Ade Bantu: Afropolitan Vibes tries to create pan-African awareness

The vocalist spoke about the political activism aspect of his concert series and what it strives to do regarding music from across the continent. He also commented on spending two decades in Germany.

“I was fed up of always defining myself in terms of racism and by always having to explain to people what's going on in Africa,” said Bantu, whose first group Brothers Keeper recorded ‘Adriano (Last Warning)’, a song intended as response to racism in the European country. It became a hit. Ade soon left the country for Nigeria, the other half of his parental inheritance. He recorded several songs and then in 2013, he launched Afropolitan Vibes.

“My goal was to revive the culture of live music in Nigeria,” he said. “Nightlife had basically disappeared after many years of military dictatorship and curfews.”

The concert series attracted members of the culture class and then began to expand. From a corner of its first home, Freedom Park, it moved to the venue’s main stage. Musicians from the pop and traditional scenes turned up to perform as the concert mixed genres and generations. The concert bid farewell to Freedom Park and took up space at Muri Okunola Park. It retained its edge.

“Onstage, I can comment on daily politics. I can criticise the government without being arrested. That's a very important aspect of Afropolitan Vibes…we must let the politicians know that we are looking in their direction. There will be elections next year, and we don't have a real alternative party or a real opposition. They're all bribable.”

At the 29 June event, Brymo, Ric Hassani and the female group Adunni Nefretiti performed. The previously announced Niniola was absent. While all of these acts are Nigerian, the show has brought in such artists as Megaloh from Germany as well as Gyedu-Blay Ambolley from Ghana.

“We are trying to create pan-African awareness about music and culture,” Bantu said. “Ultimately, it's all about African unity.”

Last year, the house band for the concert series, BANTU, released the Agberos International album. Speaking to Music In Africa, Ade Bantu expressed his hopes for the band's music. "I just hope that when people are referencing these times, they look in our direction as sonic reference," he said.