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Duke Amayo

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Duke Amayo
Amayo at Felabration 2022 in Lagos, Nigeria.

(Abraham) "Duke" Amayo is a Nigerian musician, composer, singer, and former frontman of the Afrobeat band Antibalas for 23 years.[1]

Biography

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In 1995, he moved to New York City, US where he designed clothes and taught Kung Fu in his storefront, the Afrospot Temple,[2] a dojo and venue in pre-gentrified Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He put on fashion shows with models from the Fashion Cafe walking to live Nigerian percussionists. He had his own clothing line, AMAYO.[3]

In 1998, two guys came into his Afrospot and asked him to be part of a new band, Antibalas.[4] His Afrospot became their rehearsal space and where Daptone Records was founded. They put on many parties and events there.

After joining Antibalas, Amayo spent a year teaching himself to play the piano and wrote his first tune, “M.T.T.T. (Mother Talker, Tick Tock)” in 2000, (nominated for a GRAMMY[5] in 2020).

Songs on the Fu Chronicles album all written by Amayo include, "Fist of Flowers[6]" based on the Kung Fu movement, "Flower Fist." Other songs he wrote like, "Gold Rush" and "Tombstown" were about the ancestors.[7]

Amayo performed at the Apollo with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley as part of the Daptone Soul Revue, which was also made into a documentary.[8] He was the face and lead singer for the band for 23 years, who many affectionately called the spirit of Antibalas, as the only authentic Nigerian in the band.[9]

Songs in the repertory include ‘Amenawon’,[10] "Lion Awakes", "Happy Lion", "Fist of Flowers' and "MTTT" first put out in his "Kung Fu Lessons of Life" album in 2002.[11]

‘Fu Chronicles’ sets the tone for the type of music he's been performing on tour. He has a new album under his own name, AMAYO, being recorded at Diamond West studios in Los Angeles.[12][13]

Amayo left Antibalas to launch his solo career as AMAYO.[14] Since then he brought his new band to Nigeria to perform for the first time at Felabration, 2022.[15] He debuted his new band[16] at BAM, Brooklyn,[17] along with a run of shows on the American East and West Coast in 2023.

Partial discography

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  • Antibalas, “Fu Chronicles”, 7 February 2020
  • Henry Cole & Villa Locura, “Buscando La Vida”, 19 November 2021
  • Amayo, “Osun Osogbo”, 16 August 2021
  • Armo, “Armo”, 13 February 2019
  • Antibalas, “Where the Gods Are in Peace”, 15 September 2017
  • Antibalas, “AWOL 45”, 18 October 2012
  • Antibalas, “Antibalas (Self-Titled), 7 August 2012
  • Professor Wouassa, “Dangerous Koko!”, 4 February 2011
  • Melvin Gibbs, “Ancients Speak”, 17 March 2009
  • Antibalas, “Security”, 7 March 2006
  • Antibalas, “K-Leg and R.O.C.”, 1 January 2006
  • Antibalas, “Government Magic”, 1 January 2005
  • Antibalas, “Who is this America”, 19 October 2004
  • Red Hot +Riot, “Red Hot + Riot”, 15 October 2002
  • Antibalas, “Talkatif”, 1 March 2002
  • Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra “Afrobeat Disciples (Reissue)”, 2002
  • Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra, “Afrobeat Disciples”, January, 2002
  • Antibalas, “Liberation Afrobeats”, April 9, 2001
  • Antibalas, “Liberation Afrobeat Volume 1”, 2001
  • Antibalas Tour EP, 2001
  • Antibalas, “Uprising” 9 April 2000

Television appearances

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Music videos

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  • Antibalas - "Fight Am Finish" (Official Music Video)]
  • "Gold Rush" (Official Music Video)]
  • Antibalas "Dirty Money" (Official Music Video)

References

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  1. ^ Simon, Scott (February 8, 2020). "Antibalas' 'Fu Chronicles' Is A Martial Arts-Inspired Testament To Afrobeat". NPR. p. 1. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Dojo Risin': Amayo, Antibalas, Music and the Martial Arts". Relix Media. 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  3. ^ "Duke Amayo… Afrobeat Lion Roars In Lagos". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  4. ^ Rohter, Larry (2012-08-06). "Waiting in Brooklyn for the World to Catch Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  5. ^ "Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Antibalas Talk 'Fu Chronicles,' Kung Fu And Their Mission To Spread Afrobeat". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  6. ^ Gutterman, Scott (2019-12-11). "Amayo: Fist of Flowers". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  7. ^ Renoncourt, Francois (2019-05-24). "Antibalas, 20 years of afrobeat and kung-fu spirit (2/2)". PAM - Pan African Music. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  8. ^ Hughes, Hilary (2021-09-27). "Revisiting Daptone Records' Halcyon Moment at the Apollo". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  9. ^ "Antibalas Announces Vocalist Duke Amayo's Departure". JamBase.
  10. ^ Blumenfeld, Larry (May 1, 2020). "Album Review: 'Fu Chronicles' Antibalas written by Duke Amayo" (PDF). Jazziz (51): 1.
  11. ^ Downes, Michael (2009-07-22). "Introducing Antibalas Offspring Fu-Arkist-Ra". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  12. ^ "Amayo Announces Spring Tour, City Winery and Colony Woodstock Shows". NYS Music. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  13. ^ Johnson, Reed (2012-08-15). "Review: A superb turn by Antibalas at the Echoplex". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  14. ^ "Amayo Leaving Antibalas". NYS Music. 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  15. ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (2022-11-08). "NATIVE Exclusive: Duke Amayo Is Coming Home". The Native. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  16. ^ "In Focus: Amayo Debuts New Band at BAMcafé in Brooklyn". NYS Music. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  17. ^ Sissler, James (2022-11-21). "PHOTOS: Former Antibalas Singer Duke Amayo Brings New Solo Project To Brooklyn". L4LM. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
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