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| Dr. Yemi Farounbi (L) Dr. Seye Kehinde (3rd Right) others & KSA |
Today, Mr. Yemi Farounbi an ageless writer,
Television administrator and entertainment enthusiast explained to us how he
met the highly gifted King of World Beats, King
Sunny Ade and what makes the master guitarist different from every other
mortal of his century. Enjoy the excerpts on your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity
encounter blog Asabeafrika.
Television administrator and entertainment enthusiast explained to us how he
met the highly gifted King of World Beats, King
Sunny Ade and what makes the master guitarist different from every other
mortal of his century. Enjoy the excerpts on your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity
encounter blog Asabeafrika.
My encounter with
King Sunny Ade
King Sunny Ade
“It
has been a long time. I believe it was
in 1966. A friend of mine, Stanley, invited me to a party as part
of the funeral ceremony of the father of his girl friend, Tinuke. Both Stanley and Tinuke were students of the College of Education, Akoka. On the bandstand were Sunny Ade
has been a long time. I believe it was
in 1966. A friend of mine, Stanley, invited me to a party as part
of the funeral ceremony of the father of his girl friend, Tinuke. Both Stanley and Tinuke were students of the College of Education, Akoka. On the bandstand were Sunny Ade
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and the Green Spot Band.
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| KSA…In his early stage craft |
He
was unusual, completely unique in his stagecraft even though he sang OWAMBE,
(Tunde Nightingale style) – which was in vogue. He was refreshingly different,
because he and his singers were standing up on stage. They were even dancing to the music. Even the sheer number of the band-members was
large, compared with others. His boyish
face, broad, heartwarming smiles, and dance steps made indelible marks on my
mind. And those were days when Ghana
Highlife, Congo’s Cha-cha-cha, and Twist fever dominated the campuses.
was unusual, completely unique in his stagecraft even though he sang OWAMBE,
(Tunde Nightingale style) – which was in vogue. He was refreshingly different,
because he and his singers were standing up on stage. They were even dancing to the music. Even the sheer number of the band-members was
large, compared with others. His boyish
face, broad, heartwarming smiles, and dance steps made indelible marks on my
mind. And those were days when Ghana
Highlife, Congo’s Cha-cha-cha, and Twist fever dominated the campuses.
“He had become more
royal in music, capturing the entire old generation. He had at the same time
become more adventurous, and frontier-pushing; ever experimenting with new
themes, new formats, new styles, and new directions thus capturing the hearts
and minds of the youths – to whom he became a musical idol”
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| KSA with Dr. Yemi Farounbi |
I
was to meet him again in early 1970s.
This time more closely. He had
become then a giant on the musical scene. He had become the master guitarist of
our times. He had become a musician of his own, with a thrilling style of his
own. His showmanship and stagecraft had become unparallel. His smiles had
become more effervescent and broad. His
creative energy and physical energy had become legendary. His records on “Challenge Cup”, “Stationary
Stores”, “Ile labo sinmi oko”,
among others had brightened the musical horizon, and records of history. Then he was on African Songs label, and
therefore a regular artiste on WNTV’s “Come Let’s Dance”, and later TYC’s “Musical Extravaganza”
and I was in WNTV-WNBS.
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| KSA…The Band Leader |
By
the time I became General Manager of NTV, Ibadan, we had become
very close. He had matured into a
musical giant. He had become the king of Juju music – after a popular contest
organized by The Entertainer. His reputation for excellence in composition,
musical artistry, and showmanship had stretched across Africa into Europe
and North
America. He had become a social critic, commentator, a reflector of
societal values, and a harbinger of love in his many records. He had established a relationship with NTA Ibadan – of one major show every
year… a relationship that subsists till today.
And he became the artiste earning the highest fee on Nigerian Television
scene.
the time I became General Manager of NTV, Ibadan, we had become
very close. He had matured into a
musical giant. He had become the king of Juju music – after a popular contest
organized by The Entertainer. His reputation for excellence in composition,
musical artistry, and showmanship had stretched across Africa into Europe
and North
America. He had become a social critic, commentator, a reflector of
societal values, and a harbinger of love in his many records. He had established a relationship with NTA Ibadan – of one major show every
year… a relationship that subsists till today.
And he became the artiste earning the highest fee on Nigerian Television
scene.
He
was to become the King of World Beats; he was to earn many awards including “Golden
Mercury of Africa”, and nomination for Grammy Awards. He had become more royal in music, capturing
the entire old generation. He had at the
same time become more adventurous, and frontier-pushing; ever experimenting
with new themes, new formats, new styles, and new directions thus capturing the
hearts and minds of the youths – to whom he became a musical idol.
was to become the King of World Beats; he was to earn many awards including “Golden
Mercury of Africa”, and nomination for Grammy Awards. He had become more royal in music, capturing
the entire old generation. He had at the
same time become more adventurous, and frontier-pushing; ever experimenting
with new themes, new formats, new styles, and new directions thus capturing the
hearts and minds of the youths – to whom he became a musical idol.
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| KSA…The Brand |
Together,
we explored the possibility of concerts where his ingenuity, creativity and
innovativeness blossomed without any limitation. Together, we explored the possibility of a
film project, “The Lady Behind the Music”. The concept grew, and eventually materialized
when he worked with other producers on film projects. This was to explore his immense talent in
acting, his immense capacity to generate story lines, his immense ability to
mimic people, or create humor and jokes.
we explored the possibility of concerts where his ingenuity, creativity and
innovativeness blossomed without any limitation. Together, we explored the possibility of a
film project, “The Lady Behind the Music”. The concept grew, and eventually materialized
when he worked with other producers on film projects. This was to explore his immense talent in
acting, his immense capacity to generate story lines, his immense ability to
mimic people, or create humor and jokes.
The
strange thing about this great king, creator of world beat, and master
guitarist, composer, arranger, producer and instrumentalist is that as he grew
higher, as he pushed the frontier of music farther and further, he became more
humble. Humility is one of his greatest
traits. Integrity is another. Generosity in supporting other musicians, and
many other Nigerians, is another.
strange thing about this great king, creator of world beat, and master
guitarist, composer, arranger, producer and instrumentalist is that as he grew
higher, as he pushed the frontier of music farther and further, he became more
humble. Humility is one of his greatest
traits. Integrity is another. Generosity in supporting other musicians, and
many other Nigerians, is another.
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| KSA…The Man |
He
is one musical success-story that does not have the foul odor of drugs, booze
and such anti-social behavior. He is a
great Nigerian artiste that has remained guided by authentic African values,
Christian ethical values, and intrinsic Nigerian values of hard work, good
character, self-discipline, good neighborliness and Godliness.
is one musical success-story that does not have the foul odor of drugs, booze
and such anti-social behavior. He is a
great Nigerian artiste that has remained guided by authentic African values,
Christian ethical values, and intrinsic Nigerian values of hard work, good
character, self-discipline, good neighborliness and Godliness.
KSA
has given so much. But there is still
much in him for the king to give. He is simply the king that like good wine
gets better, greater, and tastier with age”.
has given so much. But there is still
much in him for the king to give. He is simply the king that like good wine
gets better, greater, and tastier with age”.
(Excerpts
from the book; KSA: My Life, My Music by
King Sunny Ade. Read ‘What a prophet told my mum before I was
born’ tomorrow on this blog)
from the book; KSA: My Life, My Music by
King Sunny Ade. Read ‘What a prophet told my mum before I was
born’ tomorrow on this blog)
