Kara-Kata Afrobeat Band
The Kara-Kata Afrobeat Group describes their music as “spicy, exotic and inspiring”. You can add “exceptionally danceable” to that list of descriptors. They are a multicultural / multi ethnic, and inclusive group of musicians, dancers and performers currently numbering around twenty-five (and growing). While most are not of African descent, they dance and perform original traditional West African Afrobeat and Highlife music. They consider themselves a big family, a community united in their love of, and for, sharing Afrobeat music, African culture and celebrating the vast and diverse human landscape of Canada.
Bandleader, Toyin Kayo-Ajayi, is originally from Nigeria. He started the group in Mission in 2012 to create a space of community and inclusivity. Now the band is one facet of a non-profit organization, the Kara-Kata Afrobeat Society of Canada, that creates events, does community outreach and, more recently, works on farm projects locally in Canada as well as in Nigeria. The purpose of the band and organization is to come together in community, share African culture, and spread joy.
With those laudable and popular goals, it’s no wonder their events and shows get folks dancing, connecting — and feeling the love.
