talking drummer, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba player and a Jazz percussionist. ʻErindinlogun’ – The commission of 28 textiles exploring the stories of the female divination process, created by Nigerian based artist and batik maker Taiwo Adediran. The exhibition is now complete and ready to tour. ʻTales of Diaspora’ – An album produced by The KLLB Band. I collaborated with classical clarinetist Kate Luxmoore on this acting as Producer, Musician and Composer. As a result of this album, I have made connections with artists, writers and filmmakers to create a series of stories reflecting the musical journey depicted on the album, through the Yoruba Diaspora.
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These stories range from Cuba to Brazil, North America to the UK and reflect the contemporary expression of Yoruba influenced music and art. Art Curator Work: 2018 YORUBA SONNETS (onwards) This is my recent artistic collaboration YORUBA SONNETS. It pairs spoken word poetry and mime DR. OLU TAIWO with live music from LEKAN BABALOLA’s SACRED FUNK SEXTET
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2019 : Ogun Meets Osun Created a free-standing pyramid , an art installation with Nick Drew Sculptor/Fine Artist and performances with poetry to Afro-beats and jazz funk dance overtones.
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2020 Co-founded the Birmingham Jazz Radio www.birminghamjazzradio.com) in Birmingham 2016 Curator for procession of the Lagos @ 50 commemoration
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2016: Participated in Slanguages a project,which explored world languages and linguistic diversity in the creative arts. Slanguages was part of a wider four-year research project, Creative Multilingualism/CML, funded by the Arts and Humanities