What is Afropolitan Vibes?
Afropolitan Vibes is a monthly live music concert which exists as a platform for alternative music: a place where music lovers congregate to watch contemporary singer-songwriters and musicians perform mostly original works that are firmly rooted in African musical origins of Afro-beat, Afro-funk, Afro-hip-hop, Afro-pop and Highlife music. A host of talented artists gather each month to rehearse and then perform with Bantucrew on stage at Freedom Park’s Main Stage. The show is held every third Friday of each month. Show starts promptly from 8.00pm-10.30/11.00pm. Afropolitan Vibes is co-produced by Ade Bantu and Abby Ogunsanya.
Bantu
Bantu aka Brotherhood Alliance Navigating Towards Unity is a 12-piece Afrofunk-Afro-hip-hop-Afro-beat musical collective founded by Nigerian-German brothers Adé Bantu and Abiodun. The band features multi-instrumentalists and singers who perform as a collective.
Palm Wine Tradition
Palm wine is now available at all our shows. As our palm wine is always freshly tapped in Badagry in the early hours of the morning of each show, this luscious white liquid is guaranteed to be sweet and only mildly intoxicating as it is yet unfermented. Our palm wine is served the traditional way: the wine is available to buy per gourd (to share with friends/family) or in individual calabashes. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are also available for purchase at the Freedom Park bar area where we encourage you all to come join us after the show for a drink, chat and photographs.
Official After Party
After each show, we have an after party gig at the Freedom Park bar area. Your DJ for the night will be Raymond Bola Browne aka DJraybeeBrowne of Igroove Radio. Join us at the Freedom Park bar for past, present and future dance music all in the mix.
Spread the Word
If you love Afropolitan Vibes, spread the word – tweet about us - @afropolitanvibe join our facebook page - facebook.com/Afropolitanvibes subscribe tour digital magazine - issuu.com/afropolitanvibes and invite your friends and family next time.
PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO AFROPOLITAN VIBES SHOW IN FEBRUARY
NEXT AFROPOLITAN VIBES SHOW WILL BE ON MARCH 20TH 2015 SEE YOU THEN!
Afropolitan Vibes Magazine credits: Editor: Abby Ogunsanya
Graphic Design: Graeme Arendse
Contact and advertising enquiries:
Guest artists Interviews: Rayo Adebola
Cover art photo: Aderemi Adegbite
afropolitanvibes@gmail.com
Profile of Chris Ajilo: Siji Awoyinka
Model: Dare Odebe
Tel: + 234-806788-1471
Bez Biography:
Guest artists’ pictures: Courtesy of subjects
Courtesy of Bez
Printing: John Bola
Show pictures: Aderemi Adegbite
Issue 16 // January 2015
Editor’s Notes
Happy New Year everyone! We are very excited to embark on our maiden edition of Afropolitan Vibes 2015. We worked hard over the Christmas holidays to come up with ideas to help improve the show even more this year. We have also been liaising with numerous artists beyond our shores who we plan to feature this year on the Afropolitan Vibes stage. We are happy to say that sponsors are finally waking up to the huge benefits of associating with the Afropolitan Vibes brand. We are currently in negotiations with various sponsors and in time, we will choose the companies we feel align the best with what we are trying to achieve with Afropolitan Vibes - which is to make it the best live music concert series in Africa. Afropolitan Vibes is held at Freedom Park each month, which is at the heart of Lagos Island, so we thought it apt that we should feature the person who is the backbone of the band on the cover of this month’s magazine. We chose a very busy Lagos street as the location in which to photograph BANTU drummer Dare Odede playing his drums. We look forward to a very exciting year for Afropolitan Vibes in 2015. We are taking a break in February but will be coming back with a bang with our March 20th 2015 show which will also mark our second year anniversary. Enjoy the show!
In this issue
Rayo Adebola interviews two of our guest artistes for this month: Ruby Gyang and Ajebutter22. Singer-Songwriter and Director Siji Awoyinka profiles Chris Ajilo. We feature a profile of Bez.
Contact us
You can email us with your thoughts at afropolitanvibes@gmail.com. We also read all comments and respond to questions on Facebook, and Twitter. We have a limited number of back issues of Afropolitan Vibes magazine. If you would like a copy, please contact us via email or on +234-806788-1471.
We feature some of our favourite pictures from 20th edition of Afropolitan Vibes, which was held on December 20th 2014.
Issue 16 // January 2015
Siji Awoyinka
S
axophonist, music producer, trade unionist, A&R executive are a few of the hats Chris Ajilo has come to wear over the course of his lengthy career. Born in Lagos in 1929, he stowed away to Ghana shortly after the second world war in 1948 and eventually made his way to Birmingham where he started his music career. He enrolled for music classes in London and studied under the tutelage of British saxophonist Johnny Dankworth at Jazz guitarist Ivor Mairant’s Central School of Dance Music, London (later known as the Eric Gilder School of Music).
