Wakati: Translates to “ Our Times” throughout the pandemic, life has been difficult to many through out the world. Social issues have risen including division, extremism, hate, anti-Black racism, Indigenous issues, misogyny, war in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Middle East, famine. Climate change is causing extreme weather events such as flooding, landslides, wildfires, drought, extreme heat, and melting polar ice.
Inflation has caused the cost of living to rise; food insecurity sends people to food banks which are already empty, and the lack of housing is unsustainable. Everything is connected to nature: our trees, the plants, and the wetlands do help in preventing of erosion and drought. Nature is a balance. Emissions and pollutants unbalance it. The oceans are full of plastic trash; excess logging destroys the natural carborn filters.
Life seems so much harder, and the little hope seems to have worn off during this time. But there is still hope. Though times are hard, I have lots of music flowing through me, and music is healing. I wanted to share the sounds of my homeland’s traditional music with the world. Styles of Kenyan rhythms flowed from me through my music including Chakacha, Benga, Mchechemeko, and Chella

A story:
I see mountains in the far distance, the sun is high, and I’m standing on hard hot sand. Beside me is a child. I look around and all I see is a few trees. It’s hot; the child is covering her head. She says I’m fetching for water to take home, and I asked her where are your parents? The child says they too are fetching for water, and we got lost in the wild….

In the neighbouring village a celebration is taking place, a festival of traditional music is taking place, music playing different songs and they’re all singing, dancing all apart of the ritual, when an new born is presented to the villagers outdoors. People gather and sing, a libation is poured on the ground for the ancestors, and the festival continues through the night.
I was born in a traditional village where I grew up, I played and sung with other children in the village, and we looked at the moon, and there was story telling until we fell asleep on the laps of our parents, and coming to find out we were taken to bed without knowing, now it’s the morning another day packed with fun!! Ho hoo!

I’m proud to be an African and a Canadian. Thanks to Ontario Arts Council - O.A.C.
Adam Solomon
416 817 5616 adamsolomonlive.ca


Album Credits:
Conrad Henderson: Bass guitar (all tracks except 7)
Walter McLean: drumkit track 1 to 6
Donald Moyo Mmcdee: Keyboards ( track 1 to 7)
Elliot Creager: Rhythm guitar (track 1 to 6)
Jef Kearns: Flute (track 4)
Mohamed Daudi Khalifa: Percussions ( all tracks).
Adam Solomon—Lead vocals, lead guitar (all tracks)

Music recorded at B. Musique Productions Studio Toronto.
Sound technician: Bryant Didier
Mixing by: Aron Nitunga
Mastering by: Adny Krehm, Silverbirch Studios, Toronto
Sincere gratitude to Nadine McNaulty, and Nancy Barrett
Many thanks to OAC
Producer: Adam Solomon
Composer: Adam Solomon
Golden Goose Productions

adamsolomonlive.ca

SOCAN - MPL Music Canada

Photography and Arts design by: Nancy Barrett





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Thank you to the Ontario Arts Council for their funding support, Nadine McNulty for the arts consulting, Nancy Barrett for art edits, text, moral support, photographs, design and Love!
Wakati was recorded in Toronto at B. Musique Productions Studio, Bryant Didier
Mixed by Aron Nitunga. CD mastering by Andy Krehm
Music composer and Producer Adam Solomon
SOCAN – MPL - Golden Goose Productions