Abuletic × IamKornerstone present
ILU
(Drums)
A theatrical expression of African talking drums, percussion, music, poetry, folktales and proverbs.
Sunday 6 September 20262pm to 9pmLuton
For one Sunday in September, a community hall in Luton became a theatre where the drum told the story.
ÌLÙ was produced by Abuletic and the Luton percussionist IamKornerstone (Olubunmi Samuel Adebisi). Over seven hours it set talking drums and percussion beside keyboard, saxophone and guitar, and gave poets, a comedian and storytellers their turn between the rhythms.
The idea was simple and old: in Yoruba performance the drum does not only keep time. It announces, answers, praises and warns, and it speaks, because it copies the tones of the language. Proverbs, folktales and poems were performed with it, not between it.
“the drum as a storyteller rather than just a musical instrument”
- Talking drums
- Percussion
- Music
- Poetry
- Folktales
- Proverbs
Guests of honour
- Cllr Javed HussainMayor of Luton
- HRH Cllr Maria Lovell MBEFirst Luton Mayor of African heritage
- Cllr Jacqui Burnett MCMIChair, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority
- Cllr Babatunde AjisolaNorthwell Ward, Luton
- Favour BenOnídìrí
The room
The audience listens
A guest in aṣọ-òkè, listening
Guests in conversation between the acts
The company
- Produced by
- Abuletic · IamKornerstone
- Music
- Temi Commic Music, keys · Dayo Sax, saxophone · Hurlarstringz, guitar · Usman Sax · AspireKeys
- Poetry and voice
- Adeyinka Akinremi (SuperGirl) · Irene Agbo · Gbenga Fayehun · Erioro
- Comedy and creative acts
- MC Crown · Abraham Ogunleye
- Ensemble
- FaterSoJay · Feranmi Adonai · Femisticky · Sojaa · Issifu Dee Amponsah · Debola Akran · B_Stixz · Jumoke Adeyanju · ObiMacDon · OgoOluwa · Daniel
- Event manager
- Olawunmi Sadare
The night in 20 photographs.
- Date
- Sunday 6 September 2026, 2pm to 9pm
- Venue
- Bushmead Community Hub, Hancock Drive, Luton
- Entry
- Free entry, Free parking
The flyer
The poster for ÌLÙ. Photographs by VH Galleria. Poster by IamKornerstone.