Moses Ekebusi & his uplifting & reviving diverse music
A mixture of African, Afro-Caribbean & Western music styles.
To book the musical performance, contact us using the contact details.
Below are some samples of the Egwundu music. Click on them to play.
SURELY YOU WILL MAKE IT
LIVE TOGETHER
NJIKOTA (Unity)
MY RIGHT
TROUBLE MAKER
FEEL ALRIGHT
LIFE UNDER AFRICAN MOONLIGHT
GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED (Save The Nature)
AFROLIVE
AFROREGGAE
WILL IS THE WAY
AFRICA OYE!
GRANNY'S RHYTHM
COME LET'S SAVE THE LIFE
- Akuko Igwe na Ala. (The story of the Sky and the Earth) This is an Igbo traditional musical rhythm.
- Egwundu. (This is an Igbo traditional musical rhythm).
- Surely You Will Make It. (Calypso).
- Give Them What They Need. (This music calls for saving the nature).
The picture accompanying this music is a photograph of trees in Utuabo, a sacred forest at the outskirts of Umudim Ngodo Isuochi, Abia State, Nigeria.
More of the Egwundu music includes the following:
1. ‘Rhythm of Yesterday’ (This is an Igbo traditional musical rhythm).
Ike Ejiri Mara. (Infamous power).
‘Keep Music Going’ (Fusion);
‘The natural Rhythm’ (This is an Igbo traditional musical rhythm);
‘Divine Love’ (Reggae);
‘Search You Will Get’ (Funk).
If you buy ‘Surely You Will Make it’ the rest of the music will come free in the same CD album. The CD album is ‘One Voice’.
- 2 ‘Afrolive’, ‘Keep on grooving’ (Fusion of reggae with African rhythm);
- ‘The Great Law’ (Fusion of reggae with African rhythm).
If you buy ‘Give Them What They Need’, the rest of the music will come free in the same CD album. The CD album is ‘Save The Nature'.
The History of Egwundu Music
Egwundu, meaning music of life has its root from the ancient Igbo (Ibo) spiritual musical rhythm. Right from the beginning, just like generations, different forms of Igbo musical rhythms evolved and faded, giving way to new forms which in turn faded with time. Among the musical rhythms were eyeghe, ikoro, edere, ubo, ekwe ebi, ngelenge, abia and igbaogwurugwu. Infact, Igbaogwurugwu, the powerful, uplifting and evocative musical rhythm is the forefather of today’s musical rhyths such as mkpokiti and Atirogwu (Atilogwu).
Although some of the rhythms faded, they did not die out quickly. Some of them lasted up to the time Moses and his age group were children and they witnessed their fathers and grandfathers performing the rhythms, encouraging them to learn. It is the experience that became the backbone of the Egwundu musical rhythm. The rhythm is similar to the ancient one and has the same attraction and spiritual influence.
Moses performs the Egwundu as a solo artist. The musical instruments that give the sound of the music include: igba, djembe, conga, ogele, ekwe, udu, oyo and oja. Moses puts some of the sounds of the instruments in a backing track to complement the sound of the ones he plays as he sings, chants and dances. As he performs, the uplifting, evocative and shamanic musical sound transmits its hypnotic and therapeutic effect on him and his audience. the climax of the music becomes a vehicle which takes one to a realm beyond the physical world.
The musical rhythm is a foundation upon which Moses developed Egwundu music fusion which he also performs as a solo artist. The fusion is a fusion of African and western music.
In addition, Moses plays djembe and conga, creating soulful sound and peaceful atmosphere that enhance people’s relaxation and improve their mood and well-being. This calming and therapeutic rhythm is in high demand by people for banquet and relaxing event.
Many people accessed the Egwundu Music and expressed how it made their programmes a success. Among these people were:
- England Football Association. They booked the music performance in their conference for their celebration and for promotion of their campaign ‘England Against Racism’.
- York Music, Food and Drink Festival. York booked the music performance to enhance their promotion of diversity and festival.
- Bradford Festival and Mela. Bradford booked the Egwundu music to add colour to the community festival and attract tourism.
- Interfaith organisation. The organisation booked the music to bring different groups together for celebration of their achievements.
- The music was also used to bring together people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds in the UK to celebrate the visit of Nelson mandela (a great African stateman) to Leeds in 2001. Moses ypost, Mandela, May 2001.