In 1954, Ajilo returned to the burgeoning highlife music scene in Lagos and a year later formed his own band Chris Ajilo and the Cubanos. The line up included Lati Oluwa (Bass), the late Bayo Martins (Drums), Akanni Martins (Guitar), Johnson Omooba, (trombone) and Candido D’Ajax (Congas). His swan song “Eko” was his debut recording for Decca Records with whom he signed in 1955 upon his arrival back in Lagos. The song talks about the perils of big city life and has since become a highlife classic. His song “Ariwo” was made popular by seminal Afro Rock band, Osibisa and re titled “Ayiko Biaye”. The same song was also recorded by Ginger Baker for his Air Force band. Unimpressed with the level of local musicianship many of who could not read, write or score music, he sent word to all the bandleaders to send their musicians through for proper tutoring. One such beneficiary of his tutoring included the great Lekan Animashaun (Baba Ani). A tireless performer he continues to perform with his local church choir in Ijebu Ojesha. Ajilo whilst serving as an A&R executive and producer for Polygram records in 1979, single handedly spearheaded the careers of the late Osita Osadebe, Kollington Ayinla, Maman Shatta and many others. 5
Issue 16 // January 2015
B
orn Bez Emmanuel Idakula on November 10th, 1983 in Jos, northern Nigeria. Bez creates Alternative Soul, an unusual hybrid of Soul, Rock, Jazz and R&B that sets him well apart from the mainstream Afro hip-pop movement. He is a natural performer with a charismatic and playful stage presence.
His debut album Super Sun, has gone on to international critical acclaim, listed as one of 2012’s Hot R&B/Soul albums on iTunes USA and was rated among the Top 10 World Music Albums of 2011 by the US paper, Boston Globe. This has propelled Bez to other first-rate features on Vogue Italia, Essence.com, Rolling Stone Magazine SA, BBC 1 XTRA, BBC Focus on Africa and MTV Iggy Hall of Fame. Since March 2012, Bez has performed music from his debut release Super Sun to critical acclaim in Africa, USA and the UK. He debuted at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas and at Harvard University. He showcased at a major iTunes store in New York and impressed iTunes so much that he was invited to perform at the iTunes Black Music Month Showcase in Los Angeles in June 2012. Bez’s feel good single ‘’That Stupid Song’’ was debuted on BET’s 106 and Park to massive reviews. He is the first African act to world premiere and be featured on the US and International network. With the coming release of his sophomore album in May 2015, Bez is set to take on the world stage. From big band shows with his swinging four-man band to his intimate acoustic sets, Bez showcases his masterful guitar playing at every turn and proves himself as a noteworthy performer. He is currently signed to C.A.M.P and is a brand ambassador for telecommunications company, Globacom. www.bezworld.com Twitter: @BEZIdakula 7
Afropolitan Vibes
S
ome years ago I read a BellaNaija feature on a music group names ‘Soyinka’s Afro’. The name… it was the coolest. Fast forward to 2013 at Felabration while watching an energetic young man own the stage, I realised he used to be part of that group.
Today, Ajebutter22, as he goes by, has carved a niche for himself with his wordplay and funny lyrics. “My sister used to sing a lot when we were younger, and we used to listen to a lot of music. Then I started rapping and we formed a group, Soyinka’s Afro, while we were in university. After his sister left the UK and moved back to Nigeria, Ajebutter22 started making music on his own. “When I started writing my songs, it was at the time everyone was forming ‘I’m from the streets’. I couldn’t say the same for myself so I decided to be the opposite of that, be myself,” he says of how he came about the name ‘Ajebutter’, a colloquialism for rich kids. “It was hard at first being a solo artist coz when you’ve been in a group the burden of it all is not just on you. Initially it was difficult to learn how to make it all by myself but I started recording myself till I got better.”
Making Magic After completing his master’s degree, Ajebutter22 moved back to Nigeria, a move he says had always been the plan. He met and has continued to work with producers StudioMagic, and his album was made in collaboration with them. “I met with Headphones (one of the duo that makes up
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Issue 16 // January 2015
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I’ve always been in love with wordplay and witty punchlines. I also like funny, unexpected things.
