Yaaba Funk

Yaaba Funk are a Hi-Life/Afro-beat explosion.

A product of Brixton and influenced by 1970’S Ghanaian hi-life, funky sounds of James Brown and UK sounds like Roots Manuva and The Specials.

A floor-filling extravaganza combining the tightest rhythm section this side of Accra, fat analogue basslines, blazing horns, sparkling African and gritty rock guitars.

The core members of Yaaba Funk met on the London African drum and dance scene in the 1990s where together they learned from master musicians from

Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Brazil and South Africa.

They have built up a loyal fan base across London with their exuberant live shows and count amongst their supporters industry luminaries such as the Shrine’s Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt, DJ Ritu (BBC Radio London), DJ Russ Jones (Future World Funk), Miles Cleret (Soundway), Erik Soul(Afrogroo) and Koichi Sakai (Afrobeat Vibration).

Since forming Yaaba Funk have appeared at the Barbican as part of African musician's tribute to James Brown, the main stage at Shambala Festival, Rise festival in Finsbury Park and in underground venues in East London Passing Clouds and The Empowering Church (with Sofrito sound system).

Band members Chief Commander Yaaba, Mr Brett and the Outlaw Clive Wales also DJ at their own nights and as guests at other Afro inspired nights around London - spinning Afrobeat, Mbalax, Cuban rumba, Brazilian grooves, broken beat,

A multi-cultural south London band, with members from across the planet (Ghana, America, Martinique, Jamaica, Italy, Germany, and UK) long-term friends and musical allies, YAABA FUNK have created a punky Afro roots music for the 21st Century.70s Nigerian funk, reggae and of course Hi-Life.