Afrobeat Musician, Former lead singer of Antibalas
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
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
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
