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JAMMING GIG AT JUMMY'S HIDE-OUT |
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Send us your review:
Describe the atmosphere and live music at a local pub, restaurant, festival, church or temple, club night.... inspire other people to check it out!
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Venue: Jummy's Hide-Out, Africab Kitchen
Music: Nigerian/ Afro-beat
Location: 275 Neasden Lane, London NW10
Tel: 020 8452 0440
Reviewer: Oliver Oguntade
 听听Listen to a track by Dele Sosimi called Phaze 2 (What Next?) from the album Turbulent Times. (Eko Star Music 003)
Every Saturday, Dele Sosimi plays 'afro-beat' at Jummy's Restaurant in Neasden, North London. Last week, he kicked off in customary style from his mini-piano. 'We shall begin tonight's service with hymn 419, 'water no get enemy'. It's liberation to the gods of our lands'. Keying the piano with his left hand, Dele's right hand made an almighty descent onto the keyboard with a 'twisshhhh . . .'
Linus Bewley followed the opening on his sax. This honorary Nigerian is dedicated to the artform of 'afro-beat'. He was christened Linus Bewley of Ilasamaja, Ilasamapon, Ilasahegum by the witty Dele. Then Dele hit the lyrics. 'If you want to bath, na water you go use. If you want to wash, na water you go use.' The illustrious words of Fela Anikulapo Kuti came alive.
The tunes of 'water' rolled into an instrumental set as a motley crew of strong African men and their colourfully regaled women came into the den. Dele greeted them by making the 'alaye thing'. These unique shrine greetings involve making a fist with both hands and touching left hand thumb with right hand index finger in an upward downward movement. It's a 'bad boy greeting', which has survived from the early days of the Lagos shrine.
Jummy plays like a Lagos joint, offering Nigerian delicacies like ground-rice, eba, fufu, dodo, 'eja-nla', pepper soup and the controversial bush meat. This heavy meal is washed down with Stout. The manager's called Mr B. He's the ma卯tre d', cum-accountant, cum-cook, cum-security, true to the Yoruba roots of multi-skilling.
The staff put a menu in your face. Sometimes they smile, sometimes they don't. 'It's a hard job watching people enjoying a night out while you've got to waitress', one of them rails. But the Nigerian beer flows and consumption's left to your discretion.
Dele drew suggestions for his next number: 'Lady', 'Army Arrangement' or 'O.D.O.O'. The audience called for 'Lady' and its tune filled the small restaurant.
'If you call am woman African woman no go gree, she go say, she go say I be lady oh', shouted Dele. The crowd joined in this captivating music as three men danced and the acoustics spilled out on the streets.
Jummy's is a Nigerian hideout but regulars bring their West Indian friends to this magnet of African music a la Fela Kute. For Westerners, it's a 'call-response' tune. For Africans, it's music for the people.
In 'Lady' the audience can join the chorus with witty remarks and sexual innuendo. Dele improvised: 'Lady na master, ko wo ssoo (Lady is master, she is naked.) Up danced a large East African lady. With her well-rounded behind squeezed into jeans two sizes smaller, she was looking 'goooood'. The audience gasped as this man-teaser skillfully moved her body. Dele roared; 'E wo idi eyaun.' (Look at the figure). When she stopped, the whole bar urged her on. 'African woman go dance de fire dance,' Dele Sosimi cried from his stage.
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Your reviews:
 'Jummy plays like a Lagos joint...'
  'not even the organiser, knows what's on the programme'
 'This is where you'll drink your post-demo pints...'
 '...break dancing, body popping, karate chopping...'
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