Oluwafemi Adegoke Showcases Skillfulness and Creativity at Celebration Praise in Birmingham

By Emmanuel Daraloye

The completeness of music is not only in the chances it takes on the soul and the body of the listeners but also in its content. Sounds play big distinctive roles as they come together, and they are produced from instruments to add more beauty to the human voice. The drum set is a very popular musical instrument, and its essence and splendor are made known by a skillful drummer. In Nigeria, today, among those drummers who are masterful of their skills and embodied by the art is Adegoke Oluwafemi Samson.

Adegoke Oluwafemi Samson, popularly called Laquinta, is a certified drummer and percussionist who is at the nexus of traditional African beat and contemporary drumming style. His charm on the drum set and versatility have drawn him to many people and diverse organized shows and events. Across Nigeria and the UK, Laquinta’s performances have also been widely spoken of by audiences as mind-blowing and even beyond words. One of those organized events where he again shows his resplendence is at the Celebration of Praise with Bidemi Olaoba in March, 2025.

Laquinta starts to show his eagerness and skillfulness with rolls and other techniques even before the start of the first track. His topples on the cymbal and his footing on the pedal, which gives some heart-thumping kicks, tighten the beat and enliven the audience. When the singer starts by saying “Ehn ehn…” Laquinta’s hit of the toms and his smash of the snare with the intro give off a vibe filled with readiness. With an energy so incomparable, he lights the hall with not just crashing cymbals and rumbling toms but with an infectious ease.

As the tempo fluctuates, Laquinta’s timing and rhythmic balances really showcase his over 15 years of experience as a drummer. He draws in the moments with this so effortlessly. The pauses and how he fills in alongside the talking drummer, the keyboardist, and the guitarist, among others, make him exceptional at teamwork. His interactions with other band members during his performances show that his creativity isn’t for himself alone but for everyone, as this also shows in the joyful reactions of the audience to his groove.

His snare is crispy, his kicks are punchy, and his general tuning of his drum set is fantastic. It is great to note that the splendor and the magnificence of a drummer are also heard in the sounds of his drums. Laquinta is not just a drummer filled with contents of music techniques but also the technical aspect. He knows the hardware of his instrument, too. The singer himself feels that and at some points gives him a thumbs up.

The audience’s favorite moment is when the singer gives a mild break while singing, “Mo wo ibi ti mo ti beere…” Before this, Laquinta’s close-up with his call and response (with the instruments) blows up everyone’s mind. Laquinta’s roll on the snare after the singer jokingly tells the audience, “Ask your neighbor where you’re coming from,” sets the audience on fire for the next moments of the performance. It builds momentum also in the singer and the backups, as they are seen showing their legwork, giving the event a feel of thankful spirit.

Till the close, which is a worship medley, Laquinta carries the souls of the audience, the spirit of the singer, and the voices of the backup singers in his sticks, the crash of his cymbals, and importantly, his infectious energy. He again puts forth his experiences and expertise as a professional drummer and a true worshipper in this kind of event. His performance at the Celebration Praise with Bidemi Olaoba in Birmingham may showcase perfection and masterfulness, but it gives out the essence of practices: sleepless nights, uncomfortable growth, and a willing soul. Laquinta, with his youthfulness and giant strides, is ready for the next great phases of his career and future.