Issue 42 | September 2017
Issue 42 | September 2017 | Complimentary Copy
FRONT COVER
Issue 42 | September 2017
Issue 42 | September 2017
EDITOR’S NOTE
Our June edition, which was held for the first time in our new ‘home’ of Muri Okunola Park was a night to remember! It was gratifying to see that a change of venue helped to bring you out in greater numbers, even though gusting winds and a full scale downpour provided most of the soundtrack for the night. Tonight, we are hopeful that music will be the center of focus once more, and that you will get to experience all the wonderful things that we have planned for your entertainment on stage and around the park. We love feedback, so please do get in touch with any ideas about what else you would like to see or do around the park. We hope you enjoy the show!
IN THIS EDITION
MAGAZINE CREDITS Editor: Abby Ogunsanya Guest artist profiles: Kolade Arogundade, Wale Adeosun, IféOluwa Nihinlola Cover Photo: Dohdohndawa Photography Show photos: Dohdohndawa Photography Graphic Design: Ayomidotun Freeborn Guest artists pictures: Courtesy of subjects
We profile our guest artists: D-Remedies, Simi, Mayorkun and LasGiidi. We feature some of our favourite pictures from our June 2017 edition which was the first one to be held at Muri Okunola Park. CONTACT US
Contact and advertising enquiries: info@afropolitanvibes.com Tel: + 234-803-4937094
You can email us with your thoughts at info@afropolitanvibes.com. We also read all comments and respond to questions on all of our social media platforms. 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 +234-803-493-7094.
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Issue 42 | September 2017
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 to rehearse and then perform with Bantucrew on stage. The show was held monthly at Freedom Park’s Main stage for four years from March 2013- March 2017. The first of our now quarterly shows was held at Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island on Friday 16th June. Show starts promptly from 8.00pm 10.30/11.00pm. Afropolitan Vibes is co-produced by Ade Bantu and Abby Ogunsanya.
Bantu
Palm Wine Tradition
Bantu aka Brotherhood Alliance Navigating Towards Unity is a 13-piece Afro-funk-Afro-hip-hop-Afro-beat musical collective founded by Nigerian-German brothers AdĂŠ Bantu and Abiodun. The band features multi-instrumentalists and singers who perform as a collective. Palm wine is now available at all our shows. As our palm wine is always freshly tapped in Sagamu 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 bar area where we encourage you all to come join us after the show for a drink and a chat.
Spread the word
If you love Afropolitan Vibes, spread the word - tweet about us, join our Facebook page at facebook.com/Afropolitanvibes, subscribe to our digital magazine at issuu.com/afropolitanvibes and invite your friends and family next time.
THE NEXT AFROPOLITAN VIBES SHOW WILL BE ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 15TH 2017 ENJOY THE SHOW! 4
Issue 42 | September 2017
Simi
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God Lover - Lover Girl
Simisola Bolatito Ogunleye, 29, was born in Surulere, Lagos. She left that suburb aged nine, and once described her stay there as being a “posh girl in a ghetto neighbourhood.” At ten, she started writing songs, and by sixteen was singing as part of teenage dance and choral group called ‘Outstanding’. Many Nigerian artists begin their artistic journey in the church, but few launch their careers with a gospel album. Simi is one of the few. In 2008, she released a gospel album titled Ogaju. She recorded that debut while studying at Covenant Univesity, Ota, from where she graduated with a degree in Mass Communication in 2008. The Samklefproduced album was popular among Christian teenagers who crafted dances to its hit track, ‘Ara Ile’. The track features an energetic beat, with lyrics encouraging the listener to dance, voiced in a mix of English and Yoruba that has become characteristic of her music.
year after, she released Restless, a five-track EP that comprised tracks adapted from popular songs by international artists Adele, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, One Republic, and Rihanna. This EP was the start of her career shift from gospel to secular. Shortly after its release, she was signed to X3M Music. In Restless, the high-pitched teenage voice of Ogaju is adapted into that of a lover girl at once naive and serious in her romantic proclamations. This persona was carried over into ‘Tiff’ and ‘E No Go Funny’, her first releases under X3M Music. These songs, accompanied by well-produced videos, were relatively mild successes. It was the release of ‘Jamb Question’ and the non-singing video feature by Falz that marked the transformation of Simi from underground alternative artist into budding star.
