Mike Aremu

Early life

At age eight, Aremu began playing musical instruments at his local church in Niger State, Nigeria, and was a member of the Boys Brigade band. In 1995, after some basic lessons, he focused on the saxophone. The following year he joined House on the Rock's music team, performing with Nigerian gospel artist Sammie Okposo, Agboola Shadare, Gbenga Owoeye-Wise, and others. He appeared at venues including Pintos, The Green Lion, Club Towers, K's Place, and Mega Plaza's Dome, and completed session work for Onyeka Onwenu, Ras Kimono, and Wasiu Ayinde Marshall.

Career

Mike Aremu originally signed a deal with Kennis Music Label—Nigeria’s biggest record company at the time—for three years, though it actually stretched to four. Under that contract, he put out two albums that hit the top of the charts: “Dance” in 1999 and “No Shaking” in 2002, which together moved more than 1.5 million copies. He also cut two tracks for the Christian Broadcasting Network in the United States. Over his career, he has shared the stage with Kenny G, Hugh Masekela, India Arie, Najee, Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Winans, Ron Kenoly, Mary Mary, and Travis Greene, and performed at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He collaborated with UK-based author and gospel artist Abraham Adeshile Great on the song “Next Level.” In London, he appeared at the Barbican and Ocean as part of the Awesome Praise concerts, and twice headlined the London Festival of Life at the Excel Centre—on 28 March 2008 and 18 October 2013—each time before crowds exceeding 40,000.

Between 2006 and 2017, he performed nine times at the Experience, with the 2010 edition drawing more than 600,000 people to Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. The opening show of his four-month UK tour sold out at the Jazz Café in October 2008. In 2013, he released his third album, “Coat of Many Colours,” recorded in London, and followed it with a European tour that included return gigs at the Jazz Café and the PizzaExpress Jazz Club.

Sax Appeal

Aremu organizes Sax Appeal, the largest jazz concert in Nigeria, held annually since 2010 with the latest edition in November 2014 at Transcorp Hilton Abuja. The event promotes live musical performances and fosters interaction between sponsoring organizations, businessmen, and entrepreneurs. Featured artists have included Indie Arie, Kenny G, Judith Sephuma, Kunle Ayo, Yolanda Brown, Hugh Masakela, Marvin Winans, Mary Mary, Timi Dakolo, Cobhams, Waje, Jessy J, Agboola Shadare, Yinka Davies, Tosin Martins, Bez, Cobhams Asuquo, and others. The event has brought together entrepreneurs including Donald Duke, Aliko Dangote, and Babatunde Fashola.

Awards

Aremu’s career has earned him multiple industry honors, including an African Gospel Music Award, a TOMA Award, and an AMEN Award recognizing both Best Instrumental Album and Best Gospel Music Video of the Year. He received two Kora Award nominations in 2003 and was also nominated for JCI’s TOYP award in the category of best self-developed personality. In 2014, he swept four MEGA Awards: Album of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Use of Instrument, and Best Contemporary/Alternative Album. That same year, he won the Crystal Award for Best Use of Instrument, and in 2013 he took home an AGMA Award in the UK for Best Afro Jazz/Instrumental.