"Rhythm is the soul of life. The whole universe revolves in rhythm. Everything and every human action revolves in rhythm." – Babatunde Olatunji
My Kwanzaa was traditionally spent at Sounds of Brazil nightclub NYC dancing the night away with Babatunde Olatunji and his Drums of Passion group.
Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer educator, social activist and recording artist. His 1959 album "Drums of Passion" was a worldwide smash hit. He received a Grammy Award in 1991 for his collaboration with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart on their Planet Drum album. He was also the founder of the Voices of Africa foundation.
As a performer and a man of fashion Baba was very fond of dressing up in his beautiful African textiles and always looked very handsome and regal.
When I presented him with perfumes Baba favored indolic jasmine and tropical flower blends held down by a base of spicy labdanum. Thus laden with floral tribute Baba would waft his way onto the stage followed by a cloud of fragrant molecules to sing such songs as “baby what’s your number?” and Odun de Odun de! (Happy New Year!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql6Kt-HJnk0 Odun de! Odun de! Happy New Year!
All of the perfumes I have picked for Baba are 100% natural with the exception of Yosh White Flowers. The sillage and longevity of these perfumes tend to be gentle but Baba would have made up for that by lavishly applying them with great frequency. You would have smelled Baba throughout a nightclub or performance area.
L’invisible by Strange Invisible Perfumes
A sophisticated floral of amber, moss, ylang ylang and lemon sparkles over vanilla, hibiscus, and Moroccan red roses. Sheer and beautiful. A golden veil fit for a King (and a Queen and a Princess and indeed any Prince….).
White Flowers by YOSH
Baba looked fabulous in white. The offset of his ebony skin was just marvelous. White Flowers by YOSH would have pleased his floral preference and added a gentle green note sensible to his intellectual superiority. Baba sang about the heart and “One Love” constantly. White Flowers by Yosh corresponds to the Heart Chakra (4) and the “mood” of the fragrance is “dressed up, tailored with some bling”. That’s Baba! J The color as listed by Yosh is midnight, intuition, loyalty. Midnight makes sense for Baba. He looked wonderful in white but also wonderful in midnight blue. As an elder, Baba insisted on extended familial loyalty and considered himself king of his “tribe”. All children were his “grandchildren”, all mothers were to be honored.
Schizm by Ayala Moriel Perfumes
A darker poetic floral indebted to tuberose. Baba might have worn a green dominant outfit with this fragrance to match the green velvet of this gorgeous bouquet. A smooth stately perfume worthy of Baba.
Vodka 5 by Rodney Hughes for Therapeutate
Baba would have rocked this incense floral. I can see him in a rust colored dress with black embroidery wafting this perfume. Amber, labdanum, sandalwood and vanilla hold the royal train of jasmine, champaca and alluring black currant.
Songbird by Velvet and Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery
Laurie’s perfumes are sweet and juicy. Baba’s love of grapefruits would have sold him on the citrus burst of this fruity floral. An uplifting fragrance Baba would have used this one to get his performance self pumped. Yellow, gold and red would be the colors of choice to wear with this perfume. I believe Laurie Stern of Velvet and Sweet Pea Purrfumery chose the name “Songbird” for this perfume exceptionally well. Intuitively I feel Songbird vibrates in the 5th Chakra, like the sound of a Songbird, and of Dear Babatunde Olatunji, who sang so beautifully…Our beautiful African Songbird.
Two more songs to make your heart race and your toes curl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWeDev0QWLc Shango -Chant to the God of Thunder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE8qANcESkQ Dance to the Beat of my Drum
*Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration held in the United States honoring universal African American heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. It features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles and culminates in a feast and gift giving. It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966 – 1967. – Wikipedia.
Image Source Page: http://www.cinnamonhearts.com/Kwanzaa03.htm
http://www.siperfumes.com/products/linvisible L’Invisible
http://ayalamoriel.com/ Schizm
http://therapeutate.com/ Vodka5
http://www.purrfumery.com/ Songbird
http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/category/228/section/1/page/1/brand/YOSH.html White Flowers
–Monica “Skye” Miller, Natural Perfume and Senior Editor