OKWY OSADEBE

GP aims to highlight rare music cultures. We also strive to throw crowd-pleasing concerts that feel accessible to all. When those two goals fully align, that’s when the magic happens. That was the case this past Saturday night when we hosted Okwy Osadebe and the Neighborhood Orchestra. 

Okwy, from Nigeria, represents West African Highlife music. His band's upbeat grooves felt like a fusion of guitar-driven jazz, R&B, roots reggae singing, and African percussion. Songs lasted well over ten minutes each, sweeping the crowd into endless jams. Many stayed on their feet for the entirety of the show, rocking back and forth to the beat.

California Plaza even had a different look that evening. So many in attendance hailed from Ghana, Nigeria, and other West African locales. These beautiful people were easy to spot: their vibrantly colored kente and tani clothes and kufi caps caught the eye, as did their energetic dancing.

Hailing from LA, our opening band The Neighborhood Orchestra flexed their versatility and wowed the crowd by playing a memorable Afrobeat set of their own. Fronted by an electric Duain Richmond, their set was fierce and engaging right out of the gate.

This was a marked departure from the relatively laid-back R&B and Latin funk vibes that they brought to our preseason opener party back in May. It takes a lot of talent, practice, and musical knowledge to be able to cover so many bases stylistically. We cannot thank the Neighborhood Orchestra enough for embracing the theme of the night and adding to the magic.