Ade Bantu

Ade Bantu's musical collective Bantu is the NiGerman Brotherhood Alliance Navigating Towards Unity. A pioneer of the German HipHop movement from the start, Ade is among the central figures who have shaped the genre as it exists in the country today.

Born in England to a German mother and a Nigerian father, later relocating in Cologne, Germany, his spicy AfroPean stew is a natural blend of the most converse elements of both continents' traditions. Drawing from his forefathers' roots and his experience of the African diaspora alike, he uses the variety of urban styles and sounds from R&B through HipHop to Ragga to contribute to the soundtrack of a global Africa: profoundly rooted in Yoruba history yet standing on today's cutting edge, deeply sensual yet utterly spiritual, thoroughly individual yet highly political.

The political aspect was exercised especially effectively with Brothers Keepers, the all-star AfroGerman ensemble, masterminded by Ade Bantu, who took the most outspoken stand against racist violence in the country yet with their song "Adriano (Last Warning)," taking it to the top of the German charts.

Adewale Ayuba is the master of Nigeria's next generation of Fuji music. As "Fuji Ambassador" he has started to spread the vibe of West African dancehalls from his Lagos club, Skindles, straight to the Americas, Europe and beyond. Known for his captivating vocal arrangements and fluent drum patterns, he is particularly famous for his energetic live shows that can last up to 7 hours.There is the mingling of African and Western instrumentation, inspirationally transforming the seemingly mundane into states far more spiritual and deep.