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. We have different special guest DJs who make an appearance alongside Raymond Bola Browne aka DJraybeeBrowne of Igroove Radio who is our resident DJ. 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 OCTOBER 16TH, 2015 SEE YOU THEN! Afropolitan Vibes Magazine credits: Editor: Abby Ogunsanya Guest artists profiles: Adebola Rayo Timi Dakolo profile: Dami Ajayi Graphic design and layout: Graeme Arendse
Cover and Berlin photographs: Miriam Sire Camara Guest artists’ photographs: Courtesy of subjects Show photographs Aderemi Adegbite
Printing: John Bola Contact and advertising enquiries: info@afropolitanvibes.com Tel: + 234-803-4937094
Issue 23 // September 2015
Editor’s Notes
It has been an extremely busy but exhilarating September for Afropolitan Vibes. The entire BANTU crew headed to Germany for two performances; the first was at the President’s Citizens’ Party held on the grounds of Schloss Bellevue. We give special thanks to the Siemens Foundation, Music In Africa and the Presidency for inviting us and to all our supporters who travelled from best and far to come to Berlin to support us; the second show was at LIDO, a popular club in Berlin where the band brought their special blend of Afrocentric music to a very appreciative audience. We all returned to Lagos on Monday in readiness for rehearsals for our usual show on the 3rd Friday of every month. Touring has been great fun and the band looks forward to touring more in the future. We hope you enjoy the show!
In this issue
Dami Ajayi profiles Timi Dakolo. Rayo Adebola profiles our other guest artists Illbliss, Awadi and Immaculate. We feature pictures from the two shows in Berlin. We feature pictures from our August 21st show at Afropolitan Vibes
Contact us
You can email us with your thoughts at info@afropolitanvibes.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.
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Issue 23 // September 2015
Timi Dakolo is arguably one of the best Nigerian male vocalists and perhaps the most vibrant. Winner of maiden edition of Idol West Africa (in 2007) and a native of the Bayelsa State that gave us President Goodluck Jonathan, Timi Dakolo was born in Ghana, of a Ghanaian mother who died when he was only thirteen years old. He was raised by his paternal grandmother who not only nurtured him into healthy adulthood but also put a song in his mouth. It was from her that he learnt the art and the joy of music and he has never departed from it.
celebrate debauchery, especially of the sexual kind. His is the alternative to that: the kind that glories in mundane relationships, love of a divine order, preaching peace and harmony in the society and fostering nationalism. Timi Dakolo compares easily with his contemporaries worldwide in both acoustic delivery and lyrical proficiency. In his stint as a West Africa Idol contestant, it was easy to tell he was influenced by the entire canon of American slow music from Bluegrass all the way to Ginuwine. Add to this elegant tapestry, the music of U.K born & based Lemar Obika , a fellow Nigerian who has a similar voice texture and plumbs similar concerns of celebrating and chastising love and lovers.
With a sultry voice capable of pitching unlikely falsettos that recall the brilliance of old master vocalists like I.K Dairo, Eddie Kendricks and even Micheal Jackson, Timi Dakolo is a breath of fresh air from the cave of halitosis that is our contemporary music scene. His brand of music which fuses, rather masterfully, elements of American R & B/ Urban Soul with native lyrical content, has been classified in Nigerian as alternative music. His music, of course, is not quite the dominant autotuned and automated type seeking to objectify the female form or
During the West Africa Idols judged by the trio of Dan Foster, Dede Mabiaku and Abrewa Nana, Mr Dakolo was evidently an outlier. The keen competition was between himself and the Urhobo songstress Omawumi Megbele, who has also gone ahead to make music that have met both critical and commercial acclaim. It was during this competition that he learnt of the passing of his grandmother. Notwithstanding the devastating effect of this loss of a close relative, he clinched the much coveted first prize which includes a lump sum of money and a recording deal with Sony BMG. In the interregnum, Dakolo released a slew of well-mannered singles that were well received by the Nigerian listening audience. He quickly followed with his debut album, Beautiful Noise, named perhaps after Neil Diamond’s 70s album. This album remains a watershed in the blossoming scape of Afro-soul and R & B. With a generous mix of both high, low and mid-tempo songs, this album caters to the needs and nuances of various listeners regardless of their age and exposure insofar they are united by the expectations of good music.
Dami Ajayi Website: timidakolo.ng.com Twitter: @timidakolo
Let It Shine, a remake of the popular song, brought in a fresh perspective perhaps inspired from biography and it was set that this 34 year old singer from Bayelsa was ready to illuminate the world with his music. Three years after his album release, Timi Dakolo maintains his momentum as a habitual singer/songwriter by releasing powerful singles like Iyawo mi, which has quickly risen to become the quintessential wedding ceremony song, and Great Nation, a solemn song that is fast competing with the National anthem as the epitome of expressing nationalistic allegiance. Timi Dakolo is a delight to watch at performance. He clutches the microphone and brings his effervescence into his vocal delivery as well as his stage craft.
