Roots is an album that takes you back in time and fills you with nostalgia.An album that makes you want to kick back, relax and sip wine but also tempts you to dance with reckless abandon and be comfortable with just being.
On the 21st of August 2020, The Cavemen, a Lagos-based ‘Afrocentric influenced’ band released their debut album ‘Roots.’ The Cavemen is a highlife band founded by two brothers: Kingsley Okorie and Benjamin James. They explore genres like afrobeats, highlife, jazz and soul music in a sound tagged, “Highlife fusion.”
Kingsley Okorie describes their music as participatory, making it easy to sing along to even though most of the lyrics are in the Igbo language. The Cavemen’s Roots have redefined high-life with an urban twist. Manning the drums with wild energy is Kingsley, while Benjamin matches this fire with the bass guitar.
Inside the cave with Roots
The intro, Welcome To The Cave, gives us an insight into what we are about to hear. It establishes that the word, “cave” translates to ‘the heart of a man,’ and these men (Kingsley and Benjamin) have reached deep into their hearts to deliver profound lyrics and sounds. Benjamin, with amazing vocal range, ushers us into the album proper with Akaraka, which speaks about destiny in introspect, a characteristic of Igbo folklore and music. Oge is an advice, warning us not to be caught up in the web of pleasing people because no matter what one does, they will always talk. It further talks about how good times are limited and how we should take proper advantage of it.
The tracks; Bolo Bolo, Fall, Bena, Anita, Ifeoma Odoo, and Crazy Lover tell the story of a man’s search for true love and the obstacles faced along the way. It takes us through a rush of emotions: love lost, gained, and fulfilled. Osondu is a letter of hope to every Hustler in this race called life. Then, the album ends with a question, Onye ma Uche? which means, Who knows the mind? It says that instead of bothering about what others are thinking, we should live and let live.
The album brings to life memories of a night out at a local bar, where Palmwine and local delicacies like Nkwobi and Isiewu abound. The Cavemen would be the Live Band in the corner, starting softly then rising to a crescendo as we immerse ourselves in the sheer beauty of Igbo language.
The album also features Top-tier acts like Lady Donli, Femi Leye and others.
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You can listen to Roots here. Make sure to have a keg of palm-wine beside you as you prepare for a trip into a blend of rich cultural sounds from an ancient African culture.
A big thank you to Ms. Chidinma Okoye for the translations from Igbo to English.
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