Rayo Adebola
starts. “In Nigeria, it’s a bit desperate sometimes. The music feels forced, people just want to make a hit or make money so they try to do what they think is hot. That’s kind of the mentality of people over here and they rush it a lot.” He goes on to add that the constraints created by poor electricity, traffic jams also hinder musicians from having the necessary time and energy needed to do good work. In spite of that, he and StudioMagic have continued to hone their craft. For Ajebutter22, it is paying off with core fans who know the lyrics and can sing along to his tracks. He admits that he feels lucky to have such fans, explaining that at shows it makes it easier for him to feed off their energy. Right now, Ajebutter22 makes music full-time, but it’s not what he intends to do for the rest of his life. “Doing music full-time is not something I’m going to do for the rest of my life,” he says, adding that he is into IT and business development and intends to put his Petroleum Engineering degree to use.
StudioMagic) and we were recording hiphop tracks at the time. Later on, I met Toxx and immediately we knew that we should be making music together.” They went on to release ‘Senrenren’, the very popular ‘Omo Pastor’, and then came the album. Ajebutter22 still does all the writing and the selection of the music, with the StudioMagic duo focusing on the production of tracks. “Now we’re more of friends than the artist-producer relationship.” A first time listener would probably laugh his or her head off at Ajebutter22 ‘s lyrics and his choice of rhymes. He talks about how he found his style. “I’ve always been in love with wordplay and witty punchlines. I also like funny, unexpected things,” he says. “I like to put people off guard. I really hate having the same lyrics so I try to be a step ahead. I am conscious of that.”
Navigating Nigeria He’s made music in the UK and now in Nigeria. I ask him what his thoughts are about the Nigerian music industry and he describes it as different. “People in the UK are mostly students or young people. They don’t really do it for the money, they do it for fun or because they don’t have anything else to do at the time,” he
www.anytime-soon.com Twitter: @ajebutter22 Instagram: badmanbutter
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Afropolitan Vibes
R
uby Gyang was born into a family of musicians but she decided to take it a step further than anyone else by choosing to do it full-time. As soon as she finished university, she began to toe that career path.
Ruby’s music always sounds like it comes from a personal place. The first time I heard ‘Okay’, it evoked a range of emotions. “For me, I have to connect with the song,” she says. “Either I’ve experienced it or I know someone who has. There must be something that strikes a chord. That connection to a song is very important to me, I’m keen on the lyrics.” Ruby, like a number of other good musicians in Nigeria at the moment grew up in Jos and had dreams of the big stage. “Between 2003 and 2008, we were working, with M.I, Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince – we had a crew we called the Loopy Crew. We all had dreams to be stars and one by one everyone just found their way to Lagos.” Ruby describes Jos as a quiet yet artsy cultural place where most folks were expressing some form of artistic talent or the other. The Jos crisis ended that, she explains. “It was a good place to be a creative. But the truth is that if you want national recognition for your art, you have to go where it’s done nationally and Lagos is the place for that. It was a natural move,” she says.
The Big Stage I find it interesting that Ruby, an alternative artist, admits to wanting national recognition, unlike most. Yet, in her quest for that recognition, the essence of her music has remained uncompromised. 10
Issue 16 // January 2015
“
There must be something that strikes a chord. That connection to a song is very important to me, I’m keen on the lyrics.”
Rayo Adebola
that there were things I needed to do. It wasn’t just enough to record a song and put it out there. I had to start making appearances, become more active on social media, take care of my appearance – coz I realised that people see you before they hear you and if you don’t look good they probably won’t pay attention.” “Also, more opportunities are opening up. The chaos pushes you to be more creative. For example, social media is a great way to push yourself. If you organise yourself properly you can register with online distributing companies, make money off of YouTube and iTunes. It’s really dependent on you taking advantage of opportunities that are there.”
Ruby has been in Lagos for a few years, and she admits that it’s been tough but the passion has kept her going. “I do it for the art but I also want to be famous and rich,” Ruby starts, “The problem a lot of us alternative artists have is that we don’t have a commercial approach to our music. We don’t see our music as products. When you understand that what you’re doing is a product, a viable product, you have to be creative about the way you sell it, using the timetested principles of music business.” Last year, Ruby had a great year, with award nominations, the release of her EP and performances at shows. “I got tired of people telling me that my music wouldn’t work. I decided that I deserved to be heard. I got to perform a duet with Youssou N’Dour, and he was so encouraging to me afterwards. For me, it was a validation that what I’m doing really matters,” she says. Ruby is excited as she talks about the past year, especially as she says, “I got to feature Nneka on a song on my EP, and I realised that by being open with people that openness is what you get back.”
Outside The Box A lot of artists lament the lack of structure, which makes the music industry tough to navigate. “But we work our way around it,” Ruby says. “I realised
Twitter: @rubygyang Facebook: www.facebook.com/Rubygyang 11
DECEMBER 2014 Edition