Adé Bantu
Encyclopedia
Adegoke Odukoya, better known as Adé Bantu (born July 13, 1971 in Wembley
, London
) is a Nigerian-German musician
, producer
and activist. He is best known as the founder of the Afro-German musical collective
and NGO Brothers Keepers
and as the front man of Bantu & Afrobeat Academy Band. He received the Kora Award (the Pan-African equivalent of the Grammy) for his album "Fuji Satisfaction" in 2005.
, London
. He is biracial, being the son of a German mother and a Nigerian father. In 1973 he relocated to Lagos
, Nigeria
with his parents Adeleke Odukoya and Barbara Odukoya. After the death of his father in 1986 he moved with his mother and 3 siblings to Germany
.
Their single "Think For A Moment/Style Introduction"(Tan Tric 12") is the 3rd German hiphop release (1989). They went on to produce the first multilingual hiphop album in Germany titled "Chop or Quench" (1993). It featured the pioneer German hiphop crew Advanced Chemistry
. This was followed by a freejazz hiphop album with Peter Kowald, Sainko Namtchylak and Peter Brötzmann titled Expo's Jazz & Joy" (1993).
In 1993 he was approached by Fonk Free aka Moreno (Oliver Freyman) and DJ An-dré (André Schröter) and together they founded the band 'Weep Not Child' releasing „From Hoyerswerda to Rostock“ (Buback Records, 1993) and „Liberation thru Music & Lyrics“ (Groove Attack, 1994).
Their music clip "Je Ka Bere" was featured in the European campaign of Media Against Racism
.
In 1998 Adé was invited by Jan Ü Krauthaeuser to participate in the Cologne
alternative carnival organization "Humba e.V.". This led to a musical project with his brother Don Abi (Abiodun Odukoya), Patrice
and Amechi (Amechinna Okerenkwo) that would take him back to his Nigeria roots. Bantu aka Brotherhood Alliance Navigating Towards Unity was born. He officially changed his stage name to Adé (later to Adé Bantu after his 2005 album release). Bantu's debut album „Fufu“ became an instant success in Nigeria earning them two radio hit singles "Nzobu“ & „Fire Inna Dancehall“. In 2000 after a wave of racist motivated violent attacks on foreigners which climaxed in the killing of Alberto Adriano, Adé Bantu set up the Afro-German musical collective Brothers Keepers
. Their song "Adriano (die letzte Warnung)" (Adriano the final warning) was released in 2001. It became an anti racism anthem selling well over 220,000 copies and making it to the Top 5 of the German pop charts. An album titled "Lightkultur" was released as well as a Sisters Keepers single "Liebe und Verstand" (Love & Understanding). "Adriano (die Letzte Warnung)" was awarded the 'Eins Live Radio Award' for "Best Single of the year 2001".
In 2003 Adé Bantu, his brother Don Abi and German reggae singer Gentleman
recorded the single "Rudie (Hold It Down)" together with UB40
. In 2004 he released his much anticipated European debut album "Bantu". The album featured Don Abi, Sly Dunbar, Positive Black Soul and Pee Froiss from Senegal.
In 2005 Adé Bantu once again assembled Brothers Keepers for a second musical venture. Broadened by many Turkish, Italian, Swedish and German artists their album “Am I My Brothers Keeper?” went far beyond the success of its predecessor, directing rousing statements, biographical insights and critical irony at German society. He released "Fuji Satisfaction" an eclectic mix of Fuji
, hiphop, Dancehall
, Afrofunk and Afrobeat
that featured Nigerian Fuji singer Adewale Ayuba
in 2005. It won critical acclaim and the Kora Awards
as "Best Group West Africa" and "Best Group Africa" 2005. This amongst other things promoted his move back to Lagos, Nigeria. He worked with the BBC
in 2005 on the “Africa Connection” project with South African vocalist Thandiswa Mazwai, Senegalese singer Cheik Lo & Guinean Kora Player Sekou Kouyate recording “Caution (Beware)”
In 2006 he performed with his band Afrobeat Academy during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
in Germany. He has collaborated and toured with Tony Allen
and Seun Kuti
. Ade Bantu resides in Nigeria
and Germany
.
