THE PILGRIMS

Welcome to THE PILGRIMS home page.  The Pilgrims band, formerly well known for its gospel music and Afro beat sound – a fusion of West African rhythms, Hawaiian guitar and traditional talking drum called ‘Bata’.

 

The group was formed in November 2005, led by Adedamola Olayanju (a.k.a Dammy), specialises in Afro-jazz music and currently based in Birmingham, with eight members in this group. The band was commissioned by Rev Ademola Davies in April 2006.

 

The band leader, Adedamola Olayanju (a.k.a Dammy), often quoted saying “My vision is to bring happiness into people’s lives, more importantly, to remind many Africans about their own heritage, and also to expose African culture/values to the western world at large”.

 

Dammy was born in 1980's and presently a  medical student at Manchester University. Born into a Nigerian royal family in Oyo state, Dammy’s grandfather was a music entertainer, likewise many others in his family. The band leader never had the intention of going into music, but his passion for contemporary African music drove him to establish the band in 2005.

 

For the energetic young musician, music was a genetic predisposition, and the band has made a heat wave in the music industry among the African community in West Midlands.

The Pilgrim’s have largely attributed its successful fusion of Afro-jazz and Western rhythms to a new trend in contemporary Afro-folk music. The band started with the intention of playing African music but currently plays most styles of music including juju, Makossa, Alujo, Calypso, gospel and so on. Nevertheless, some hip pop, rap, reggae, gospel and R&B styles influences can be found in their performances. Since established, the band have performed for great occasions and entertained many fans from all walks of life.

 

The eight member band plays a groovy sort of African music characterised by tight vocal harmonies, intricate guitar work with other musical backings from the traditional talking drums, percussion instruments, stylistic keyboard arrangement and Hawaiian guitar.

 

Other Prominent members of the band include Mr Olusola Oduwaiye (Producer and multi-instrumentalist), Mr Isaac Olayanju (manager and multi-instrument), Mr Seun Adewole (P.A. Engineer and a keyboardist), and Dr Femi Orawusi (A bassist and drummer), Mr Damola Popoola (Drummer) and our world wide DJ Wale.

 

The most amazing thing about Pilgrims band is that the members are academically oriented and professionally qualified in different fields. This attribute makes its style of music more unique with a vision of reaching out to a larger fan base. The band not only entertains with its style of music, but also brings happiness into people’s lives. Above all, to bring Africans back to their heritage, by singing in different African languages and dialects. This is the band’s Crossover appeal.

 

The Pilgrims successful stories include the ceremonial event of the Yoruba’s (one of the three main tribes in Nigeria) titled ‘The Yoruba Day’, The Nigerian Independent Day and its Birmingham 2007 Christmas Extravaganza. The PILGRIMS have also featured on major concerts playing along side with the UK prominent artists like Muyiwa and the riversongz, Mike and the MFM crusaders e.t.c., PILGRIMS have also been involved in the Arrangement and Coordination of the musical aspects of major crusades such as the mountain of fire and miracles ministry (MFM) at the Alexandra stadium in wood green London and Aston Stadium in Birmingham, e.t.c.

 

Pilgrims is a force to reckon with in the musical industry and in them lies a music messiah which still continues to be enjoyed by all and sundry all over the world.  WATCH OUT AS THEY WILL BE NEXT TO YOUR DOOR TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!