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Music legend, KSA rocks and rules Glo Evergreen Series concert

-Erelu, Sonny Kuku, Buruji Kashamu, RMD…in attendance

IMG_3675AT a never-to-be-forgotten night of regal performances laced with high dose of fun and camaraderie, juju maestro and King of World Beat, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Ishola Adegeye (King Sunny Ade), rocked and ruled his world with melodious beats and lyrics as telecoms giant, Globacom celebrated him at the second edition of Glo Evergreen Series.

But it wasn’t all about KSA.  Koko master, Dapo D’Banj Oyebanjo and iconic saxophonist, Yemi Sax also entertained to a grand 7-star performance at the KSA edition of the Glo Series that Friday, February 28, 2014.  Held at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, the concert kicked off at about 8.30 p.m with early performances by KSA’s band and Yemi Sax.

And when KSA was officially introduced, it was obvious he came for serious business.  Like the king he is, the juju music exponent was on top of his game, displaying his guitar dexterity.

His highly entertaining dancers also gave excellent account of their act as they elevated choreography to a higher art form.

D'Banj, KSA and Yemi Sex
D’Banj, KSA and Yemi Sex

KSA held Glo customers and premium guests spellbound as he reeled out authentic juju music made in South West Nigeria!

He started with Eku Ikale to welcome guests before dishing out his endless evergreen songs.  With raunchy female dancers, KSA equally sang Ma fowo mi yin e logo, giving God all the glory for taking him this far.

Also in praise of God, the music legend rendered another song, Great to Serve the Lord, as he took a bow with his band.  I have a very big God followed in time for Alade ma gbo, Call me, That’s my number.

King Sunny Ade was indeed ruling his world as he dictated the mood of his fans who were practically carried away by his evergreen songs of the 70s and 80s.

And about 10.17 p.m, Yemi Sax and DJ Extreme were back on stage to thrill with classic oldies while a sumptuous dinner was served.

ENTER THE KOKO MASTER, D’BANJ

The Koko master, D’Banj has really improved his performance.  A show man per excellence, Osina Nwata Buru ogaranya performed for less than an hour (11.17 to 11.55), but he begged for more time for his appreciative fans that cut across age and sex.  From Olorun ma je to Suddenly and Mobo lowo won, which he performed with KSA, D’Banj also ruled the long night of fun and glitz with the headliner (King Sunny Ade).  He ended his star performance with Oliver Twist.

SUNNY ADE’S 2-HOUR PLUS LIVE PERFORMANCE

At 11.56, the legend returned on stage to receive a portrait from Globacom.  Presented by Head of Corporate Sales, Mr. Kamal Shonibare, he was assisted by Mr. Tola Gbadamosi of Arik Air and Mr. Austin Ufomba, Marketing Director, Guinness Nigeria.

The celebrant never returned to backstage again until he was done with over two hour back-to-back superlative performance applauded by all.

In between his performance, the juju maestro thanked Globacom for the great honour by featuring him at the Glo Evergreen Series platform.  He applauded the chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jnr., for the recognition and honour done to him.

KSA also hailed Globacom for supporting entertainment in Nigeria, noting that the Glo Evergreen Series will catapult African music to an enviable height.

Earlier, in a documentary screened at the show, the Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Limited, Mr. Seni Adetu praised KSA for his outstanding contributions to the music industry.  He also remarked that KSA remains an inspiration to millions of Nigerians and indeed Africans.

KSA KISSED THE GUITAR AFTER 17 YEARS BREAK!

Did you know that KSA stopped playing the guitar about 17 years ago?

But for the love of his fans and hosts, the king of juju embraced and practically kissed his beloved guitar at the second edition of the Glo Evergreen Series.  And in what would remain his best performance in recent times, King Sunny Ade’s dexterity on the guitar was again established that beautiful Friday night as second to none.

GBENGA ADEYINKA 1ST WAS THE ANCHOR

The Glo Evergreen Series was anchored by top comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st.  From the time he officially kicked off the show (that was around 8.30 p.m) till it ended at about 2.30, the uncommon entertainer justified his pay at the high octane concert.  Like he told ENCOMIUM Weekly in a chat after the show, the Glo Evergreen Series is the best musical concert in the land.

