Formed in New York in 2002, the Akōya Afrobeat Ensemble (AAE) plays a mix of African Afro-Cuban jazz and funk music. The group is fronted by lead vocalist Kaleta, who has performed and recorded with Fela Kuti & Egypt 80 and King Sunny Ade. Incorporating all the instrumentation and vocal power of an African-style group, the 13+ member band’s sound pays homage to Fela Kuti, one of the true pioneers of afrobeat. The line-up of AAE is made up of band members from five different continents who all share a common love and passion for the music. Their debut album, Introducing the Akōya Afrobeat Ensemble, was released in 2004. Their second, President Dey Pass, was released in 2008. The band took a long sabbatical from recording, finally returning in 2016 with the album Under the Tree.
