Drummer extraordinaire, Aderemi Kabaka Adenihu left indelible footprints everywhere he went. With his drumsticks.
From Lagos to London. Paris to New York. Johannesburg to Amsterdam. From Rio de Janeiro to Los Angeles. Remi Kabaka played them all.
Remi, who later in life became better known to his many admirers by the moniker: ‘Kaboks’, passed on quietly December 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. He was 80 years old.
A freak of nature, Kaboks could make the drum talk. He played anything drum.
Kabaka mesmerized on the drummer’s seat - trap drums, the traditional Yoruba talking drum, the conga and even the marching band drums - he was the maestro.
His gifting skills as a drummer and musician instantly caught the attention of record company executives, the public and the media.
British record producer, Chris Blackwell (who now lives in Jamaica) was fascinated by Remi’s talents and recommended the Nigerian drummer for sessions with leading bands in London and all around Europe in the 70’s.
For those who know or may not know, London was the entertainment capital of the world in the 70’s.
America only drew inspiration from the British pop music culture. For any act or artist anywhere in the world to make it to the apex of the entertainment world, you had to play the London circuit.
At the height of her musical suzerainty, the UK produced the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, et al.
That was the era when Remi ‘Kaboks’ Kabaka horned his craft in the British capital - at a time when there was an acute shortage of good energetic and innovative drummers.
He arrived on the UK scene when British music producers were beginning to ‘think out of the box’ with the fusion of African and Caribbean vibes into mainstream rhythms.
Before him were pioneers such as his countryman, percussionist Gasper (Gas) Lawal and Ghanaian drums virtuoso, Guy Warren (later known as Kofi Ghanaba).
‘Kaboks’ excelled.
He was ambitious. Charismatic. A good talker. With a bohemian fashion style.
It wasn’t any surprise that he was much sought after in the highly prestigious industry.
The Beatles came calling. Followed by The Rolling Stones and Bob Marley, Paul Simon, Miriam Makeba. And the list goes on and on.
The last time I saw him play was during Hugh Masekela’s World tour in the mid-90’s. In Long Beach, California.
After that, as he was used to doing (unannounced), he stopped by at the offices of The African Times/USA in Los Angeles quite frequently.
During one of those visits, he profoundly surprised me when he showed up with an old friend and mentor, another Nigerian and African great - musician and writer, the late Bayo Martins.
Uncle Bayo was visiting from his home in Germany. We all later had lunch at one of the many Nigerian restaurants in town. And caught up with stories about ‘home’.
It was a reunion of sorts. Last time the three of us were together was in Lagos.
Remi was also part of the African music renaissance in the UK in the 80’s with bands such as Osibisa (with whom he played quite frequently), the Funkees, Ofo The Black Company, etc.
Individually, he joined forces with the likes of Teddy Osei, Mac Tontoh, ‘Loughty’ Lasisi Amao, Jake Sollo, Kiki Gyan, and Larry Ifedioranma to create a new sound - Afro jazz - that swept through the London club circuit and captured the imagination of the British audience, Black and White.
Back in Nigeria, he had attempted to do some solo work. And to his credit, he recorded and produced an album with a single titled: ‘Funky Lagos’ that garnered considerable airplays before he migrated to the United States.
He is survived by his children, most notable being Remi Kabaka Jr., a record producer, and of course percussionist based in the United Kingdom.
Sleep well, ‘Kaboks’. You came. You saw. And you conquered.
Sun’re oo..