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 Afro-funk-Afro-hip-hop-Afro-beat musical collective founded by NigerianGerman brothers Adé Bantu and Abiodun. The band features multiinstrumentalists 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. DJ Cuppy will be our guest DJ this month at the after party, followed later by Raymond Bola Browne aka DJraybeeBrowne of Igroove Radio. Join us at the Freedom Park bar immediately after the show to party and hangout with friends.
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.
NEXT AFROPOLITAN VIBES SHOW WILL BE ON JULY 17TH 2015 SEE YOU THEN! Afropolitan Vibes Magazine credits: Editor: Abby Ogunsanya
Graphic Design: Graeme Arendse
Contact and advertising enquiries:
Guest artists profiles: Rayo Adebola
Guest artists’ pictures: Courtesy of subjects
afropolitanvibes@gmail.com
Printing: John Bola
Show pictures: Aderemi Adegbite
Tel: + 234-803-4937094
WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE! We are excited to announce the launch of our new website! Yo u c a n a c c e s s o u r s i te a t
w w w. a f ro p o l i ta nv i b e s . c o m Here you will find comprehensive information about ALL aspects of the shows: information about the band, guest artist profiles, video footage, information about the production team and our partners, upcoming events and eventually even our very own Afropolitan Vibes store where you can buy music and merchandise. It’s the resource that collates everything you need to know about Afropolitan Vibes - past, present and future. We will be updating the website regularly and we want to hear from you about your suggestions for improvements. We hope this new website will be an enjoyable resource for our ever growing Afropolitan Vibes community!
Happy browsing! (Special thanks to DiePreye Krukrubo, creator of AfricentricsLIVE & BusTown Entertainment Network for creating the website)
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Issue 20 // June 2015
Editor’s Notes
It is hard to believe that we are already in June! So far, fourteen artists have joined BANTU on stage to perform this year and this month, four new artists will make their debut at Afropolitan Vibes along with our special guest DJ who will be entertaining us at the after party. It’s been a tough few months; the issue of funding remains but we are forging ahead with the plan to revive the live music culture in Lagos and beyond by continuing to add extensions to the Afropolitan Vibes movement. We added Urban Sessions acoustic sessions in March 2015 and in May, we launched our official website afropolitanvibes.com. This June will see the launch of our new podcast series called ‘Afropolitan Vibes Podcast’, a series where Ade Bantu (and in future other interviewers) will conduct in depth discussions with artists that have performed at Afropolitan Vibes and maybe a few more besides. The first of our podcasts features Sierra-Leonean-German singer songwriter Patrice who performed at our March edition and also made a surprise appearance at last month’s show. To listen to the podcast, visit our website at afropolitanvibes.com/podcast. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list so we can keep you up to date with the latest news and developments. Enjoy the podcast! And the show!
In this issue
Rayo Adebola profiles our five guest artists – Sunny Neji, Kahli Abdu and VHS Safari, Oge Kimono and Geoffrey. We feature biography of DJ Cuppy – our guest DJ of the month. We feature some of our favourite pictures from 25th edition of Afropolitan Vibes, which was held on May 15, 2015.
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 +234-803-4937094.
Afropolitan Vibes
Issue 20 // June 2015
Sunny Neji
www.sunnynejimusic.com /// twitter: @sunnyneji
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interpretation of ‘Joromi’ became an instant classic. Beyond making music for entrtainment, Neji has also sung to pass on social messages. His single ‘Victim of Circumstance’ was dedicated to the victims of the Ikeja bomb blast and performed at a benefit concert in LTV.
inger and songwriter Sunny Neji discovered his voice in Lagos in 1987, when he ventured into recording, earning a reputation as a unique voice on radio jingles and TV commercials. In 1991, he released his debut album, ‘Captain’ on EMI after which he joined the Colours Band and performed as the lead vocalist for five years. In 1997, he released his sophomore single ‘Mr. Fantastik’ which won him several awards and made him a force to reckon with in the Nigerian music industry. By the time Neji released his third album ‘Roforofo’ in October 2000, he had consolidated his position as a contemporary highlife premiere protagonist.
Neji’s fourth studio album ‘Unchained’ gave him number 1 and 2 spots for hit singles ‘Oruka’ and ‘Face Me’. Sunny Neji is the icon of Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State, a GLO Ambassador, CHI Ambassador, Nigerian Road Safety special marshal, KORA award winner, COSON song of the decade winner for ‘Oruka’ and a United Nations Peace Ambassador.
Sunny Neji collaborated on Now Musik’s tribute album to the legendary Sir Victor Uwaifo and his re-
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Afropolitan Vibes
Oge Kimono twitter: @jahtym
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mention a few. She has performed at the Kasumama Festival in Austria, the Ruhr Reggae Summer Festival and the Reggae Jam in Germany.
he apple did not fall far from the proverbial tree in Ras Kimono’s family as his daughter Oge Kimono followed in his path to make reggae music. Ogechukwu Nwamaka Onwubuya was born in Lagos in 1985 and when she turned 10, she took up music as a hobby with encouragement from her father who ruled Nigeria’s reggae scene in the 90s. Oge sang her way through secondary school till 2003 when she made a hobby her fulltime profession.
