Legendary Nigerian musician, King Sunny Ade, today turned 70 years old and we have decided to share these lovely throwback of KSA.
Nigerian Music Legend King Sunny Ade ‘KSA’ celebrated his 70th Birthday in Houston over the weekend.
King Sunny Ade’s who transformation his Oshogbo/Ondo humble beginnings into global stardom is marked by two recurring attributes: single-mindedness and perseverance. It is a story about someone who knew he had a calling to become a professional musician, and worked resolutely toward achieving his goal.
Drawing on the values of self-dignity that his mother had taught him, and relying on his knowledge of indigenous performance, King Sunny Ade (KSA) proceeded to Lagos and began a new phase of his life as a young man. In Lagos he identified those who would help him achieve his desire.
One of them was Moses Olaiya, who offered him an opportunity to apprentice as a musician. The other was Chief Tunde Amuwo, who provided him with a set of musical instruments as well as a space to perform.
On the other hands, KSA, building on the support of these two men and many others, has formed one of Africa’s most successful bands, released over one hundred albums, helped to create PMAN (Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria), resisted the urge by global musical networks to change his style of music, and created a musical genre that, although eclectically sourced, is unique in its projection of African-grounded performance aesthetics.
