King Sunny Adé

King Sunny Adé, whose birth name is Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, came into the world on 22 September 1946. A Nigerian jùjú singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, he is widely recognized as one of the first African pop musicians to break through internationally and is often described as one of the most influential musicians ever.

His backing band, eventually called his African Beats, was formed in 1967. After building a national following in Nigeria throughout the 1970s and launching his own independent label, he signed with Island Records in 1982. That year’s *Juju Music* and the 1983 follow-up *Synchro System* brought him global attention; the latter earned him a Grammy nomination, a first for any Nigerian artist. Another nomination came with his 1998 album *Odu*. Before the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria was licensed, Adé served as its board chairman, and later became its honorary president in recognition of his leadership.

Born in Osogbo, Adé is an Omoba of the Yoruba people, hailing from a Nigerian royal family linked to Ondo and Akure. His father played church organ, and his mother, Maria Adegeye, was a trader. Through the Adesida dynasty, his mother’s relatives included Oba Adesida I, who ruled Akure for six decades.

Adé left grammar school in Ondo City, telling his family he was heading to the University of Lagos but instead beginning his musical career in that city. He started with Moses Olaiya’s Federal Rhythm Dandies, a highlife band, then formed his own group, The Green Spots, in 1967. Over time, the band’s name shifted—to African Beats, then Golden Mercury—reflecting changes in his music and business needs. Jùjú pioneer Tunde Nightingale was a key influence, and Adé borrowed from Nightingale’s “So wa nbe” style. He founded the King Sunny Ade Foundation, which houses a performing arts center, a recording studio, and living quarters for young musicians. He also serves as a visiting lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife and holds the Order of the Federal Republic. He remains the first Nigerian ever nominated for a Grammy.

After more than a decade of success in Nigeria, Adé won acclaim in Europe and North America in 1982. The global release of *Juju Music* and its tour were almost universally praised by critics, if not always by consumers.