Appeared in an episode of German soap Lindenstrasse (Episode 710)
and anti-discrimination laws and help victims of racist motivated attacks.
He was involved in the Anti Shell
campaign in Germany and initiated the Ken Saro Wiwa week in 1997.
He continues to be an activist, lecturer and public speaker addressing racism against people of colour, AfroGermans and Africans in Germany. He was invited by German minister of foreign affairs
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
on his first official visit to Africa in August 2007. He participated at the Partnership for Africa Forum hosted by German president Horst Kohler
in November 2007. Adé Bantu and his Afrobeat Academy Band have partaken in intercultural exchange programmes with Goethe Institute and the German ministry of foreign affairs giving concerts and workshops in Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria. He was awarded the Nordrhein Westphalia Cultural Prize in 1997 for the hiphop musical "Coloured Children" a piece he wrote and co-directed with Anita Berger. Adé Bantu has been in the forefront of the debate against the use of the N-word
in Germany. He initiated a petition (with Brothers Keepers) against German Rapper B-Tight
's album "Neger, Neger" (Nigger, Nigger) in 2007.
at Deutsche Welle
. He hosted "Good Morning Africa" from 1997-2000. He co-directed Nigerian-German hip hop/soul singer Nneka's
video "Africans"
1989 Style Introduction-12 inch (Tantric/VeraBra Rec)
1993 Chop or Quench (Deep 6 Rec)
Expo’s Jazz & Joy (VeraBra Records)
1994 Liberation Thru Music & Lyrics
1998 Goal ( 12" Chlodwig/BMG)
2004 Bantu (Nitty Gritty Music/ Rough Trade)
2005 Fuji Satisfaction (Piranha Rec)
2008 Bantu (X3M Music, Nigeria)
Lightkultur (WEA Rec)
2005 Bereit- Single(Sony)
Am I My Brothers Keeper?“(Sony)
1994 “Keep In Line & Sunshine” (from Di Iries self titled album)
1995 “Late Night” (from Reiner Witzel’s “Passage to the ear”)
"Illusion" (from Kastrierte Philosophen album “Soldier”)
1996 "Polyglot Poets" (from Advanced Chemistry's self titled album)
1997 “The Message” (from Two Step Forward project)
"Colonial Mentality" (from Schäl Sick Brass Band album “Majnoun”)
1999 “Tschupun”(from Schäl Sick Brass Band album “Tschupun”)
2000 “Maza Meze” (from Schäl Sick Brass Band album “Maza Meze”)
2002 “Rubber Dub” (from Schäl Sick Brass Band album “Kesh Mesh”)
2003 "Rudie (Hold It Down)" (UB40 single featuring Gentleman & Don Abi)
2006 "Odolayé" (from „Lagos Stori Plenti“ sampler featuring Dede, Mode9 & Azadus)
Publications in German:
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is a Nigerian-German musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and activist. He is best known as the founder of the Afro-German musical collective
Musical collective
Musical collective is a phrase used to describe a group of musicians in which membership is flexible and creative control is shared. Such entities have transitioned from the traditional hierarchical configuration that features either a frontman , or a plurality of band members in tension for...
and NGO Brothers Keepers
Brothers Keepers
Brothers Keepers is a German-based transnational anti-racism project, bringing together hip hop, reggae and soul musicians, headed primarily by Afro-Germans.-History:...
and as the front man of Bantu & Afrobeat Academy Band. He received the Kora Award (the Pan-African equivalent of the Grammy) for his album "Fuji Satisfaction" in 2005.
