Nigerian Funk

Some clips from last month’s Ice House Radio. With each month we get closer to a full juju/fuji vinyl set, spent almost as much time dancing as I did mixing last month so swipe to see some footwork. The archive’s growing considerably, and I have so much fun getting to share this very fundamental music. AS AN UPDATE, the Ice House residency will now be at 9pm-10pm on our scheduled days. See you this week, may the gbedu be with you always 🎱

The ministry is premiering a new concept, Tabernacle, at Third Lounge (@thirdhtx ) in Third Ward on February 15. Inspired by The Shrine, Fela’s home/club turned generational conservatory, Tabernacle is going to be introducing a palette of sounds that are often not top of mind when curating for ‘classy rooms’, especially in the West. If you’ve been here since 2024, you may remember our ‘Faaji Hour @ The Fish’ double feature, where the idea for this first came to mind. It’s been a lot of iteration since then: working on the right blend of sounds, building proof of concept that this music isn’t just reserved for Fela Appreciation Night, finding the right soil to develop this “native space”, but all things work together for good. Our hosts @thirdhtx have been kind enough to offer our guests a complimentary cocktail with their RSVP, and their menu is as intentional as our sound. We’ve gone and done our research (thank you @astoldbyashanty ) and pulled a shortlist of favorites from their menu. We’re looking forward to seeing you on the 15th, bring your friends, bring your bae, bring your uncles and aunties. All are welcome at Tabernacle. 🗓️ Feb 15, 2026 ⏰ 7pm-10pm 🎟️ Free.99 (free drink with RSVP) 📍 2803 Old Spanish Trail @thirdhtx Links in the usual places

Took a different route for our first @icehouseradio show, played an all vinyl Faaji Hour set of new, old, and all-around essential music. This was my first time trying this format and lowkey I see why the vinyl DJs feel a way, it’s a much more immersive experience behind the decks. Shoutout to @jacksonallers for planting the bug in my ear, and shoutout to everyone who showed up or tuned in to the show. We’ll see you next month 🎱🫂

Musical expression is a key part of football culture, especially in competitions like AFCON. As we come to the final moments of this tournament, we want to honor this culture by joining hands with our friends @nigerianfunk to put one of the records in their archives up for raffle. The winner will be announced at our finals screening on Jan 18, RSVP and raffle tickets link in bio

We’re super excited to bring Kultural Exchange back to Houston, so we’re adding a few fun twists to some of our regular programming. For the first time, our Faaji Hour listening session is going to be ALL VINYL. We’ve been building a very respectable collection (if we do say so ourselves) and have selected a wonderful array of classic Nigerian albums to set the tone for the evening. Come see us @themoodroomhouston on Dec 12 for some culture and turntable fun! Rules are simple: 1) Bring a personal gem or favorite in your collection. No more than 1 album per person (so choose well). 2) Albums will be picked at random. If your album is selected, you play either side of the record. 3) After the record ends, the room will vote to either listen to the other side of the record OR listen to another album. 📆 December 7, 2025 ⏰ 4PM-8PM 📍711 Milby St 🎟️ RSVP link in bio

Closing out the programming for this year with a return to Kultural Exchange, this time as a vinyl roulette night. We’re looking for the collectors, the crate builders, and the crate diggers. Drinks will be provided by the lovely bartenders at The Mood Room. We hope to share space and music with you 🙏🏿🎱 Rules are simple: 1) Bring a personal gem or favorite in your collection. No more than 1 album per person (so choose well). 2) Albums will be picked at random. If your album is selected, you play either side of the record. 3) After the record ends, the room will vote to either listen to the other side of the record OR listen to another album. RSVP link in bio

Bringing In Konversation back after a necessary hiatus, and with a bang too. Dr Wale Adedeji’s work has not only been critical to the fujikore framework, it’s also taught me a great deal about Nigerian music and history. I was fortunate to sit down with him in February to talk about his experiences, his insights, and his predictions. The full interview transcript is out on my Substack now, links in the only allowable places 🎱🎱 Audio of the interview coming in short order but my people must read

