Afropop Worldwide

In association with Move Forward Music, the Lagos-based Palmwine Festival celebrating Nigeria’s nascent alternative music scene returned to Central Park Summerstage on August 17. The promotion said, “Founded by the Nigerian rap duo Show Dem Camp—whose sound is indebted to the Ghanaian genre Highlife, fusing African meter and western jazz melodies—the fest this year features the Cavemen, a highlife duo comprising the siblings Kingsley Okorie (bass) and Benjamin James (drums). Their latest LP Love and Highlife is a rumination on culture, community, and humanity that features trumpeter Etuk Ubong and Made Kuti, the multi-instrumentalist son of Afrobeats legend Femi Kuti.”

Show Dem Camp were promoting their new somewhat darkly named new album, No Love in Lagos, but the mood of the evening, despite a few bouts of rain, was decidedly upbeat. The evening began with a succession of vocalists singing and rapping over tracks. These included Tomilola, Nesta and DAP the Contract, recently interviewed for afropop.org. Next came a standout act from last year’s Palm Wine Festival, Dipo. Dipo has a terrific live band that covers a huge range of styles from blues to reggae to Afrobeats. Dipo’s husky Toots-Hibbert-like voice is arresting, especially in the reggae zone.

Show Dem Camp wound up the crowd with punchy Lagos rap. But the promised palm wine kick came with the Cavemen, whose deep grooves and sweet vocal harmonies brought the joy, to quote a popular phrase these days.

The Afropop crew was on hand and loving it. Here are a few photo memories of a great August day in the park.

Photos by Banning Eyre