Sila and the Afrofunk Experience
Encyclopedia
Sila and the Afrofunk Experience is an Afrofunk band formed in 2003.
As a child growing up in Kenya, Sila Mutungi discovered Western music through his deeply-religious grandmother’s radio. He honed his musical craft by singing original songs in church. In 1986, he moved to Washington, DC, ostensibly to attend college (a move partially financed by tribespeople who sold cows to raise tuition money), but instead used the funds to pay for a demo tape to pursue his dreams of a music career. Yet the music industry at that time wasn’t interested in an R&B singer with a heavy Kenyan accent.
Ten years later, having relocated to San Francisco, Sila experienced an epiphany during a Baaba Maal concert at the Fillmore Auditorium. Instead of trying to hide his African-ness to fit into an American paradigm, he decided to embrace it.
He once again started to write music, combining Western influences ranging from Led Zeppelin to the Beatles to Sly Stone to James Brown to Marvin Gaye to Bob Marley with African influences, among them Maal, Fela Kuti, and Thomas Mapfumo. Calling his new sound “AfroFunk,” he formed Sila and the AfroFunk Experience in 2003.
The band immediately carved out a niche in the Bay Area’s world music scene, spearheading a polyrhythmic renaissance and establishing a reputation for dynamic live performances. In 2004, Sila co-founded the AfroFunk Festival, a showcase for Afro-inspired bands (whose proceeds benefited humanitarian causes) which evolved into an annual event and tour.
More sweaty, ecstatic shows followed, and in 2006, Sila and the A.F.E. released their first album, The Funkiest Man in Africa – a reference to Fela Kuti. Afropop.org called the album “a terrific work of contemporary funk” and noted, “Sila’s message… is as strong as the musicianship.”
Three years and many more gigs later—including well-received appearances at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and the Stern Grove Festival—Sila and the A.F.E. released their second album, Black President. As SF Weekly noted, “Sila's concern with the mission of his lyrics is matched by the power of his grooves, an addictive mix of heavy funk, lively Afrobeat, and sun-soaked island rhythms.” Hailed as one of the Top 5 Afropop albums of the year by NPR, Black President won the 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding World Music Album (over better-known artists like Zap Mama and Omou Sangare).
In January 2010, Sila announced the next step in his musical journey: a solo album which explores even more of his diverse musical tastes, from Ethiopiques-esque jazz-funk to Afro-rock, Afro-reggae and Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Working the new songs into shape during an open rehearsal residency at SF club Coda, he also found time to headline the “SF Hearts Haiti” benefit at the Independent, which raised over $10,000 for earthquake relief. The as-yet-untitled album is scheduled for summer 2010 release.
After leaving Fela's Africa 70 band, Allen developed a hybrid sound, deconstructing & fusing Afrobeat with electronica, dub, R&B, and rap. Allen refers to this synthesis as afrofunk.
Modern proponents of afrofunk mix afrobeat with 1970s African funk (mainly from Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone), afropop, jazz, highlife, James Brown style soul-funk, and diverse West African tribal musical traditions.
Past
As a child growing up in Kenya, Sila Mutungi discovered Western music through his deeply-religious grandmother’s radio. He honed his musical craft by singing original songs in church. In 1986, he moved to Washington, DC, ostensibly to attend college (a move partially financed by tribespeople who sold cows to raise tuition money), but instead used the funds to pay for a demo tape to pursue his dreams of a music career. Yet the music industry at that time wasn’t interested in an R&B singer with a heavy Kenyan accent.
Ten years later, having relocated to San Francisco, Sila experienced an epiphany during a Baaba Maal concert at the Fillmore Auditorium. Instead of trying to hide his African-ness to fit into an American paradigm, he decided to embrace it.
He once again started to write music, combining Western influences ranging from Led Zeppelin to the Beatles to Sly Stone to James Brown to Marvin Gaye to Bob Marley with African influences, among them Maal, Fela Kuti, and Thomas Mapfumo. Calling his new sound “AfroFunk,” he formed Sila and the AfroFunk Experience in 2003.
The band immediately carved out a niche in the Bay Area’s world music scene, spearheading a polyrhythmic renaissance and establishing a reputation for dynamic live performances. In 2004, Sila co-founded the AfroFunk Festival, a showcase for Afro-inspired bands (whose proceeds benefited humanitarian causes) which evolved into an annual event and tour.
More sweaty, ecstatic shows followed, and in 2006, Sila and the A.F.E. released their first album, The Funkiest Man in Africa – a reference to Fela Kuti. Afropop.org called the album “a terrific work of contemporary funk” and noted, “Sila’s message… is as strong as the musicianship.”
Three years and many more gigs later—including well-received appearances at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and the Stern Grove Festival—Sila and the A.F.E. released their second album, Black President. As SF Weekly noted, “Sila's concern with the mission of his lyrics is matched by the power of his grooves, an addictive mix of heavy funk, lively Afrobeat, and sun-soaked island rhythms.” Hailed as one of the Top 5 Afropop albums of the year by NPR, Black President won the 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding World Music Album (over better-known artists like Zap Mama and Omou Sangare).
In January 2010, Sila announced the next step in his musical journey: a solo album which explores even more of his diverse musical tastes, from Ethiopiques-esque jazz-funk to Afro-rock, Afro-reggae and Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Working the new songs into shape during an open rehearsal residency at SF club Coda, he also found time to headline the “SF Hearts Haiti” benefit at the Independent, which raised over $10,000 for earthquake relief. The as-yet-untitled album is scheduled for summer 2010 release.
Musical styles
Afrofunk (or African Funk) is a musical genre that evolved from afrobeat in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The term "afrofunk" was coined by Fela Kuti's drummer Tony Allen (musician).After leaving Fela's Africa 70 band, Allen developed a hybrid sound, deconstructing & fusing Afrobeat with electronica, dub, R&B, and rap. Allen refers to this synthesis as afrofunk.
Modern proponents of afrofunk mix afrobeat with 1970s African funk (mainly from Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone), afropop, jazz, highlife, James Brown style soul-funk, and diverse West African tribal musical traditions.
Band members
Current- SilaSilaŚīla or sīla in Buddhism and its non-sectarian offshoots, is a code of conduct that embraces self-restraint with a value on non-harming. It has been variously described as virtue, good conduct, morality, moral discipline and precept. It is an action that is an intentional effort...
– Vocals (2003–present) - Khalil Doak-Anthony – Guitar (2010–present)
- Roger CoxRoger CoxRoger Cox is a former English cricketer. Cox was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was born in Luton, Bedfordshire....
– Guitar (2010–present) - Mike Shiono – Bass (2010–present)
- Benny Murray – Drum Kit (2008–present)
- Samba Guisse – TALKING DRUM/DJEMBE/SABAR/TAMA/DJUN DJUN (2003–present)
- Andre Webb – Trombone (2003–present)
Past
- Wendell Rand – Bass (2003–2009)
- David JamesDavid JamesDavid James may refer to:*David James , cell biologist who discovered the glucose transporter GLUT4*David James , stage, television, and film actor...
– Guitar (2003–2009) - Ken House – Guitar (2003–2009)
- Mike Pitre – Trumpet (2003–2009)
- David Boyce – Saxophone Alchemist (2003–2009)
Discography
- Black PresidentBlack PresidentThe Best of the Black President, also known as The Best Best of Fela Kuti and The Best of Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon, is a compilation album originally released in 2000 of Fela Kuti's greatest hits to coincide with the remastering and repackaging of the 45 Fela albums controlled by Universal...
(2009) - Funkiest Man In Africa (2006)