Early life
Adé Bantu was born in WembleyWembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He is biracial, being the son of a German mother and a Nigerian father. In 1973 he relocated to Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
with his parents Adeleke Odukoya and Barbara Odukoya. After the death of his father in 1986 he moved with his mother and 3 siblings to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Musical career
Attracted by Germany's emerging hiphop movement Adé Bantu joined the hiphop group Exponential Enjoyment with Goldlover D (Sini Demir), Double A (Mola Adebisi) and General GG (Götz Gottschalk) in 1989. He used the alias and stage name "Duke T".Their single "Think For A Moment/Style Introduction"(Tan Tric 12") is the 3rd German hiphop release (1989). They went on to produce the first multilingual hiphop album in Germany titled "Chop or Quench" (1993). It featured the pioneer German hiphop crew Advanced Chemistry
Advanced Chemistry
Advanced Chemistry is a German hip hop group from Heidelberg, a scenic city in Baden-Württemberg, South Germany. Advanced Chemistry was founded in 1987 by Toni L, Linguist, Gee-One, DJ Mike MD and MC Torch...
. This was followed by a freejazz hiphop album with Peter Kowald, Sainko Namtchylak and Peter Brötzmann titled Expo's Jazz & Joy" (1993).
In 1993 he was approached by Fonk Free aka Moreno (Oliver Freyman) and DJ An-dré (André Schröter) and together they founded the band 'Weep Not Child' releasing „From Hoyerswerda to Rostock“ (Buback Records, 1993) and „Liberation thru Music & Lyrics“ (Groove Attack, 1994).
Their music clip "Je Ka Bere" was featured in the European campaign of Media Against Racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
.
In 1998 Adé was invited by Jan Ü Krauthaeuser to participate in the Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
alternative carnival organization "Humba e.V.". This led to a musical project with his brother Don Abi (Abiodun Odukoya), Patrice
Patrice Bart-Williams
Patrice Babatunde Bart-Williams , better known as Patrice, is an Afro-German reggae artist. He also often uses his second name: Babatunde , which his parents gave him since Patrice was born on the same day that his grandfather died. His music is influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley...
and Amechi (Amechinna Okerenkwo) that would take him back to his Nigeria roots. Bantu aka Brotherhood Alliance Navigating Towards Unity was born. He officially changed his stage name to Adé (later to Adé Bantu after his 2005 album release). Bantu's debut album „Fufu“ became an instant success in Nigeria earning them two radio hit singles "Nzobu“ & „Fire Inna Dancehall“. In 2000 after a wave of racist motivated violent attacks on foreigners which climaxed in the killing of Alberto Adriano, Adé Bantu set up the Afro-German musical collective Brothers Keepers
Brothers Keepers
Brothers Keepers is a German-based transnational anti-racism project, bringing together hip hop, reggae and soul musicians, headed primarily by Afro-Germans.-History:...
. Their song "Adriano (die letzte Warnung)" (Adriano the final warning) was released in 2001. It became an anti racism anthem selling well over 220,000 copies and making it to the Top 5 of the German pop charts. An album titled "Lightkultur" was released as well as a Sisters Keepers single "Liebe und Verstand" (Love & Understanding). "Adriano (die Letzte Warnung)" was awarded the 'Eins Live Radio Award' for "Best Single of the year 2001".
In 2003 Adé Bantu, his brother Don Abi and German reggae singer Gentleman
Gentleman (musician)
Tilmann Otto , better known by his stage name Gentleman, is a German Reggae musician.- Personal life :...
recorded the single "Rudie (Hold It Down)" together with UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
. In 2004 he released his much anticipated European debut album "Bantu". The album featured Don Abi, Sly Dunbar, Positive Black Soul and Pee Froiss from Senegal.
In 2005 Adé Bantu once again assembled Brothers Keepers for a second musical venture. Broadened by many Turkish, Italian, Swedish and German artists their album “Am I My Brothers Keeper?” went far beyond the success of its predecessor, directing rousing statements, biographical insights and critical irony at German society. He released "Fuji Satisfaction" an eclectic mix of Fuji
Fuji
-People:* Mr. Fuji, ring name of wrestling and manager Harry Fujiwara* Keiko Fuji, a Japanese singer of the 1960s and 1970s, and mother of Hikaru Utada* Sumiko Fuji, a Japanese actressFictional characters* Fuji , a character in the Stormwatch series...
