KSA: Still pushing the boundaries of Yoruba music

Cerebral, celebrated and widely sought after, Sunday Adeniyi, otherwise known as ‘King’ Sunny Ade remains one of the ingenious African musicians of Nigerian descent. ‘King’ Sunny Ade (KSA) has been described as one of the greatest pioneers of modern world music. KSA was born to a royal family in Ondo State. Given his paternity, Sunny Ade’s royal blood has never been in doubt and this is not only reflected in his lifestyle but also in the rich assemblage of his choice of music.

Sunny Ade, over the years, has demonstrated a deep understanding and deployment of the rich oral roots of the Yoruba language. This not only resonates in his music craft but has repeatedly been dramatized through the decades.

His mercurial rise in the 1970s and 1980s became prominent after his tour of Europe and America. Sunny Ade’s dancing steps and the dexterity which he employs in the handling of his guitar while performing endeared him to many music lovers within the Yoruba South West Nigeria, the larger Nigerian society, Africa and the rest of the world.

Particularly in the early part of the 80s, Sunny Ade’s acclaim experienced a major boost in North America and Europe. The big names in global media followed his success story, just as they celebrated him. Trouser Press in one of its publication referred to him as “one of the most captivating and important musical artists anywhere in the world; Record, another media organisation, while writing on Sunny Ade, called him “a breath of fresh air, a positive vibration we will feel for some time to come.” Media mogul, The New York Times, called him “one of the world’s great band leaders.

Chief among his instruments include the talking drum, which is particularly native to the Yoruba people. The guitar comes in particularly handy during his performances; this has become his signature instrument and during his 70th birthday celebration, Sunny Ade’s guitar was, reportedly, auctioned for about N54 million in 2016.

The depth of his musical contribution, particularly the album Odu (a collection of traditional Yoruba songs) which was released in 1988, earned Sunny Ade a nomination for the second Grammy Award. This basically made Sunny Ade the first African to be nominated twice for a Grammy.

Today, he remains one of the most awarded Nigerian artists both within the continent and outside. He was inducted into the Hard Rock Café hall of fame in December 2016. A month earlier, Sunny Ade won the AFRIMA award. Even in Hollywood, Sunny Ade’s music was featured in the movie Breathless, which had Richard Gere in cast. The movie was produced in 1983. The celebrated comedy, One More Saturday Night produced in 1986 also had Sunny Ade’s song featured. In 1987, KSA was cast in Robert Altman’s O.C. and Stiggs, which was a comedy.

Speaking during an interactive session marking his 70th birthday, Sunny Ade stated that, “When I listen to music and see people dancing to my music, I’m always inspired. Good music is always my energizer.

Sometimes after the show, I may feel the stress, but my love for my job is the greatest source of my energy.

“At 70, I thank God for his mercies for making me what I am today. With all sincerity, I will say I have it all; there is nothing I have not achieved to date.”