Beautiful Nubia: Reviews

A calm and literate presence, spreads a good aura, thoughtful lyrics and a smart band

"Nigeria's King of Melody!”

"One of the best things to have happened to contemporary music in Nigeria...a rare creator of rich sounds and a gifted performer.”

Beautiful Nubia and his Roots Renaissance Band have helped to strengthen our belief that there is hope for genuine modern Nigerian and African music, a conviction that is being daily shaken by the foreign hip hop culture which has completely overwhelmed the Nigerian scene. Listening to Kilokilo, one cannot but agree with the very true and valid view that Beautiful Nubia is blending rhythms and melodies from the folk traditions of his Yoruba culture with personal influences; and that he has created an original form of music that defies categorisation.

"One of those who have come to redeem the image of traditional African music."

“Engaging blend...A warm and approachable voice...Friendly, tight, with brass...a lighter-hearted relative of Afrobeat”

"Bubbling melting pot of worldly pop"

Melding traditional Yorubian folk music with the same R&B rhythms and horns that infatuated the early ska and reggae movement, Fere is an album that glides and swirls with sophisticated pop sensibilities.

His songs and sounds are geared towards wide appeal with catchy melody and inspirational messages to the forefront.

"Everywhere you turn, the music of Beautiful Nubia caresses your sensibilities to the beautiful realities of African culture."

”With his third album, Jangbalajugbu, he has proved to be a musician like no other.”

“Beautiful Nubia’s voice needs to be heard not only in his native continent Africa but all over the world."

Although most of his songs tend to draw awareness to the serious degradation brought about by civil war, ineffectual governments, violence amongst neighbors, public health concerns, and widespread apathy, you can almost see the smile on his face as he and his band play odes that beam with hope and positivity. Like an encouragement coach, Nubia is always offering phrases of faith, redemption, perseverance and above all unity, but simultaneously lets you know that sublime rewards will not come without the African people waking up and working for a change.

"The first time you take a listen to Beautiful Nubia, one word comes to mind. And that word is DIFFERENT."

From the softly spoken welcoming words of the first track to the gentle sax and lissom guitar of the final “Lamentation Version,” this (Fere) is a friendly album, jam-packed with vibrant rhythms and pleasant West African sounds

...And The Fans Say...
(A sampling of favourite fan mail from the 2003-2006 period)

