Yomi King releases gospel album in US
WASIU SODEINDE, Minneapolis, US
The number of Nigerians making waves in the music industry in the United States has increased with Yomi King, a Minnesota-based gospel singer, who has just launched a new album entitled, "Glory to the Lord."
The 12-tracker, sung mostly in English, also features tracks in three Nigerian languages: Yoruba, Igbo and Ibibio. It is easily rendered in the most traditional African gospel style that can be easily enjoyed even by non-speakers of Nigerian languages.
The first and the second track of the album extol the virtues of God in the life of man while the other tracks are devoted to praising Him.
Unlike most adulterated gospel songs currently in vogue in the country, where most gospel singers shower praises on moneybags and politicians, Yomi King’s "Glory to the Lord" is a complete gospel album any true believer should have.
The album is reminiscent of the gospel songs by Comfort Omoge in the early eighties as well as Tosin Jegede’s gospel music of the late eighties.
The rising star, who recently launched her album at an elaborate ceremony in Minneapolis, was born in Ibadan to Adeniyi family of Ijebu Imushin in Ogun State. She grew up with a Muslim background and became a born-again Christian when she lost her mum in 1989.
Her singing talent began to manifest when she joined Salem Gospel Church choir, Felele, Ibadan and her crave to serve the Lord through her musical talent was further enhanced when she moved to Lagos in 1992 where she was given an opportunity to lead the Four Square Gospel Church choir in Agboju, Lagos.
Oluyomi migrated to America about five years ago and has since been a leading choir member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Storm Power Parish, Minneapolis.
On how she came by her stage name, "Yomi King," She told News Star that she derived the name from the first five letters of her husband’s last name, Akingbasote
"I removed the first letter and retained the next four letters for easy pronunciation by my American fans," she said.
Life was cruel to me as a youth
–African China
Bayo Adeoye
African China has what it takes to become the next African Reggae superstar. An outspoken artiste who is not afraid to sing about social ills plaguing the country such as corruption, he has been dubbed "the voice of the Nigerian masses."
He is a brilliant singer and an energetic live performer with breath-taking dance steps. Reggae from Nigeria is complete with its own distinct dances. If you thought Reggae could only come from Jamaica, think again. Already, his single hit, ‘Mr President,’ has taken his career to new heights internationally.
With his family of Imo State origin, African China was born in Orile, one of the rustic settlements in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. The community is just a stone’s throw to the equally sub-urban rustic Ajegunle.
African China is one of the most famous exponents of what’s known as the ‘Ajegunle which is a mix of reggae and dancehall with local African rhythms, which is somewhat related to styles like Congolese soukous.
Unlike much of what is going on in the Nigerian urban music scene, the Ajegunle sound is very distinct with its own language and references. The language is a local pidgin with typical ghetto slang that is hard to understand for anyone not coming from Ajegunle. Most songs also come complete with their own, often hilarious, dance routines and African China’s live shows are renowned for his energetic dances as well as those of his dancers.
The light-complexioned artiste confirmed how being born in AJ, as Ajegunle is fondly called, had helped to shape his career.
"I thank God I was born in AJ city as this has helped my career to a certain extent. It is rugged area that helps your reason and makes you somebody in life," he told Midweek Showbiz.
Contrary to false assumptions, African China has no connection with China. His real name is Timothy Chinagorom Onuoha and he is from Nigeria’s Igbo tribe. His teacher, from the Yoruba tribe, he revealed, had to struggle to pronounce his name correctly while in school. So, for simplicity case, he started calling him ‘China.’ Later, when he began his music career and needed a stage name, ‘African’ was added.
He first got into music at the early age of 7 and after secondary school, he embraced it as his chosen profession. He won the ‘Best Reggae/ Ragga Artiste Award’ in 1999 and other numerous awards followed.
His debut album, ‘Crisis,’ was released in 2000. It was followed by ‘Mr President’ in 2005. The title track of the latter was one of the best-selling songs of 2005 in Nigeria and is still hugely popular.
