SILA

As a child growing up in Kenya, Sila Mutungi discovered Western music through his deeply-religious grandmother’s radio. He honed his musical craft by singing original songs in church. In 1986, he moved to Washington, DC, ostensibly to attend college (a move partially financed by tribespeople who sold cows to raise tuition money), but instead used the funds to pay for a demo tape. Yet the music industry at that time wasn’t interested in an R&B singer with a heavy Kenyan accent.

Ten years later, having relocated to San Francisco, Sila experienced an epiphany during a Baaba Maal concert at the Fillmore Auditorium. Instead of trying to subvert his African-ness to fit into an American paradigm, he decided to embrace it.

He once again started to write music, combining Western influences (Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Sly Stone, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley) with African inspirations (Maal, Fela Kuti, Thomas Mapfumo). Calling his new sound “AfroFunk,” he formed Sila and the AfroFunk Experience in 2003.

The band immediately carved out a niche in the Bay Area’s world music scene, spearheading a polyrhythmic renaissance and establishing a reputation for dynamic live performances. In 2004, Sila co-founded the AfroFunk Festival, a showcase for Afro-inspired bands (whose proceeds benefited humanitarian causes) which evolved into an annual event and tour.

More sweaty, ecstatic shows followed, and in 2006, Sila and the A.F.E. released their first album, The Funkiest Man in Africa – whose title paid homage to Fela Kuti. Afropop.org called the album “a terrific work of contemporary funk” and noted, “Sila’s message… is as strong as the musicianship.”

The band tightened their live performance chops with well-received appearances at prestigious events like the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Outside Lands, and the Stern Grove Festival, before introducing their sophomore album Black President with a triumphant record release party at SF’s world-renowned Mezzanine nightclub.

Inspired by the election of Barack Obama, the album was acclaimed as a masterpiece of infectious, contemporary Afro-grooves and poignant social commentary. Hailed as one of the Top 5 Afropop albums of the year by NPR, Black President won the 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding World Music Album over a stellar list of nominees including Zap Mama and Omou Sangare.

In January 2010, Sila announced the next step in his musical journey: a solo album which explores even more of his diverse musical tastes, from Ethiopiques-esque jazz-funk to Afro-rock, Afro-reggae and Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Working the new songs into shape during an open rehearsal residency at SF club Coda, he also found time to headline the “SF Hearts Haiti” benefit at the Independent, which raised over $10,000 for earthquake relief. The as-yet-untitled album is scheduled for summer 2010 release.