GUESTS LIST

Some notable Nigerians at the Glo Evergreen Series Two included Olorogun Sunny Kuku, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, Sammie Okposo, Richard Mofe Damijo, Desmond Elliot, Stephanie Henshaw Okotie, Chief Dele Momodu, Lizzy Anjorin, Eazy Lizzy, Buruji Kashamu, Muyiwa Ige,  Teju Babyface, Okey Bakassi, Tunde and Bimbo Oloyede, Arik Airline MD, Chris Ndulue, Guinness Marketing Manager, Austin Ufomba, Olori Tokunbo Eko, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Dayo Adeneye, Yemi Shodimu and many others.

ABOUT THE SERIES

The Glo Evergreen Series is an innovative concert series packaged by leading telecommunications company, Globacom to treat its premium customers to quality entertainment.  It features the best of Nigerian music legends and contemporary music stars.

In the words of Globacom’s Head of Post Paid Sales, Mr. Kamaldeen Shonibare, the Glo Evergreen Series was initiated as part of the activities to celebrate Globacom’s success in the telecommunications industry in the last 10 years.

He described it as a commitment to the promotion and sustenance of African music, arts and heritage.

KSA: PORTRAIT OF A MUSIC ICON

King Sunny Ade (KSA) was born on Sunday, September 22, 1946.  His father, Samuel Adeniyi Adegeye was a prince from the Adegeye royal family in Ondo town.  He was a catechist at the African Church.  KSA’s mother, Princess Mariam Adegeye was a petty trader from another royal family in Akure, Ondo State.

KSA, who was christened Sunday Ishola Anthony Adeniyi Adegeye at birth, was taken to Oshogbo at the age of five where he spent the early part of his childhood.  His father, however, died a year later, leaving his mother with the arduous task of raising him and his other siblings with her petty trade business.

KSA who was toughened by his family’s condition started his academic pursuit at the Methodist African School, Oshogbo at eight.  He later proceeded to St. Charles Grammar School, Oshogbo where he was swept off his feet by the allure of music and acting in class four.

As a member of the school’s Boy’s Brigade Band, KSA played the drum.  He would later join Sunday Ariyo’s band and Idowu Owoeye’s band in Oshogbo before leaving primary school.

As a student of St. Charles Grammar School, KSA became a full-time band member of Idowu Owoeye’s band.  The band’s outing in Abeokuta on the occasion of the coronation of Oba Gbadebo as the Alake of Egbaland marked a turning point in his life.

Stranded after the show since they couldn’t make any money, KSA later joined one of the band boys to travel to Lagos.  And here he joined Moses Olaiya’s band (Moses Olaiya is popularly known as Baba Sala).

As an apprentice musician in his new band, KSA exploited every opportunity he had to learn how to play different musical instruments.  He taught himself how to play the guitar after he bought his first guitar at three pounds in 1963.  And having mastered the guitar at a relatively young age, KSA became the band leader of Baba Sala.  By 1966, he started his own band, Sunny Adez and His High Society Band with the support of Chief Tunde Amuwo, the leader of High Society Band and a close friend of Baba Sala.

The band later transformed to Sunny Ade and His Green Spot Band before changing to Sunny Ade and His Golden Mercury of Africa and finally to King Sunny Ade and His African Beat.

With over 50 years in the music industry, KSA hit the market with his debut entitled, Alanu L’Oluwa in 1967.  A huge commercial flop, it sold only 13 copies!

His follow up album in 1968, The Challenge Cup, however brought him to limelight.  The album was produced in honour of the Stationary Stores Football Club who won the African Challenge Cup for Nigeria for the first time.  It was released on the African Songs record label owned and managed by Chief Bolarinwa Abioro, a popular juju music promoter.

Incidentally, none of KSA’s family including his mother knew he was a musician in Lagos, playing under the moniker, King Sunny Ade until after his 13th album!  The famous musician had lied to his mom and relatives that he was a student of the University of Lagos, not knowing he was the Sunny Ade making waves across the nation.

KSA has 150 albums to his credit.  He has also featured in films including Fopomoyo which he jointly produced with renowned Yoruba actor, Jimoh Aliu, a.k.a Aworo and Aremo Adegeye, his personal production with Abiola Atanda (Madam Kofo).

KSA was hit by a strange ailment in the 90s.  And having cheated death, he bounced back with his popular album, Triumph, which was followed up with the launch of the King Sunny Ade Foundation on April 29, 1994 in Lagos.

KSA’s ultimate dream is to build a music village in Ondo, his home town through a collaboration between his foundation and the Ondo State Government.

 – UCHE OLEHI and TOLANI ABATTI

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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