, hiphop, Dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
, Afrofunk and Afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
that featured Nigerian Fuji singer Adewale Ayuba
Adewale Ayuba
Adewale Ayuba, with stage name Ayuba was born on May 6, 1966 in lkenne Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. He grew up as a child singer. By the age of eight, he had started singing at local Musical competitions and fiestas in lkenne Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. He is a distinct Fuji music artiste with a...
in 2005. It won critical acclaim and the Kora Awards
Kora Awards
The Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
as "Best Group West Africa" and "Best Group Africa" 2005. This amongst other things promoted his move back to Lagos, Nigeria. He worked with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 2005 on the “Africa Connection” project with South African vocalist Thandiswa Mazwai, Senegalese singer Cheik Lo & Guinean Kora Player Sekou Kouyate recording “Caution (Beware)”
In 2006 he performed with his band Afrobeat Academy during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
in Germany. He has collaborated and toured with Tony Allen
Tony Allen (musician)
Tony Oladipo Allen is aNigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter who currently lives and works in Paris. He is currently writing his autobiography "Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat" with author/musician Michael E...
and Seun Kuti
Seun Kuti
Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti , commonly known as Seun Kuti, is a Nigerian musician, and the youngest son of legendary afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun leads his father's former band Egypt 80....
. Ade Bantu resides in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
TV / Cinema appearances
Featured in the cinema documentary "Yes I Am" a documentary on Afro Germans directed by Sven HalfarAppeared in an episode of German soap Lindenstrasse (Episode 710)
Politics
Adé Bantu is politically active. He is the founder of Brothers Keepers e.V. an NGO affiliated with the Brothers Keepers musical project. They visit schools, lobby for changes in asylumRight of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
and anti-discrimination laws and help victims of racist motivated attacks.
He was involved in the Anti Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
campaign in Germany and initiated the Ken Saro Wiwa week in 1997.
He continues to be an activist, lecturer and public speaker addressing racism against people of colour, AfroGermans and Africans in Germany. He was invited by German minister of foreign affairs
Foreign Minister of Germany
The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs is the head of the Federal Foreign Office and a member of the Cabinet of Germany. The current office holder is Guido Westerwelle...
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany , and currently the leader of the opposition in the Bundestag. Steinmeier was a close aide of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, serving as Chief of Staff in the German Chancellery from 1999 to 2005...
on his first official visit to Africa in August 2007. He participated at the Partnership for Africa Forum hosted by German president Horst Kohler
Horst Köhler
Horst Köhler is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union. He was President of Germany from 2004 to 2010. As the candidate of the two Christian Democratic sister parties, the CDU and the CSU, and the liberal FDP, Köhler was elected to his first five-year term by the Federal Assembly on...
in November 2007. Adé Bantu and his Afrobeat Academy Band have partaken in intercultural exchange programmes with Goethe Institute and the German ministry of foreign affairs giving concerts and workshops in Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria. He was awarded the Nordrhein Westphalia Cultural Prize in 1997 for the hiphop musical "Coloured Children" a piece he wrote and co-directed with Anita Berger. Adé Bantu has been in the forefront of the debate against the use of the N-word
N-word
N-word may refer to:* Nigger – Common euphemism for "nigger" or "nigga": viz., variant forms of a word commonly used in a derogatory way meaning or relating to black people, the latter form a colloquial reference typically utilized without malice and within the black community itself*The...
in Germany. He initiated a petition (with Brothers Keepers) against German Rapper B-Tight
B-Tight
Robert Edward Davis , better known by his stage name B-Tight, is a Gangsta rapper, who grew up in Berlin, Germany.- Early life and personal life :...
's album "Neger, Neger" (Nigger, Nigger) in 2007.
