Juju maestro King Sunny Ade clocks 74
By Emmanuel Awosika
Legendary juju musician King Sunny Ade turned clocked 74 on Tuesday.
Popularly known as KSA, he helped spearhead the rise in popularity of juju and African pop music. He is a avid songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist.
A winner of numerous awards, King Sunny Ade was conferred with the Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) by the Federal Government for his contribution to the Nigerian entertainment industry.
KSA, whose real name is Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, was born in Osogbo area of Osun State, His father was a church organist while his mother was a trader.
Like most juju singers, King Sunny Ade’s music is a combination of traditional Yoruba poetry, Ewi, and praise-singing, along with the use of talking drums and guitars.
He is credited with introducing the use of Western musical instruments such as the pedal steel guitar, vibraphone, and synthesizers in juju music.
The use of modern instruments was, according to him, born out of necessity. He said traditional juju instruments were often difficult to procure or use on tours.
Along with Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, King Sunny Ade is regarded as one of the biggest Nigerian music exports of the pre-2000s era.
He recorded for a time with the US-UK music label Island Records, paving the way for other African artistes such as Yossou N’Dor and Salif Keita, who found success in the international sphere.
His music was also used in several Hollywood films, starting with the 1983 flick Breathless, which starred Richard Gere. KSA’s music also featured in One More Saturday Night, a comedy released in 1986 and O.C and Stiggs, a comic flick directed by and Robert Altman.
