In 1964 Olatunji performed at the African Pavilion at the New York World Fair where he was able to raise enough money to open the Olatunji Center for African Culture (OCAC) in
Harlem , offering classes in African dance, music, language, folklore and history.
Today Olatunji continues to travel throughout the world giving percussion workshops. He played with
Mickey Hart ,
Airto Moreira , and
Carlos Santana on his 1986 recording "Drums of Passion: the Beat." In 1991 he and Hart put together Planet Drum, which toured around the country and also recorded an album. He regularly schedules percussion weekends at the
Esalen Institute along the Big Sur coastline in California, and travels all over the U.S. giving workshops.
For more information on this influential percussionist also look at
Olatunji's Home page .
Or read an interesting between
cross-country conversation between Babatunde Olatunji and Arthur Hull.