King Sunny Ade and his African Beats
King Sunny Adé and His African Beats
Thursday, June 25, 2015 | 8 pm
Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park
North Carolina Museum of Art
Doors open at 6:30 pm
King Sunny Adé was born into the royal family of Ondo, in Nigeria, and shocked his parents by embarking on a career in music. But it was a decision that made him a superstar in his homeland and took a style of Nigerian social music known as juju to worldwide acclaim.
The legendary band leader, composer, and guitarist helped pave the way for many of the great Afro-pop bands of our times, including past NCMA standouts Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, and the Mahotella Queens. Adé has been a bold innovator, adding guitars, percussion, keyboards, synthesizer, and even Hawaiian-style pedal steel to create a “gently hypnotic, polyrhythmic mesh of burbling guitars, sweet harmony vocals, swooping Hawaiian guitar, and throbbing talking drums” (Rolling Stone).
Don’t miss a rare opportunity to dance the night away with one of Africa’s all-time musical greats along with 20 master musicians and percussionists.
Watch video
Dancing encouraged in front of stage.
Get your tickets here!