OLUFUNMI PRESENTS

The greatest gift of the Most High, next to life, is the gift of the mind and the things we can create with it. Culture is the manifestation of this gift. Art is a manifestation of Culture, and has always been important and a part of how we show praise. It has also been important to the development of humanity in society. Culture is the heart of the people and an expression of Jah energy in us. "As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee."

Olufunmi Presents was born out of this philosophy. From its beginings in 1978 it has been the focus of OP to be a movement to support and spread art and positive cultural events of many types and cultures and bring people together to experience them. We offer event coordination, production and promotion, as well as artist management and support through our arts management group, AO Management.

OP is also a fundraising function of the Order of Olufunmi, to help fund the community programs and projects of the Order. To that end we have always partnered with and helped other grassroots organizations with benefits and events of all kinds

 

Olufunmi has always been at the forefront of the reggae music movement since its beginings in the Western U.S. We were also a major part of the punk and new wave movements which transitioned into Ska. Olufunmi Presents was the first to combine these music genres in events, like our infamous "Punk Giants Meet the Reggae Monsters" concert series. The Temple Beautiful(1839 Geary), Folsom Street Studio, and the American Indian Center and Reggae Street, all great venues from the San Francisco music scene's historic past were started and made famous by OP. We also were an intergral part of the beginings of Hip Hop on the West Coast, working with and presenting many of the early artists like Afrika Bambatta and Chuck D, the Funketeers, Rock Box, the Funky Fresh Crew and others.

OP has always been a leader in social consciousness in music. We were part of the founding of Rock Against Racism in California and of the Free Geronimo Pratt committee just to name a few. We sponsored concerts and benefits for various community based organizations, as we did when we presented the Clash with New Youth Productions.

OP has also done and supported many tours for many top artists, especially first time, introductory ones. Our crews have supported groups like the Mighty Diamonds, Bad Brains, the Slits, the Meditations, Obo Addy, The Ethiopians, the Gladiators, Errol Scorcher, Sugar Minott, the Untouchables, Dead Kennedys, the Rastafarians, the Units, It's A Beutiful Day, and on and on. Many of our crews have gone on to be tops in their fields.

We held the very first Birthday tribute to Bob Marley after his passing. We worked with Petert Tosh on his first and only visit to California.

Now after a few years off OP is reorganized bigger and better, but with the same focus and family style. Our new director is an OP vet from earlier days, Ron Wesley.

Ron Wesley is a veteran producer. He came up through the ranks of OP and went on his own to produce some pretty amazing shows. In addition to his duties as Director of O.P., he is also ordained to work with our support group, the Olufunmi Community, which is our non-Rastafarian Sisters and Brothers who support the work and focus of Olufunmi. He is an old community advocate and strategist. He is using his experience and Know how to help make Olufunmi Presents, different kind of cultural production group, and further the goals of the Order.

We have new venues to work, and many new artists to bring forward. OP is back! As our moto says, "We are the roots sinking ever deeper, taking stronger hold".