World Afrobeat Music composer and performer, versatile saxophonist and dynamic vocalist, Femi Koya is the new face of the African Renaissance, combining West African highlife and Jazz, South African Sofiatown with a nostalgic Afrobeat root sounds, his music is a rich blend of deep and sultry Afrobeat and contemporary groove. He is urban and urbane. His life’s journey – a story of migration from the West to the South resonates in his music, which creates a conscious dialogue between West African and South African sounds. This musical fusion demonstrates the path to a new and culturally integrated Africa in which a common heritage is reinforced to meet the needs of today’s world. His quest is for African unity at a time when he believes Africa should claim its rightful and proud place in the world. Femi Koya’s debut album “Just in Newtown” is evidence of the rich melodies that result from this fusion. Through his versatility on the saxophone, he breathes new life into
African world music. “Iba” meaning “Homage” is the title of Femi Koya’s second album which was launched in August 2015. The Iba album also calls for African unity and makes a plea for human rights to be respected. But the album also celebrates Africa’s love of life with infectious dance numbers that bring fans to their feet. Latest album “Village Afrobeat” which was release April 20 2018, the songs depict nature, fertility, rituals, change of seasons and traditions essential to village life. The Album tells stories
and tales of what happens in Villages and especially fables with animals like tortoise, the
role of town criers, village men and women as part of the whole village lifestyle.
His musical influences include Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Manu di Bango, Hugh Masekela,
& John Coltrane.
He has recorded with Simphiwe Dana, Pops Mohamed ,Yvonne Chaka Chaka, He has
worked with Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal , Hugh Masekela, Wizkid, Zonke, Soweto
Gospel Choir, just to mention a few, shared the stage with Youssou N’dour at the CAF
(Confederation of African Football Awards) in Lagos and with John Legend in his first
South African tour in Cape Town. He performed alongside the king of Juju music,
Sunny Ade, at the Glo launch in the Republic of Benin. Other colourful festivals felt
Femi Koya’s acrobatic music, where he performed alongside the Wynton Marsalis,
Oliver Mtukudzi, Habib Koite, Salif Keita. PAST PERFORMANCES
Joy of Jazz festival, Johannesurg 2015
Jazz on the lake 2015
Arts Alive 2015
The Shred 2016
City Joburg NYE Concert 2015
Joburg Theatre Africa day celebrations
2015
Africa Chic 2016
World heritage Fund at Cradle of
Human kind 2016
Africa month theme song SABC 2016
Oppikopi Festival 2016
Mieliepop Festival 2017
Starbucks Session 2017
Bush Fire Festival Swaziland 2017
Park Acoustics November 2017
Nubian Music Fest 2017
Mieliepop Festival 23 rd March 2018 – Lothair
Capetown , Durban and Gauteng Femi Koya Album tour April/July 2018
Africa Day festival 26 th May 2018 – Johannesburg
Zakifo 27 th May 2018- Durban
Capital Craft Beer Festival June 2018- Pretoria
Rum festival June 2018
National Grahamstown Festival 6 July 2018 Grahamstown
Plettenburg Art festival July 7 2018
The Chairman Durban july 2018
UPCOMING SHOWS
Hard Rock Café Sandton 20 th September
MoonShot Pretoria 26 th September
Joy of Jazz Festival 28 th September 2018
Johannesburg
Home Coming African festival Pretoria 29 th
September
Rocking the Daises Oct 2018 Capetown
Daisy Creek Festival December 2018
Durban
Smoking the Dragon festival December
Northern Drakensburg December 2018
Up the Creek Feb 2019
Park Acoustics Feb 2019
Rav Africa April 2019
Femi Koya sees himself as part of the new Africa on the move, where home is not just
one place but a multiplicity of places and influences. He believes that Africa will have its
true homecoming when people see themselves as first and foremost African. Until then
he will continue to make music suggestive of this homecoming and what the future holds if Africans unite. It is, he says, our destiny.