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A marathon show of Nigerian music
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Daily Local News, A marathon show of Nigerian music >>
King Sunny Ade, Nigeria's most famous musician, has a reputation for putting on amazing shows that start strong and are still going strong hours later.
He has performed number of times in Philadelphia, but his prior shows - as intense as they were - might be no match for his concert tonight at the Blue Horizon in North Philadelphia.
There are two main styles of music in Nigeria - juju and highlife - and there are two principal tribes - Yoruba and Ibo. Juju is the music of the Yoruba, while highlife is favored by the Ibo people.
Ade is the acknowledged world master of juju.
Highlife, which has somewhat different vibe, gained popularity around the world in the 1980s and 1990s - especially through the recordings and live performances by Sonny Okosun.
Though the Yoruba and Ibo fought civil wars in the past, they now peacefully co-exist in the West African nation. But their musical styles never came together until now.
Highlife performer Prince Obi Osadebe will join Ade on stage. Never before have such high-level Yoruba and Ibo musicians performed together - here or in Nigeria.
Osadebe is the son of Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, the only Nigerian whose recordings have ever gone platinum in Nigeria.
Another thing that sets Ade's new show apart is the format. This is the first time, he is performing shows in America done African-style, where concert-goers can practice the tradition of "spraying."
Popular in most African countries, "spraying" is form of arts patronage in which audience members simultaneously offer money to the performer while themselves receiving recognition in the form of "praise singing." The money is given to the performer by placing bills on the sweaty foreheads of the musicians or by showering the singer with money.
Another African-style feature of tonight's show will be the length of the concert. Doors open at 9 p.m., with the band slated to start at 10 p.m. It's pretty safe bet that Ade and his group will still be playing when the sun comes up over the North Broad Street hall.
"The length of the show depends on how long want to play," Ade said during a phone interview Thursday morning. "In Nigeria, if I go on at eight in the night, I'll usually play until eight in the morning. If it's 10 at night, I might play until 10 in the morning.
"I've been playing music professionally for 40 years and my band is going to be 36 years old in December. I have recorded more than 100 albums - 112 to be exact - and have well over 1,000 songs I can play."
The numbers are also high when it comes to band members. Ade's touring lineup features 26 musicians, including five guitarists and a number of percussionists playing instruments such as the Nigerian talking drum.
"I've been coming to America to perform for so many years, I wanted to do a new innovation this time," Ade said. "That's why we're doing more of traditional African show the kind of show you'd see if you came to hear us perform in Lagos.
"I always have new songs to play. Whenever I feel like writing, I sit down and write. ... I've been blessed by God with this musical talent."
What: King Sunny Ade
When: MarclL26 - doors open at 9 p.m.
Where: Blue Horizon, 1314 N. Broad St., Philadelphia
Tickets: $29.95
Information: 215-336- 2000
-Denny Dyroff 03/26/05
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