The success of that single—and the album—made her a familiar name among gospel enthusiasts. But she was still relatively unknown in the larger music world. She opened a blog called The Rant Lot in 2012, where she wrote funny updates about life and her mother, but little about her music. Simi met producer Oscar HemanAckah in 2011, and signed a production contract with him in 2013. That same year, she released a mashup cover of Chris Brown’s ‘Don’t Judge Me’ and Asa’s ‘Bibanke’. A
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Where Restless was a very R&B album—perhaps because of the songs its tracks were based on— Simi’s music as an X3M artist has moved into a genre best described as afropop. ‘Tiff’ was nominated for Best Alternative Song at the Headies in 2015, but it’s an award category that seems designated for hard-to-classify songs in the Nigerian music world. On Valentine’s day 14 February 2016, she released ‘Love Don’t Care’, a ballad about the travails of interethnic
Issue 42 | September 2017
love. She was later featured by Falz in his song ‘Soldier’, adding fuel to raging rumours about the apparent fit between the two artists—a fit extending beyond the professional into the personal. Her relationship status was later made clear: on Twitter, Adekunle Gold confessed to writing ‘Orente’ for her. But before the clarification, Falz and Simi capitalised on the rumours. In October 2016, they released a joint EP titled Chemistry. On Chemistry and beyond, for theme, Simi has stuck to love. On some songs, she is the lover pining after a departing man. On others, she is rebuffing men. In all she is cheerful, offering a smile even in situations that call for frown or tears. Riding on catchy hooks and the uniqueness of her voice, Simi has earned her place as a bonafide pop artist. At the 2016 Headies, she won the award for Best Vocal Performance (Female) win ‘Love Don’t Care’, over Aramide, Seyi Shay and Omawumi. Simi has settled into life as a pop star. She now makes regular appearances in shows and festivals in and outside Nigeria, including a January 2016 performance at Afropolitan Vibes. Added to her singing and song writing, she mixes and masters songs as MixBySimi. Simi is a fan of Manchester United and can often be found livetweeting their football matches with the kind passion often associated with men—so, she has doubled down on her style: goofy when others want classy; simple when they want complicated. She is, after all, @SympLySimi on Twitter. IfeOluwa Nihinlola is a writer and editor from Lagos. He writes about music for Musicinafrica. net.
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Issue 42 | September 2017
Mayorkun 8
Issue 42 | September 2017
There’s a new Mayor in town
In 2016, a young banker in Lagos posted a short cover of a popular Nigerian song online; the video caught the attention of the original artist of the song, conversations were had, music demos sent back and forth, and subsequently the young banker was signed to a record label owned by the artist. Also, in the course of that year, the Headies award for the Rookie of the Year, Nigerian Teen Choice Award for Choice New Song of the Year, the City People Entertainment Award for Most Promising Act of the Year were awarded to the newly signed now ex-banker.
Although yet to release an album and with a minimal amount of released tracks, Mayorkun is already on his way to becoming a big Nigerian music star. His singles are on the playlist of club DJs, and Mama – his latest single, is getting sufficient airplay on almost all the radio and TV stations, while his music videos on YouTube are racking up millions of views. He’s presently on a tour of Nigerian Universities and I can be sure all his fans will be singing along.
That young man is Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel, popularly known as MAYORKUN. The 23 year old singer from Osun State was born into a family of artists; his father, Sunday Adewale is a professional musician and film director, and his mother, Toyin Adewale, a popular Nollywood actress. He is a graduate of Accounting from the University of Lagos whose early career in banking has now taken a back seat for a career in music.
Twitter and Instagram – @IamMayorkun Wale Adeosun is a pop culture enthusiast, tweets via @waledash
Like most artists, Mayorkun began his singing in the church choir, however in 2013 while still in University he was said to have featured on a friend’s song. Since the release of his breakthrough single ’Eleko’, under the management of Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), and the tutelage of Davido, Mayorkun has shown a steady growth in fame and fortune. It is hard to state categorically what genre or style of music Mayorkun produces, but he is widely quoted as being influenced and inspired by the sounds of Wande Coal, Davido, Olamide, Asa, Fela and Sunny Ade.
