Fresh from wowing audiences at this year's TradFest, Nigerian/Irish band Yankari will feature in a very special edition of RTÉ Radio 1's Arena this April.
RTÉ's arts showcase will host an Afrobeat special live from Studio 1 in the Radio Centre on Tuesday April 2nd, celebrating the popular - and rather infectious - West African musical sound.
Among the special guests on the night will be spoken word artist Dagogo Hart, Brazilian singer-songwriter Sara Yamit and guitarist Henrique Nunnes.
But the beating heart of the evening will be the 10-piece band that is Yankari. Hugely influenced by the King of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti, their Afrobeat sound combines rhythms, melodies and lyrics from the Yoruba and Igbo tribes of Nigeria.
Blending musical styles, like fuji, funk and highlife to create a 21 century groove, their leader is the charismatic Segun Akano, who along with his brother Michael began life in Ireland in Direct Provision - there he made contact with the African diaspora, which has in turn enriched his musical vision.
Afrobeat is much more than music - it is about culture, community and message.
Tune into Arena's Afrobeat special on RTÉ Radio 1 on Tuesday, April 2nd at 7pm, and listen to more from RTÉ Arena here.
