As part of his multi-city tour tagged ‘Ebo Tour’, which kicked off at the Somerset Festival, England on June 17, veteran percussionist and Grammy award winner, Lekan Babalola, has released a new single, Mr. Lakaye.

In the single produced by Will Angelero and which has Babalola as co-producer, the musician’s voice booms in Yoruba over a bouncing tune enriched with infectious electronic elements and complemented with his signature percussion sound.

According to Babalola, the song is dedicated to Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron, while the title is inspired by the deity’s oriki (praise). He said further that Mr. Lakaye will be the sound track to the his new art installation in honour of the late American jazz artiste, John William Coltrane. The single will be available in all digital stores.

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On his inspiration for the new song, Babalola explained: “I was born in Lagos into a Yoruba family. As custodians of Yoruba tradition of Ogun, Oro, Obatala and Ifa, my family taught me first hand the Yoruba art and culture. Ogun is the patron of my father’s family.”

Babalola is one of Nigeria’s most accomplished musicians and has twice won the Grammy award. He won the award for the first time in 2006 for his work on Ali Farka Toure’s In the Heart of the Moon, receiving credit on three songs. He won a second Grammy in 2009 for his work on Cassandra Wilson’s album, Lovely.