King Sunny Ade

Legendary Nigerian musician, King Sunny Ade is 70 years old today! Born Sunday Adeniyi, ‘KSA’ as he is fondly called is without doubt one of the most influential musicians to ever come out of Nigeria.

Here are five fun facts about him.

1. He was born on September 22, 1946, to a royal family in Ondo state. His mother was a trader while his father was a church organist
2. Having attended a grammar school in his hometown, He left home to enroll in the University of Lagos but chose to go into music instead!
3. His musical journey began with the highlife band,  Federal Rhythm Dandies before he left to form his first band called the green Spots in 1967
4. King Sunny Ade was one of the first African acts to record with ‘Island Record’ but the collaboration between himself and the label did not last very long
5. He is the first African to be nominated for the Grammy Awards twice!