After the death of Bob Marley, a recording company known as Island Company began looking for another third world artist to sign up since Arista Record has sign Fela Kuti into contract. The search prompted producer Martin Meissonier to introduce king Sunny Ade to Chris Blackwell, leading to the releasing of Juju music in 1982. After this, many music aficionados were quick to point out that Sunny Ade’s brand of juju music could not be ignored by anyone at that time.
Today, this seminal recording is often acclaimed as oneof the most important records from Africa while King Sunny Adeniyi remains an undisputed king of juju music, the dance-inspiring hybrid of western pop and traditional African music with roots in the guitar tradition of Nigeria. Ade and his band (African beats) continue to weave an infections blend of electronic guitars, synthesizers and multi-layered percussion. In addition, he remains a force to recon with in Nigeria the money made from his early albums has been used to launch an oil firm, mini company, night club, film and video production company, public relation firm and a record label specializing in recording by African artists. It’s been estimated that more than seven hundred
people are employed by Ade’s companies. However, for over 40 years, King Sunny Ade has been thrilling audience and listeners with music of broad social messages. Musically, it is a thrilling hybrid of western pop and traditional African music that incorporates electronic guitars and synthesizers with such indigenous instrument as talking drum.
Nevertheless, KSA’s music is characterized by, among other instruments, the talking drum an instrument indigenous to his Yoruba roots, the guitar and his peculiar application to juju music, which would easily put him in the same class as guitar musicians like Santana. Moreso, his music his in the age of old tradition of singing ewi “poetic lyrics” and praise of dignitaries as well as components of ‘juju” (traditional African belief) called the “Ogede” ‘casting a spell’. Hence, Ade’s music contributes a record of the oral tradition of his people for posterity. He was the first to introduce the pedal steel guitar to Nigeria pop music and also the first to introduce the use of synthesizers, clarinet, and vibraphone, tenor guitar, into the juju music repertoire such Dude and 'wah-wah' guitar lick.
King Sunny Adeniyi was born on September 22, 1946 into a Nigeria royal royal family in Ondo state. His father was a church organist, while his mother was a trader. Ade left grammar under the pretence of going to the University of Lagos. There in Lagos his mercurial musical career started but initially began with Moses Olaiya’s Federal Rhythm Dandies, a highlife band before he left to form his own band. ‘The Green Spots’, in1967. Frustrated by the exploitation of the record industry, Ade launched his own record label in 1974. in the decades since, the label released more than 100 of KSA’s recordings in Nigeria. He began to attract attention in the western world when 3 of his albums (juju music, synchro system and Aura), were released in in the early 80’s on the mango label a subsidiary of island records. Ade and His Africa beats made their debut American performances to enthusiastic crowds in 1983.
Meanwhile, in 1980s, KSA embarked on a career in Hollywood. His music was featured in the 1986 comedy ‘one more Saturday night’, and also he acted in Robert Altiman’s1987 comedy ‘O.C and Stings’. For almost 10 years, king Sunny Ade continued to release records and dominated the domestic music industry in Nigeria, while only vinly imports trickled out to the rest of the world. In 1996, he signed a new deal with Atlantic Records subsidiary, mesa (blue moon under which he released three records; ‘E Dide’ (get up), Odu, and seven Degrees North.
Although, juju music and synchro system showed signs that KSA was going to live up to billing as “the African Bob Marley”, but ‘Aura‘ was commercial disappointment and Island Records dropped Ade and his group. Meanwhile, the album titled “Authority of your ticket” was released in 1990, but it also failed to stir much commercial interest until when ‘E Dide (get up) was released in 1995 which offered hints that the best day of Ade and African beats were yet to come. Relentlessly, the group followed it in 1998 with another album ‘ODU” which was a brand collection of ancient Nigerian songs and it was nominated for a Grammy Award.
In 1996, He formed a super group, the way forward, featuring top-notch Nigerian musician. Beside, Ade and his African Beat have been featured in three films: juju music in 1988, live at Monteux in 1990 and roots of rhythm in 1997.
In year 2000 “seven degree north” album appeared and it was superb. Meanwhile, in the mid- 90s Ade founded the King Sunny Ade foundation an organization that include a performing arts center, a state of the art recording studio, and housing for young musicians and performance on a five acre tract donated by the Lagos state government.
In January 2002, KSA completed a years as president of the musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), which is a strong nation musician union. Besides, he consistently performs at a wide variety of parties and events, both public and private and now he intends using his newly recaptured free time to focus on his music.
Nevertheless, at the beginning of another round of tour of the United State and Canada in 2009, Sunny Ade was a visiting professor of music at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and in July the same year, he was inducted into Afro Hall Fame, at the Broolyn African festival, USA.
Furthermore, Sunny has collaborated with major artist such as Manu Dibango (WAKAFRICA) and Steve Wonder (played harmonica in Aura’). Likewise, his brief recordings with Island records’ opened the floodgates for other world music artist like Senegalese Youssou N’Dour, Mali’s Salif Keita and host of others.
Today, KSA has released over 111 albums to his credit and he is still making the waves as he tends not to retire from music. Despite at the age of 65years, he is still vibrant, active and more so, his dancing steps still drive the audience aware, at this junction, I will say thumb up to the ambassador of Africa music and hybrid of inspiration dance; KING SUNNY ADE
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