Artist: Babatunde Olatunji
Author: Babatunde Olatunji
Label: Columbia
Year: 1959

Ngoma drummer from Nigeria ending up in America, inspiring Santana's Jingo as well (see: Jin-Go-Lo-Ba). Came out on his album Drums Of Passion. There's an a cappella version and a drum version on his Dance To The Beat Of My Drum lp ('86) starring Carlos Santana. New York DJ Murray The K used Akiwowo as the tune for his radio show. Maureen Tucker (Velvet Underground) was a big fan.

Song about a legendary train conductor in Nigeria in pioneering train conducting days. Let's say he was an African Casey Jones (see there). Akiwowo wasn't known for the sound of his whistle, nor for his tragic death, like Casey was, but for his smile. Akiwowo was the happiest man alive serving his land and his fellow citizens as a train conductor.