Oge’s single ‘Drum and Bass’ also enjoyed massive airplay and the video, directed by Aje Filmworks, is a must see for all reggae and dancehall music lovers.The reggae queen has been nominated as Best Reggae/Dancehall and Next Rated Artist in the prestigious Niger Delta Advancement Awards. Her style, lyrics and vocal texture are heavily influenced by Bob Marley, Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica, Lauryn Hill and Ras Kimono. When she is not writing or singing reggae hits, Oge is either swimming, reading or seeing the world, she says.
Her vocal prowess has gained her worldwide recognition in reggae and dancehall music. Oge has sung as backup vocalist for Tuklan, Ade Bantu, Uwe Banton, Rocky Dawuni and her father, Ras Kimono. Oge has shared world stage with Beenie Man, Damian Marley, Nas, Luciano and Turbulence to
Reggae is definitely in the young woman’s blood.
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Issue 20 // June 2015
Afropolitan Vibes
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Issue 20 // June 2015
KAHLI ABDU AND VHS SAFARI
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his trio consisting vocalist Kahli Abdu and producers David and Will began their musical journey in Brooklyn, New York before moving base to Lagos, Nigeria. Since their first show August 2014 in New York, this afro-electro band has performed over 20 shows across the United States. They have also released 4 music videos and their debut album, A.R.T. Project, in January 2015. A.R.T Project spans “an array of eclectic songs, all engaging” (Okay Africa). The album was inspired by Kahli’s experiences and musical influences in Nigeria. This is imprinted sometimes subtly, other times a little less subtly in producing the beats for each single. VHS Safari’s production style includes blending 90s hiphop beats and indie pop synthesizers with Africa rhythmic patterns and beautiful melodies. Kahli Abdu’s combination of rapping and singing tie everything together with personal stories, and meaningful observations on the beauty and struggles in the world. Since last month, the band has been working closely with Chocolate City music and is preparing to release their second album.
twitter: @kahliabdu twitter: @vhssafari website: www.kahliabdu.com
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Geoffrey twitter: @geoffreyoji website: www.geoffreyoji.com
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Geoffrey has performed live alongside Oritsefemi at the Spinlet Karaoke Night in January this year. The lyrical genius has shared a stage with international stars Mario, Freddie Jackson, 112 and Cameo. He was also a headline act at the 3rd anniversary of Loud N Proud and the 8th edition of Corporate Elite. Goeffrey cites 2Face Idibia, Iyanya, Praiz, Chris Brown, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson as his greatest musical influences. The Benue born Afropop and Soul singer prides himself on his ability to connect with his audience with strong vocals and stage presence.
rom the age of 15, Geoffrey knew that he wanted a career in music and moved to Lagos in 2008 to pursue his passion. Geoffrey defied all odds to emerge winner of MTN Project Fame season 7 after being turned away at earlier editions of the competition. Still fresh off his Project Fame win, Goeffrey is working on his debut album with ace producer Masterkraft and aims to have collaborations with 2Face, Praiz and Chidinma. He has already released two singles ‘Password’ and ‘Bursting my brain’ which are currently getting massive airplay on radio.
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Issue 20 // June 2015
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Issue 20 // June 2015
DJ Cuppy C
London, Lagos and New York. This year will see a bigger and better version, which other African artists from around the continent featured. Appointed by the Honorable Minister for Culture and Tourism, on the 17th of April 2014 Cuppy became an official Nigerian Tourism Ambassador. She is currently a brand advocate fuelling the ‘Fascinating Nigeria’ campaign, which is aimed at promoting the development of Tourism. Cuppy currently resides in New York where is currently studying to attain a Masters of Arts in Music Business at NYU and is working as an intern at the Roc Nation headquarters to gain first hand experience about the global music industry. Cuppy calls her new sound Neo-Afrobeats, a genre of music, which blends Electric House with Afro-beats. Cuppy is a young entrepreneur, and is definitely one to look out for.
uppy indulged her love of music first by playing the piano, after which she ventured into producing and thereafter DJing. By the age of 7, she had become a household name, playing at London’s top nightclubs and fashion week events. Cuppy has been privileged to DJ for an elite international set of crowd; she entertained with her turntable skills at the Financial Times Luxury Summit 2014, which was held in Mexico City. She was also the DJ at the Tatler Magazine and Christie’s Inc Arts Ball, which was held in London, followed by a number of corporate events in Dubai. In 2014, she was chosen as the resident DJ at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards in Durban. In July 2014, Cuppy released her highly successful mixtape, House Of Cuppy – a compilation which features remixes of chart-topping Nigerian records. House Of Cuppy was successfully launched in
twitter: @cuppymusic website: www.cuppy.co.uk
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MAY 2015 Edition