Skip to main content

Obey, Okoroji, Kosoko extol Sunny Ade at 70

King Sunny Ade

King Sunny Ade

Juju music exponent, “Sunny Ade”, born Sunday Adeniyi, has been described by Chief Ebenezer Obey as one of the most gifted artistes in the world as he turned 70.

Obey on Wednesday in Lagos, said that Ade had contributed to the development of the industry in the country.

“On this occasion, I am thanking God for his life and celebrate him as one of the most gifted artists in the country and the world,” Obey said.

In the same vein, Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), said that Ade inspired him and many people with his wonderful music.

Okoroji added that the veteran musician still looked very fit, even as he turned 70 which he described as an intriguing character for a man of that age.

“King Sunny Ade (KSA) has been two-time president of the Performing Musician Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and has been able to sustain music to a great level in the country.

“The king has been a great encouragement to musicians because he has performed before presidents, kings and queens of different countries,” he said.

For Jide Kosoko, a veteran actor, KSA as a father, because he had greatly supported his career and encouraged him in the movie industry.

“KSA is my mentor. He has advised me over the years and provided me with materials that have really come in handy in getting me to where I am today,” he said.

Kosoko called on everybody to come and celebrate the icon as he turned 70.

Ade was born to a royal family in Ondo on Sept. 22, 1946. His father was a church organist, while his mother was a trader.

Ade left grammar school in Ondo under the pretence of going to University of Lagos (UNILAG).

In Lagos, his mercurial musical career started.

Sunny Ade’s musical sound has evolved from the early days. His career began with Moses Olaiya Federal Rhythm Dandies, a highlife band.

He left to form a new band, “The Green Spots”, in 1967.

Over the years, for various reasons ranging from changes in his music to business concerns, Sunny Ade’s band changed its name several times, first to African Beats and then to Golden Mercury.

After more than a decade of resounding success in Nigeria, Ade was received to great acclaim in Europe and North America in 1982.

The global release of Juju music and its accompanying tour was “almost unanimously embraced by critics everywhere”.

Ade is described in The New York Times as “one of the world’s great band leaders’’, in Record as “a breath of fresh air”.

His highly acclaimed album, Syncro System released in 1983, earned him his first Grammy Award nomination in the folk/ethnic music category.

In 1988, Ade earned a second Grammy Award nomination for his masterful work: “Odu”, a collection of traditional Yoruba songs.

Ade also made his mark in Hollywood in 1983, where his music was featured in the movie “Breathless’’, starring Richard Gere.

Ade acted in Robert Altman’s 1987 comedy “O.C. and Stiggs”.

He was appointed a visiting professor of music at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 2009.

In July the same year, KSA was inducted into the Afro-pop Hall of Fame at the Brooklyn African Festival in the U.S.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...