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Issue 42 | September 2017
Las Giidi 10
Issue 42 | September 2017
LasGiiDi, real name Tade Adepoju was born in Lagos, Nigeria but moved to Texas, USA in his early teens. Shuttling between Lagos, Nigeria and Texas, U.S.A, he has always kept in touch with his Nigerian and African roots, as is evident in his music. His musical influences range from Fela to his mentor and personal friend Olamide. With his frenetic work ethic, LasGiiDi who started his music career in 2016 quickly made a mark in the industry with the video release of his previously released single ‘100’s’. He then released the video for his street anthem ‘My Squad’ Ft. Bils. Just three weeks after, released the cypher remix of ‘My Squad’ titled ‘My Squad 2.0’ Ft. Tall Paul, Kidfloh, Ebako, Mr. Renegade & Tytanium to popular acclaim. In March, LasGiiDi dropped another track quite different from what his fans were accustomed to. The track, titled ‘Touch the Sky’ features Chyn and Vanessa Mumba. June 2016 saw the release of the single ‘’Logo’ which would raise his profile considerably and give him greater confidence to follow up with even more impressive music in 2017. Las GiiDihas since followed up with the “Ligali” and has performed alongside many of the biggest African artists on their US tours including Olamide, Davido, Tekno and Iyanya. He was added to the African set list for the 2017 SXSW (South by South West) in Austin, TX. His current single ‘Bottles’ which is already gathering momentum on the airwaves, features his close friend Olamide. Twitter: @LasGiiDi
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Issue 42 | September 2017
D‘Remedies 12
Issue 42 | September 2017
ỌmỌdé. Méta . ń Şeré (Three Children Playing) Two important things happened to the music of Nigeria at the tail end of the 1990s; Kennis Music and two prominent music groups, Plantashun Boiz and The Remedies.. Founded in 1997, The Remedies, now known as D-Remedies consists of Tony Tetuila, Eedris Abdulkareem and Eddie Ashiedu-Brown. They ruled the airwaves and club dance halls with their hits Shakomo and Sade. Shakomo was playful and boyish. They sang in Yoruba over a tune sequenced from an originally MC Lyte score. It was an instant hit. Eddy sang in Yoruba and Eedris rapped in English and Hausa and Tony sang back up. It symbolized the ‘one Nigeria’ dream both in group composition and variety of languages in which they sang. Shakomo gave birth to modern day Nigeria pop music.
hit Omodé In the song, he . . . Méta. . explained in parables the reason for leaving The Remedies. Omodé Méta is a song about three children who play together, one sings, another raps and the third dances. The rapper and the singer decided to sweep aside the dancer. This song was understood to mean Brown (the singer) and Abdulkareem (the Rapper) as speculated actually kicked Tetuila out. Tetuila recorded a couple more hits My Car, a remix of one of Ebenezer Obey’ hit songs and My Heart Go Jigijigi. My Car mentioned the then new Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu by name as being the man who hit his car. He also poked fun at his old The Remedies mate, Abdulkareem especially in the music video. He depicted him speaking in a fake American accent with a towel (stolen at the beginning of the video) wrapped around his head.
They also did a hit song Lalale Friday with Juju musician Wale Thompson and Jealousy with Fuji musician Pasuma Wonder. By 1999 Tony Tetuila had left, though there was speculation that he was actually kicked out (a speculation he confirmed in his song Omodé because he wasn’t . . . Méta) . making any musical contributions. Tetuila, teamed up with Plantashun Boiz and recorded his first major
What remained of The Remedies eventually split up. Abdulkareem came out as Eedris Remedies and released hits such as Oko Omoge, 13
Issue 42 | September 2017
Mr Lecturer and Jaga Jaga. His song Player Meji was particularly a club hit. Jaja jaga had a line “Nigeria Jaja jaga”, to which the then President Olusegun Obasanjo responded to by saying “It is his father’s house that is Jaga jaga”. Eedris responded by making a rather apologetic video addressed to the President and Nigerians explaining what he meant by Nigeria Jaga jaga. At the height of his popularity he was reported to have been in a fistfight with American Gangster Rapper, 50 Cents on a flight from Lagos to another part of Nigeria for a concert.
Keke Ogungbe founder of Kennis Music. These three are coming together again, the original The Remedies, and gracing the 47th edition of Afropolitan Vibes. Their original childlike playfulness, tempered with their subsequent individual adventures, will no doubt combine to create something really special. Who knows, perhaps this performance will mark a new phase in the musical journey of D-Remedies. Kolade Arogundade is a South Africa based Academic.
Eddy Ahiedu-Brown also went solo as Eddy Montana and released Arrival and A Chorongi. He married gospel singer Kenny Ogungbe, sister of the
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June 2017
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Issue 42 | September 2017
BACK COVER
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