#NigerianFunkProfiles - ONYEKA ONWENU Writer/Research - @toni.ojo Lovingly nicknamed the “Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press, Onyeka Onwenu was a celebrated singer-songwriter and a multi-talented contributor to the Nigerian arts. Best known for her hit songs “One Love” and “You and I”, she also excelled in broadcasting and acting. Onyeka was born on January 31st 1952, in Obosi, Anambra State, and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Communications from Wellesley College and a Master’s in Media Studies from the New School for Social Research in New York. After working at the United Nations, she returned to Nigeria, and began her journalism career at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). During her time there, she wrote and narrated the internationally acclaimed documentary “Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches” with the BBC, which aired in 1984. Travelling the country in the tense weeks leading up to the 1983 military coup, she addressed the corruption in Nigeria’s oil industry and the mismanagement of resources. Onyeka entered the music scene in 1982 with her debut album “For the Love of You”, a fusion of pop and Nigerian highlife. She captivated audiences with hits like “One Love”, “Dancing in the Sun”, and “Iyogogo”, singing in English and Igbo. A bold advocate for social issues, she collaborated with King Sunny Adé on “Choices” (1989), which addressed birth control and planned parenthood. The following year, Onyeka performed her song “Winnie Mandela” in honor of the anti-apartheid activist, during the Mandelas’ visit to Nigeria. Her music conveyed messages of love, peace, women’s rights, youth empowerment, and national unity. After releasing four albums, she transitioned to gospel music in the 1990s. Onyeka sadly passed away on July 30th 2024, at the age of 72, after performing at a friend’s birthday celebration in Lagos. She will be remembered as a great entertainer, a messenger of hope and a dedicated philanthropist, with a longstanding commitment to a better Nigeria. She was and will continue to be, an inspiration to many.

Some Faaji Hour updates/info for our two-part broadcast this month. A collaborative segment with @nigerianfunk , we highlight Nigerian musical works and styles across time, with choice selections from the global diaspora. This month’s format is a little different, exploring the seminal afrobeat genre through three of its most important voices: Tony Allen, Fela Kuti, and Lagbaja. We will also be visiting the musical works of Onyeka Onwenu, a Nigerian icon in multiple fields who recently passed. Our condolences go out to her family and loved ones Faaji Hour Vol 1 on the website if you’re curious, a few peeks into some places we’ll go this month. Links in the only allowable places 📍The Fish 309 Gray St HTX 🗓️ Oct 19 & Oct 26 (2024) ⏰ 8PM - 12AM 🖼️ @fromkdwithluv

Faaji Hour tomorrow, followed by remainder of Nigerian Funk programming tomorrow: Radio Lagos . . Dont miss it, see you there!

Some more moments from Kultural Exchange at @wonderlikewander and some reminders ahead of Radio Lagos tomorrow 🫶🏿 Radio Lagos is BYOB, all we ask is you don’t bring glass into the venue with you. There is free street parking directly in front of Wonderlikewander, but Uber/Carpool is strongly encouraged. Please do not park in front of the bus stop, you’ll have to take that up with the city if you do. Lastly, please no requests, but if you absolutely must, drop something for boys 🫶🏿

Radio Lagos is back at WLW on August 30, 2024. This time we’re celebrating the start of @nigerianfunk / @konde.oko residency with @vandelayradio and their first broadcast, which goes live August 24. We hope to see some familiar faces from Kultural Exchange and some new ones, so bring a friend, padi, or patna WHERE 📍 Wonderlikewander, 2506 LaBranch St HTX WHEN 🕰️ 9pm - 1am FREE.99 AGENDA Faaji Hour Special 🎵: Starting the night with a tasteful selection of Nigerian classics, ranging from highlife and juju to fuji and funk. Curated by FK.88 GUEST 🎧: The Early Morning DJ @adrianmarxis BYOB (NO GLASS BOTTLES) ¿Whot Tournament $100 cash prize? Grateful to be hosting Konde + Nigerian Funk again, and to all the beautiful people who made their first run at Kultural Exchange so special. [ahfk]🎱