WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

Lagos2London

Over the past few years our project has grown from strength to strength and we now have two boys, Tobi and Emmanuel, that have graduated to Assistant Director level. This means they are responsible for teaching the rest of the kids in the community and supporting our Musical Director.

As part of this progress, we want to bring them to London this August to experience playing with prestigious UK based Samba Schools, to take part in an international carnival, to develop their directing skills and to give them an experience of a lifetime. Neither of them have ever left Nigeria before.

Please visit our donation page and give whatever you can afford to help make this dream a reality. We will all be truly grateful!!

Here’s the link: https://hubbub.org/p/lagos2london

 

Please also share our campaign with anybody who you think might be inspired by what we are trying to achieve.

 

Èkó Samba Community on tour!

A group of our drummers recently visited Abeokuta in Ogun State for the first ever Drums Festival in Nigeria.

They managed to squeeze in a trip to the infamous Olumo Rock in between all the drumming… but couldn’t resist spreading the samba love even without their drums!

Returning Samba to Afro-Brazilian Returnees in Lagos

A lovely bit of press about Èkó Samba Community in the Guardian today about our maiden visit to the Brazilian District of Lagos Island, also known as Popo Aguda. Read all about the hugely significant day and its impact on the community here.

Some of our members were also featured in a photo story, here.

Check out a video of the first time that Samba was played for the Afro-Brazilians descendants in Lagos –

 

Celebrating Lemi

11th February 2016 saw Lemi Ghariokwu celebrating his 60th Birthday at Freedom Park and Èkó Samba Community was honoured to pay homage to this talented and inspirational man.

Lemi is a self-taught Nigerian artist, renowned for his designs of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti’s album covers during the 1970s – 1990s. Lemi proudly proclaims himself to be “the conscious African” and delivered a powerful speech reminding us all that above all else, the most important thing for the progress of humanity and the world that we are in today is “man, know thyself.” Illuminating words that left an enduring impression on the young minds of the lucky ESC members who were at the event to perform for Lemi.

lemi

 

Bringing the Brazilian roots back to Lagos Carnival!

Thanks to an incredible community we had an amazing time at Lagos Carnival with 28 drummers and dancers! The kids stole the limelight of the whole event and brought true Brazilian roots back to a carnival which was otherwise lacking in live performances.

Once again we were the only self sponsored group at the event, also the only group with live drumming and had less than a week to prepare but none of that mattered because on the day these kids really rocked carnival… and they look fabulous too!!

Our drummers and dancers brought true Brazilian flare and spirit to the event!

Our drummers and dancers brought true Brazilian flare and spirit to the event!

ESC @ Lagos Carnival 2015

Local Parade Wows the Community!

On Sunday 5th April 2015 the children and young people of ESC took advantage of it being Easter Sunday and arranged a parade throughout the local streets of Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town. A group of 18 drummed with great enthusiasm, drawing people out from their homes, shops and churches to enjoy the spectacle.

parade2

#onlyinLagos

The parade was met with great appreciation of the talent and skill of the youngsters, with many new children asking to join the group. The kids proudly showed their local community what they have been developing each week – a huge success for all.parade1

ESC @ CALABAR CARNIVAL!

Happy New Year everyone! We are still enjoying the after-glow of performing at Africa’s largest carnival. THANK YOU so much to all of you who donated funds to help get us to Calabar. We were the only self-sponsored group at the event and the only Nigerian group from outside Calabar. The kids had a truly life-changing experience both on and off stage… and have come back to Lagos full of self belief and buzzing with pride and fulfillment. We truly could not have achieved this dream without all of you — we are eternally grateful. Samba is gaining a strong foot-hold in Africa… watch this space!

 

The children and young people of ESC pictured at Calabar Carnival 2014

The children and young people of ESC pictured at Calabar Carnival 2014

Èkó Samba goes to Calabar… (with YOUR help!)

Just this week we heard the incredible news that Èkó Samba Community has been accepted to take part in this year’s Calabar Carnival (www.carnivalcalabar.com). We are over the moon as this has been a dream for us since the project began almost 4 years ago. We have just 2 weeks to raise the necessary funds to help us get a group of kids from Lagos to Calabar to take part in this prestigious event and we really need your help to do it. Please contribute via our DONATE button and show these kids you believe in their abilities as much as we do.