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Music as a Weapon says. For me I will not judge somebody who sings “body body, bring the girls and the money”. I will not judge them but I think when we have the chance to be heard by millions and millions then we need to use our voice the best way we can.”
Senegalese rapper, Awadi, has toured the world with Positive Black Soul, a music group he started, and as a solo artist with his crew, PBS Radikal. Awadi makes conscious and revolutionary music, highlighting major issues in his society and sometimes how to deal with them.
For Awadi, as long as the inspiration comes, he writes and creates conscious music.
“To be a musician today and have the mic, be in the spotlight is a blessing so we have to use it in a way to benefit our people,” he says. “For me, music is a weapon. Music is my weapon and we’re in a big fight. It’s a real struggle. I mean look what’s happening around us from extremism to fight for power, poverty. Everything you touch, it’s a struggle in Africa. You can’t have a mic and always sing about ‘everything is cool’.”
“I just feel the inspiration and start writing. It can be a beat that I just take. I find a pen on the floor and write quickly. It can the music coming first and you just have to find the lyrics quickly because the melody is there. I just find the right feeling, the vibe. I feel it and follow it.” Although he sings in French, the spirit behind his music has a way of transcending the language barrier.
Africa has a rich history of revolution, whether through music or political action. Yet, the same problem musicians like Fela sang about in the 80s are what the continent still faces. I ask Awadi what it’s like to try to bring on change through music and find that year after year it’s still the same cycle. “It’s really frustrating because you talk about these things and they never change. Fela talked about it and Kwame Nkrumah talked about it too yet we still have the same problems,” he says. “And today’s is bigger because if you take the example of Kwame Nkrumah saying we need an African army today when you go to Nigeria where the extremists are, you see that we need an African army, an African high command like he used to say to repel all these kinds of enemies coming from inside and outside. So, yeah, it’s a big frustration but at the same time democracy is a reality today. It will come to Nigeria for example, the picture of democracy is important. Nigeria is a big champion of democracy. There is hope and I’m an Afrooptimist.”
Adebola Rayo Website: didierawadi.com Twitter: @awadimusic
“I just follow my vibe. If the crowd feels the vibe then it’s okay. I do my thing. For me it’s no stress. I just try to share the good vibes. When you talk about something, when it’s coming from your heart, it can touch someone else’s heart.”
In spite of the real problems facing the continent, only a few musicians lend their voices to amplifying the situation and seeking change. Awadi posits that if the crowd loves feel good songs, of course musicians will sing them. “If the crowd wants to listen to conscious music, then the musicians will play this kind of music. But at the end of the day, the artists is free to do what he wants,” he
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The Man, the Music and More Ill Bliss is a Nigerian rapper, recording artiste, businessman and owner of The Goretti Company, an outfit that helped launch the careers of Chidinma and Phyno. Ill Bliss also co-owns Capitol Hill with renowned videographer Clarence Peters. Since his first album, Ill Bliss has released several hit songs including ‘You Go Wound O’ and ‘Aiye Po Gan’ As an artist, Ill Bliss is conscious of finding a balance and not being a one-directional artist. His new album features songs that cut across subjects, from politics to religion to childhood memories.
Adebola Rayo
“It’s a different kind of war’ is something I wrote before the elections. It captures what Nigerians were going through at the time. I go from educating the people and talking about socially relevant topics to moving into the good life because at the end of the day, Nigerians want to be happy, feel good and dance. It’s a compendium of sounds,” he says of his new album.
Twitter: @illblissgotetti Facebook.com/illblissogaboss
was working and I put out ‘That Igbo Boy’. I had some hit songs on that like Aye Po Gan with Terry G. I had “You go wound o” which was the first time people saw Kel the rapper. We did all of that but sadly I didn’t have the time to chase and follow up on it because I didn’t think music was going to give me the kind of stability I needed.”
Listening to an Ill Bliss track, one gets the sense that a lot of his person and his experiences find their way into his songs. “I don’t know how to sing about things I haven’t gone through. I put myself first, I want people to buy my album and know who I am,” he says. “That’s how it is for me. I’m inspired by a lot of classic rappers like the late Notorious BIG, Rick Ross, NAS. They put a lot of their lives on wax and I’m inspired by listening to them.”
One thing that must be said for Ill Bliss is that beyond honing his own talent, he recognised other talents and helped to develop them. Phyno and Chidinma are two artists who benefitted from this.
Besides rap, other genres of music have influenced Ill Bliss’ style and these influences often make their way into his music. “I listen to a lot of Fela and Jazz as well. I’m widespread when it comes to genres. I love having some elements of RnB in my songs, some Jazz. I listen to everything. I get inspiration listening to other genres.
“After my second album, I took some time off to work with some artists. I had to mold Chidinma’s career; I had to mold Phyno’s career. I started running a label and switched off my music till 2014 when I knew I needed to be more consistent and I started recording the new album.”
