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