The track is featured in the international compilation ‘Lagos Stori Plenti – Urban Sounds from Nigeria’ Part of this project was a tour of Germany and African China was chosen to participate alongside Ruggedman, Eedris Abdulkareem, Modenine and Bantu. African China has performed outside Nigeria on many other occasions.
He has done shows in the UK (where he lived for six months in 2006), Jamaica, Italy and France as well as in neighbouring African countries.
His latest work, London Fever, revealed his ordeal in the London where he was arrested and charged to court for allegedly raping a young girl; but the girl was later discharged and acquitted.
Life was cruel to the young man as he lost his mother when he was just three months old. His father also abandoned him when he was in primary school and was raised by neighbours and friends.
"I went through many difficulties while growing up, but I was determined to become successful in life," he revealed.
As a young man determined to have stardom, he recalled that he went through several temptations that would have marred his career, but because he was bent on achieving his dream, he never looked back.
Obesere ‘marries’ 9ice, Lord of Ajasa
Paramount King of Fuji Music, Alhaji Qudus Akande Obesere, is not left out in the bid to make Fuji music universally accepted. He has stormed the studio to record a Hip-hop album with reigning star 9ice, and Lord of Ajasa.
While confirming this to Midweek Showbiz Sunday, the Asakasa exponent, as he is popularly called, said on the six-tracker was just to show his creativity and versatility in music.
"It has been my long-nursed desire to do a collabo with a good Hip-hop star. This I discovered in 9ice and Lord of Ajasa who are very creative and who understand my kind of music apart from their Hip-hop," the Ibadan, Oyo State-born music star hinted. Obesere said it was not the first time he would be working with Hip-hop musicians. It was further learnt further that the album that contains good flavour of Hip-hop blends with undiluted Fuji music will be marketed by US-based music label, ZealEntertainments.
Meanwhile, Obesere has just returned from Belgium where he had gone for a two-week holiday.
Pasuma floats clothing line
Otunba of Fuji music, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, is toeing the line of other popular musicians who have their own clothing line. The Orobokibo fuji crooner has concluded an arrangement to float his own clothing line named Wap King. It was gathered that the Kwara State-born musician who is admired as one of the best Fuji musicians with a good dress sense will be partnering with a foreign cloth factory to make the clothing line one of the best in the country.
"This has been an age-long dream of Pasuma Wonder and this is another first from him. He is the first Fuji musician to float a clothing line," said the publicity aide of the self- acclaimed Ijaya of Fuji music.
Also, he released a 2-in-1 album entitled Stardom and Brain box into the market under Bayowa Films and Records International last Monday.
Speaking on the newly released album, Pasuma hinted that it was not the first time he would release a double album though, but that the latest one promises to be the best.
He had earlier released 2-in-1 albums such as Maintain and Sustain under the same Bayowa while he released In and Out under the leading indigenous music label, Leeds music in the past.
Number One from Mtrill
All is now set for the release of the Port Harcourt-based Hip-hop star, Mtrill’s Number One. The 12-
tracker that features other top acts like Ruggedman, Timaya, Frank de Nero among others will be released under the Tonye Ibiama-owned Grafton Records.
The guy made it public last week that the long-awaited album is not only ready, but will redefine people’s perception concerning rap music. "Rap does not necessarily have to be noisy or hard-core; it is a kind of music that people should be able to relate to. That is why I tried as much as possible to pick my words for my audience can understand the message I am trying to pass across," he said
Tonye Ibiama, CEO of Grafton Records said "It is about that time for the release of his album. Mtrill has been with Grafton for a while now. At first, what was slowing down the release of his album was the fact that we had a duo group signed to the label. But now, Mtrill is set to thrill. You all just have to keep your fingers crossed.
The album release will be kicking off with a party scheduled for October 17 at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.
"I feel so excited that weeks are finally turning into days. An artiste’s joy is when you are doing something and seeing results. It is my first album, why should I not be happy," excited Mtrill said.