Trivia
Adé Bantu was a radio hostRadio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
at Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle or DW, is Germany's international broadcaster. The service is aimed at the overseas market. It broadcasts news and information on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio on 98.7 DZFE in 30 languages . It has a satellite television service , that is available in four languages, and...
. He hosted "Good Morning Africa" from 1997-2000. He co-directed Nigerian-German hip hop/soul singer Nneka's
Nneka (singer)
Nneka Lucia Egbuna is a Nigerian-German hip hop/soul singer and songwriter. She sings in both English and Igbo.- Biography :Nneka is the daughter of an Anambra state- Igbo Nigerian father and a German mother...
video "Africans"
Discography
With Exponential Enjoyment:1989 Style Introduction-12 inch (Tantric/VeraBra Rec)
1993 Chop or Quench (Deep 6 Rec)
Expo’s Jazz & Joy (VeraBra Records)
With Weep Not Child
1993 From Hoyerswerda To Rostock (Buback Records)1994 Liberation Thru Music & Lyrics
1998 Goal ( 12" Chlodwig/BMG)
With Bantu
1999 Fufu (Kennis Music Nigeria)2004 Bantu (Nitty Gritty Music/ Rough Trade)
2005 Fuji Satisfaction (Piranha Rec)
2008 Bantu (X3M Music, Nigeria)
With Brothers Keepers
2001 Adriano-Single(WEA Rec)Lightkultur (WEA Rec)
2005 Bereit- Single(Sony)
Am I My Brothers Keeper?“(Sony)
Collaborations
1990 “Kickin The Facts” (from LSD album "Watchout for the 3rd Rail")1994 “Keep In Line & Sunshine” (from Di Iries self titled album)
1995 “Late Night” (from Reiner Witzel’s “Passage to the ear”)
"Illusion" (from Kastrierte Philosophen album “Soldier”)
1996 "Polyglot Poets" (from Advanced Chemistry's self titled album)
1997 “The Message” (from Two Step Forward project)
"Colonial Mentality" (from Schäl Sick Brass Band album “Majnoun”)
1999 “Tschupun”(from Schäl Sick Brass Band album “Tschupun”)
2000 “Maza Meze” (from Schäl Sick Brass Band album “Maza Meze”)
2002 “Rubber Dub” (from Schäl Sick Brass Band album “Kesh Mesh”)
2003 "Rudie (Hold It Down)" (UB40 single featuring Gentleman & Don Abi)
2006 "Odolayé" (from „Lagos Stori Plenti“ sampler featuring Dede, Mode9 & Azadus)
Sources
English Sources:- http://www.jamati.com/online/?p=953 - 68k
- http://visionofthefuture.blogspot.com/2007/10/ade-bantu-treats-ghanaians-to-fufu.html
- http://www.cdroots.com/hm-pir1998.html - 8k
- http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showtime/2007/nov/16/showtime-16-11-2007-001.htm - 29k
- http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/Infoservice/Presse/Interview/2007/070801-Afrikareise.html -
- http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic/view/page.basic/country/content.country/nigeria_206 - 37k
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/music/showcase_african.shtml - 23k -
- http://international.africancolours.net/content/12184 - 76k
- http://atlanticreview.org/archives/592-Black-History-Month-in-Germany.html
- http://blog.derbraunemob.info/stoppt-den-weisen-n-wumbaba/stop-the-white-n-wumbaba/ - 19k -
- http://www2.contentdiscoverysystems.com/p/SearchResults/SearchContents.aspx?Search=&db=radA698A6... - 67k
Publications in German:
- Loh Hannes & Güngör Murat (2002). Fear of A Kanak Planet. Hannibal Verlag, Austria
- Verlan Sascha & Loh Hannes (2000). 20 Jahre Hiphop in Deutschland. Hannibal Verlag, Austria
- Kreide-Damani Ingrid (1996). 101 Nationen einer Stadt. Dumont Verlag, Germany
- Schergel Frank (2002). Ohne Musik ist quasi alles lau.Verlag Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Germany