Afropolitan Vibes in full effect. What a party!!
Images of the second edition of Afropolitan Vibes held at Freedom Park, Lagos.
Courtesy of Akin Kongi (additional images by Remi Adegbite)
In December 2012 New York based musician & filmmaker Siji and i decided to shut down the bustling Bariga market in Lagos for the video shoot of our song “Oya Oya”. It was a guerilla style operation aimed at capturing the raw and spontaneous energy of the 20million strong megapolis where anything can happen and one must always be open to the unexpected. In keeping with this spirit, we got real people to come up and dance, laugh, drum and shake with us.
The outcome is one of the most memorable clips I’ve ever done.
Enjoy, shake wetin your mama dash you and please do leave your comments on the vimeo page.
Dear Friends I’d like to invite you all to our concert on Saturday the 8th of December at Freedom Park, Lagos.
The Event is tagged “Ti Ro Ro- Conversation with the Elders”
The idea is to give you all a sneak preview of some of the musical collaborations that feature in the upcoming historical documentary film “Elders Corner” (www.elderscornerfilm.com)
Backed by our dynamic Rhythm section, the music legends Fatai Rolling Dollar, Orlando Julius and Paulson Kalu will share the stage with the stars of the younger generation Siji, Aduke & yours truly to revisit and re-interpret the sounds of Afrobeat, Juju, Apala, Highlife and Fuji music.
By the way, all of this takes place during Goethe’s ‘Lagos Live Festival’ - a series of events to mark Goethe Institute’s 50 years anniversary in Nigeria.
STAGE TIME: 9pm // ENTRY IS FREE.
See you on Saturday
Ade Bantu
Thank you Cologne. Seeing 70,000 people gather at an open air concert
(in winter!! ) to renew their pledge to fight racism gave me hope.
For those of you who missed out- this one’s for you. “African Border” & “No More No Vernacular” LIVE- if you like the songs. You’ll find them on i-tunes. Enjoy
Get off your ass! Speak up!! Festival - (in the Cologne dialect-“Arsch Huh Zäng Ussenander” Konzert 2012
Dear friends i put up some of my favorite Bantu songs in a setlist -for your listening pleasure (any songs missing? let me know). I’ll make sure we add it to our upcoming volume 2.
The Basement Freaks are up to bat - this time remixing the classic tune “I’m Waiting” by Bantu. With the official nod of approval from Sony Music, this rolling Drum n Bass monster can now be part of your personal collection. Nneka’s elegant vocals tumble over The Basement Freaks’ funky bassline, making a top tune perfect for that end of set slammer that you need to bring them home. Out Monday 18 of June exclusive on Beatport (2 weeks)
Digging In The Crates Pt.1
(Amaechi in Action!)
The Diggin In The Crates is a 10 part series (don’t worry we’ll keep it short) aimed at giving some behind the scenes information on origins, influences and wéré(madness or insanity- depending on your perspective) of BANTU.
We’ll kick it off with our 2nd release (why abide to rules?) “Fire Inna Dancehall”. The tune was inspired by a U-Roy track that my brother Abiodun (aka Don Abi) & I remember listening to as teenagers during Sunday chores-Our dad was an enthusiastic home DJ.
It was recorded live with the Schäl Sick Brass Band from Cologne, Germany. “Fire Inna Dancehall” features yours truly AdeBantu, Abiodun, Amaechi and Patrice.
It was a radio favorite in Nigeria (it actually earned us our second radio charts entry -after our debut single “Nzogbu”).
Turn up your Soundsystem and time travel with us:
My Music My Hood is a short documentary on Ade Bantu- where he lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. It gives you an insight into what inspires his music, sound and politics.
The documentary was produced by Lagos based cable network station Nigezie.
An interview in German recently broadcasted on Radio Funkhaus Europa:
Adé Bantu ist ein alter Freund der 5Planeten. Der Deutsch-Nigerianer hat letztes Jahr sein drittes Album heraus gebracht mit features von Künstlern wie Nneka und Wanlov The Kubolor. Momentan arbeitet der Gründer der Brothers Keepers an seinem vierten Album und engagiert sich in vielerlei musikalischen Projekten. Im Gespräch mit 5Planeten Moderator Francis Gay spricht er über eines dieser Projekte, die berliner Veranstaltung “Global Prayers”, Wiederstandsmusik in Lagos und die aktuellen Trends der nigerianischen Musikszene.
