Tosin Clegg After a long hiatus from music, Bimbo Ogundipe has returned with a new genre she calls AfroAsia rhythm defining it as a blend of traditional African musical instruments with traditional instrumentals from Asia. She believes that as an African woman, and an ambassador for her people, creating this unique blend of music and culture opens up a platform for her to connect with people around the world in a novel fashion. It also allows her to present the world with the talents and richness that Africa has to offer.
She further established that, “My inspiration for this genre stems from the fact that while growing up in Nigeria, in addition to listening to and learning the songs of great Nigerian legends in the likes of late, great, Chief Herbert Ogunde, Chief Jimi Solanke, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Chief Victor Uwaifo, Nelly Uchendu, Miriam Makeba to mention a few, I also listened to lots of Indian music and watched Bollywood movies. I fell in love with the Music, the culture, and the language. I imagined myself in a Saree or Shalwar Kameez, and most times in Buba and Iro, or in georgette up and down attire, singing Hindi and Yoruba songs in the fields, throwing my hands up in the air like they do in the movies, moving, and dancing to the rhythm of the music, and hoping that one day, I too will be presented with the opportunity to sing and perform in Bollywood.
It was this love that inspired me to incorporate some of the instruments that create these beaut.