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Duke Amayo

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Afrobeat Musician, Former lead singer of Antibalas
Duke Amayo
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.

Biography

In 1995, he moved to New York City, US where he designed clothes and taught Kung Fu in his storefront, the Afrospot Temple, 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.

In 1998, two guys came into his Afrospot and asked him to be part of a new band, Antibalas. 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 in 2020).

Songs on the Fu Chronicles album all written by Amayo include, "Fist of Flowers" based on the Kung Fu movement, "Flower Fist." Other songs he wrote like, "Gold Rush" and "Tombstown" were about the ancestors.

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. 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.

Songs in the repertory include ‘Amenawon’, "Lion Awakes", "Happy Lion", "Fist of Flowers' and "MTTT" first put out in his "Kung Fu Lessons of Life" album in 2002.

‘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.

Amayo left Antibalas to launch his solo career as AMAYO. Since then he brought his new band to Nigeria to perform for the first time at Felabration, 2022. He debuted his new band at BAM, Brooklyn, 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
  • Melvin Gibbs, “Ancients Speak”, 17 March 2009
  • Antibalas, “Security”, 7 March 2006
  • Antibalas, “K-Leg and R.O.C.”, 1 January 2006
  • Antibalas, “Government Magic”, 1 January 2005
  • Antibalas, “Who is this America”, 19 October 2004
  • Red Hot +Riot, “Red Hot + Riot”, 15 October 2002
  • Antibalas, “Talkatif”, 1 March 2002
  • Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra “Afrobeat Disciples (Reissue)”, 2002
  • Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra, “Afrobeat Disciples”, January, 2002
  • Antibalas, “Liberation Afrobeats”, April 9, 2001
  • Antibalas, “Liberation Afrobeat Volume 1”, 2001
  • Antibalas Tour EP, 2001
  • Antibalas, “Uprising” 9 April 2000

Television appearances

Music videos

  • Antibalas - "Fight Am Finish" (Official Music Video)]
  • "Gold Rush" (Official Music Video)]
  • Antibalas "Dirty Money" (Official Music Video)

References

  1. Simon, Scott (February 8, 2020). "Antibalas' 'Fu Chronicles' Is A Martial Arts-Inspired Testament To Afrobeat". NPR. p. 1. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. "Dojo Risin': Amayo, Antibalas, Music and the Martial Arts". Relix Media. 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  3. "Duke Amayo… Afrobeat Lion Roars In Lagos". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  4. Rohter, Larry (2012-08-06). "Waiting in Brooklyn for the World to Catch Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  5. "Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Antibalas Talk 'Fu Chronicles,' Kung Fu And Their Mission To Spread Afrobeat". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  6. Gutterman, Scott (2019-12-11). "Amayo: Fist of Flowers". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  7. Renoncourt, Francois (2019-05-24). "Antibalas, 20 years of afrobeat and kung-fu spirit (2/2)". PAM - Pan African Music. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  8. Hughes, Hilary (2021-09-27). "Revisiting Daptone Records' Halcyon Moment at the Apollo". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  9. "Antibalas Announces Vocalist Duke Amayo's Departure". JamBase.
  10. Blumenfeld, Larry (May 1, 2020). "Album Review: 'Fu Chronicles' Antibalas written by Duke Amayo" (PDF). Jazziz (51): 1.
  11. Downes, Michael (2009-07-22). "Introducing Antibalas Offspring Fu-Arkist-Ra". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  12. "Amayo Announces Spring Tour, City Winery and Colony Woodstock Shows". NYS Music. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  13. Johnson, Reed (2012-08-15). "Review: A superb turn by Antibalas at the Echoplex". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  14. "Amayo Leaving Antibalas". NYS Music. 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  15. Esomnofu, Emmanuel (2022-11-08). "NATIVE Exclusive: Duke Amayo Is Coming Home". The Native. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  16. "In Focus: Amayo Debuts New Band at BAMcafé in Brooklyn". NYS Music. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  17. Sissler, James (2022-11-21). "PHOTOS: Former Antibalas Singer Duke Amayo Brings New Solo Project To Brooklyn". L4LM. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
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