Amayo (formerly of Antibalas)

Afrobeat From Amayo Blends Nigerian Heritage and Kung Fu Teachings, In-Studio

Soundcheck | Feb 6, 2025

Amayo is the Nigerian-born, Atlanta-based singer and songwriter who was the longtime front-person for the band Antibalas. Now out on his own, Amayo continues to create his own distinctive take on the Afrobeat sound pioneered in the 1970s by the legendary Fela Kuti. But Amayo’s songwriting and his live performances are also deeply affected by his longtime Kung Fu practice - he is a senior master (Sifu) of the Jow Ga Kung Fu School of martial arts. AMAYO’s new solo album is called Lion Awakes, and he and his big band play some of the high-energy tunes, in-studio.

Set list: 1. Lion Awakes 2. Black Magic Sister

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