"Renegades of Funk" Walking Staff Formerly Owned by Afrika Bambaataa

This walking staff was used by Africa Bambaataa (Lance Taylor, b. 1957) in the 1986 video “Renegades of Funk” by Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force. Released in 1983, the song was included on the 1986 album Planet Rock: The Album. The song is an eclectic fusion of electro music, heavy percussion, and politically infused lyrics that draw the connection and similarities between past Black revolutionaries to contemporary street artists.

The Soul Sonic Force is an Electro-Funk and Hip-Hop group led by Afrika Bambaataa and included Mr. Biggs (Ellis Williams, b.1960), Pow Wow (Robert Darrell Allen, b. unknown), The G.L.O.B.E (John Miller, b. unknown) and DJ Jazzy Jay (John Byas, b. 1961). The Soul Sonic Force began as a nine-piece collective with MC’s gradually dropping out, including Lisa Lee who would remain with Bambaataa as part of Cosmic Force and would appear on four hugely influential singles, “Zulu Nation Throwdown Part 2”, “Planet Rock”, “Looking For The Perfect Beat” and “Renegades Of Funk”. Pow Wow had a hand in producing ‘Planet Rock’, and G.L.O.B.E. was responsible for patenting the ‘MC popping’ technique, a description he preferred over rapping, where he would drop in and out of rhymes at short notice producing a unique sound effect that resembled ad-libs. He was also responsible for many of the group’s lyrics. The Soul Sonic Force adapted musical and fashion styles that resembled the fashion of Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament-Funkadelic. Many members of the Zulu Nation dressed in African style clothing, pan-African colors, and many other cultural garbs from other countries around the world.