Abalabi Club - Soho

[ddhughes]

Does anyone remember the Abalabi club, a Berwick Street cellar run by  Nigerian Ola Dosunmu.  He married my Aunt Irene Stevens who died in 1972 in Lagos Nigeria and they had a son Tokunboh.  I would love info on this club or any pictures. I believe it was a Jazz Club but not 100% sure.

Debbie Hughes
Northam
Western Australia

[Ruskie]

If you tpe the name of the club into google, you get a few hits. Eg:

http://amlappublishing.com/naija/200610/campbell.html

[liverpool annie]

I don't remember the club Debbie .... but the market ..... I was there daily at one time !!

I did find this that may interest you !!

Around 1952, the West African Rhythm Brothers found a permanent showcase as residents at the Abalabi in Soho's Berwick Street market. A nightclub opened by Ola Dosunmu and run by him and his English wife, this became one of the most famous clubs of the era and a magnet for a wide cross-section of humanity. Afro-Cuban rhythms were popular at the time, and Dizzy Gillespie's experiments with Chano Pozo — a Cuban drummer from the Yoruba lucumi cult — had penetrated the London jazz consciousness. Accordingly, jazz musicians came to the Abalabi to hear the 'real thing'. Others came to dance the highlife, the new West African dance which combined traditional rhythms with Western jazz and swing voicings and harmonies. Long after the market stalls closed down for the night, Nigerian students and dignitaries joined ex-colonials to dance to the new beat, while debs and other high-flyers made themselves at home in the funky basement, rubbing shoulders with the hustlers, gamblers and hookers of Soho.

http://www.honestjons.com/label.php?pid=28097&LabelID=14815&g=1

Annie 

[ddhughes]

Hi All,
Thank you for the info, I have g**gled and found those entries, but unfortunately no photo's. I'm also finding it hard to trace the whereabouts of Ola, Who's probably dead, or his son Tokumboh ( my Cousin), I need to find someone in Lago's to do the research for me...any idea's...

regards
Debbie

[Christopher]

Hi Debbie,

I've a MySpace page and am in touch with a large number of musicians, and people in the music industry, who are  scattered around the world.

I've posted a bulletin to see if there are any people on MySpace who may be able to help with the history of musicians and venues.

Christopher

[ddhughes]

Thanks Christopher,

Lets hope that someone will remember this club, or know the whereabouts of Tokumboh Dosumnu.

regards
Debbie Hughes

[sarah]

ola dosunmu of abalabi club is my late dad and tokunboh Debbie Hughes is searching for is my step -brother. fungi dosunmu feshitan

posted on behalf of new member funmi Dosunmu Feshitan, who had clicked on the "Report to Moderator button" instead of the blue reply button.

Welcome Funmi

[ddhughes]

Hi Sarah,
Is there anyway to connect with Fungi Dosunmu Feshitan, whom you posted for below, as I would like to get a message to them to pass onto my cousin Tokumbo, thank you

[sarah]

Just sent him a message

Regards

Sarah