Grooming Talents
Music First
The rapper, who grew up in Enugu but moved to Lagos to chase his dreams, has won many hats – from banker to musician to talent developer and record label executive.
His efforts definitely paid off because some of the Label’s artistes are part of the biggest names in the Nigerian music industry at the moment. But now that he’s proved himself in many ways, Ill Bliss is refocusing on his career as a musician.
“Between my debut and sophomore album, I didn’t quite focus on music because I had a day job. I started my work career as a banker,” he says. “I’m selfemployed now. I have my own businesses. But then I
“I tell myself that the same way I build artistes is the same way that I have to build myself as well. It hasn’t happened that way for me yet because the artists I
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why I’m on the Afropolitan platform this month.”
build have me but I didn’t have anybody when I was coming into the game,” he says. “I just tell myself I need to work harder. Because there is so much music in me I don’t think I’m stopping any time soon. I’m already recording my fourth album.
For fans who didn’t catch any of the concerts, he has more events in the works and he briefly talks about planning an intimate, unplugged session for fans. Putting himself out there more often is for the music though, because he’s not a very outgoing person.
For him, the music will always come first and he is intensifying his efforts as a performing artist.
“I’m a bit of a contradiction, really. I make wonderful music and inspire other artists but sometimes I really just want to stay at home and watch soccer and chill out with my wife. To just not be bothered by the pressure of the industry. That’s why people can’t really say shit about me because I don’t really put my business out there. I realize I need to be more out there and outgoing though,” he says.
“A lot of people say they don’t see enough of me and I told myself that this year I’m going to fix all of that. I dropped the album then I went on tour with DJ Spinall and Ice Prince, MI and Adekunle Gold and other people for the Smirnoff Tour. We did Benin, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and other places. Everywhere, we killed things and we knew we had to do more. That’s
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Adebola Rayo Website: vivace.net Twitter: @immaculatesings
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Immaculate explains that listening to sounds inspires her and her career is just about her being concerned with sounds and emotions.
Immaculate is such a vocal powerhouse that many Nigerians were rooting for her when she competed in Project Fame’s 2013 edition. She emerged runner-up in that competition but what many don’t know is that she had also competed in Nigerian Idol and in the Peak Talent Competition in previous years.
“The only way I can actually translate how I feel is writing them down and going into the studio to record so I think that’s the major reason I started making music.”
“I’m a very competitive person,” she says about those experiences. “It’s not like I wanted to go there to compete; I saw it as fun and an avenue to learn. At that point, I had no one. I just knew that I loved music. I can learn from these people, I thought. Having one on one constructive sessions about music is important so I wanted to go through those phases and train.”
Building Relationships in the Industry Coming from a community that supported her closely, the music industry has been a different ballgame for the young singer. “I feel like a queen when it comes to my community and people around me. But in the industry, they still want to tag you ‘upcoming artist’ so you have to give your 100% when it comes to the industry. With your family and the community, even if you can do ‘Amen, Halleluyah’ they accept that you can sing but when it comes to the industry, you’re on your own. That’s why I tend to do more performances and more appearances so I don’t have to introduce myself anymore. Your talent and whatever you have will speak for you.”
The skills she learnt helped her to hone her writing and stage performance. On the back of Project Fame came the signing to Vivace Records and it’s been a steady climb up for Immaculate since that time. “After Project Fame I got signed to Vivace Records with TY Mix. That’s another projection I’m talking about. If I was in my room, nobody would have known. Maybe just Kirikiri people or my family and my church members.”
In spite of that, she’s been building relationships in the music industry. Her newest single, ‘Osanle’, was cowritten by Sound Sultan.
Immaculate has come quite a way from the young Kirikiri girl who decided at 19 to become a musician.
“He’s actually my big bros. He’s one of those people I respect in the industry. He’s more than a mentor to me. He’s like family,” she says about him. “Even writing ‘Osanle’ was not exactly planned. I was sleeping and he came to the studio and said we should write. ‘Osanle’. It really came from nowhere.”
Learning from Kirikiri “I was born in Ajegunle then we moved to Kirikiri. Growing up in Kirikiri town is like learning from the hardcore part of the world,” she says. “You see a lot of talented people and they really helped me because when you tend to see people that are very talented, you improve your talent as well. They love to learn and help. We’re just one big family. And I remember how, during my days in Project Fame, I enjoyed their support, everybody voted. People came out with a brigade band and they begged people from street to street to vote for Immaculate. I owe them a big deal.”
Her songs are energetic and her live performances even more so. It’s no surprise that ‘Osanle’ quickly catches the listener’s ear. Immaculate is currently working on an album. “I’m working on my album, but I don’t know when it will come out. I’ll be releasing teasers like singles and videos though.”
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AUGUST 2015 Edition
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ANTU in ERLIN