I think you stand for the new generation of Nigerians who want a return to the values we threw away when the white man came. We want a reclamation of what once defined us as a people, our values of hardwork, sense of community, fear of God and love. If art will succeed where politics and the much touted democracy have failed, so be it. We are tired of being dressed in borrowed robes, we are tired of funny European appelations. We want to know and appreciate our ways of life, our ancestry, our Oriki. You'd be surprised I am at home with mine. You are an exceptional talent, historian, walking conscience and gate-keeper to our rich past. MAY YOU CONTINUE TO GROW STRONG.
- Adetoun Folashade (Omo) Adeniran
Hello, beautiful one. I heard your interview on CBC and I was profoundly touched by your humanity. I know why you are pursuing a musical career: you have been chosen to speak to the world because you have something very worthwhile to impart to your fellowman, and that message, I believe, is one of love and peace and the hope that all nations will learn to coexist in peace and harmony. You have been blessed with a very special talent and people like you can make a real change in the world, simply because you know how to reach out and touch people in a very powerful and profound way. All the best and I plan on following your musical career with great anticipation.
- Paul L.
Greetings from Finland to you on this beautiful Christmas day. I am writing this to acknowledge the opportunity you offer for me (and many like me) to celebrate a myriad of rich Yoruba musical traditional cultures you have put on the global stage (and my/our experience) of it so far away from home. What is most amazing is the way you have successfully blended this with (and presented it as) a modern weave. Your talents, as a multi-faceted artist and as an exponent of the style I have tagged FOLK-FUSION, somehow remind me of the richness of the great artistic era of the '70s in the Nigerian campuses (esp. in the Ibadan-Lagos-Ife axis). This style of yours, while is hard to classify in a distinct genre, is so original yet modern and true to your artistic name nevertheless. For some reason, in one fell swoop you remind me of names of the spirit of that time with the marvellous work of Soyinka and his theatre, Tunji Oyelana, Hakeeb Kareem, Ben Enwowu, Sam Akpabot, Akin Euba, etc. as well as the art and dance troupes of these campuses...
- Jayeola Sammy
I must confess you are doing a great job trying to revive our cultural heritage, which seems to be going into extinction. Upcoming Nigerian artistes are not helping matters. I think they basically don't take their time to do proper studio recording and moreover we don't have good producers. The few around are not particularly concerned about the quality of their products. I am a final year student of Anthropology at the University of Ibadan writing my project on "Music as a medium of social reformation, a case study of highlife musical genre." The whole idea of the project is to show people the significance of highlife in our social life, i.e. day-to-day activities, economy, and culture, but most importantly, to see it as an embodiment of oral traditions: folklore, satire, proverbs, etc. I really wish people like you would help train our Nigerian artistes so that they can reduce their mentality of foreign music and come back to face reality in their fatherland and most importantly see the true spirit of highlife as a joyous revolt from anger, boredom, malice and anything that will hinder the mind of man from riding freely in the air.
- Esho, Yemisi
Jangbalajugbu is like a journey, every length has a meaning, a sign post, a feature you can almost touch, one you can almost identify as yours, familiar yet far away...
- Kolawole Euba
I was really touched, by your portrayal of African life, culture, mentality and strength in your track "Seven Lives". I need not tell you that you have joined the list of the Legends with that singular track. Whenever the names of great pan Africanist musicians are listed, in the likes of Bob Marley, Baba 70, Sonny Okosuns, Miriam Makeba, etc., yours will be mentioned and particular credit will be given to "Seven Lifes".
- Anjoorin, A.
A short breath away from heaven... better than perfect... this is the creative genius for us all.
- Chris Edunbanjo
I was at your concert... I keep replaying that night on my mind every
blessed day, and it gives me goose bumps all over...
- A. Olomola
Your music has really helped me in discovering who I am. Your
brand of music is simply African or better put - "Africa". All this while, I have been brainwashed by the white folks, trying to be more European than the Europeans. Only to realise how tall that dream had been!
- O. Fapohunda
I must say I fell head over heels in love with the music, especially Seven Lives. It's as if you put a kind of catalyst in it. Anytime I listen to it, it stirs up something in me.
- O. Olusola
I fell in love with the message and your style. I got the impression of subtle revolution from the mind to the outside eschewing all pride and violence...
- Ekundayo Gbenga
AWILELE... another good work from you. You sometimes speak my mind with your music. I just pray and hope we have a handful of Nigeria youths that are thinking towards the same direction into our future.
- D. Afolabi
I still find it very difficult to believe that some people are still in this world who think in beautiful ways and put those wonderful thoughts into writing and singing in such nicety. - Arojojoye, B.
You have a wonderful voice and this always elevates me each time I am down and hear you music. I believe there is something inside of you that the world is waiting for.
- Ikomi, G.
I must say you are extraordinary. People like you are very rare. I am jealous of the Canadians for sharing you with those of us at home.
- Damilare, O.
The messages are powerful and the words inspiring. I have watched a musical/interview programme in which you were featured. Throughout the programme, I was glued to my seat. I saw in you great potentials. I saw in you great ideas. I saw in you a divine force that cannot be stopped by any earthly force. I saw in you a genius. Beautiful Nubia, where have you been all this while?
- Adeleye, J.
You are a treasure we must appreciate
- Nwoha, P.A.
To me it's you are like an angel in human skin. Though I'm still a young man, I never heard music of my taste until I heard your music on radio. Later I started listening to other tracks of yours which really made me appreciate my culture more.
- Ojemeh, O.
You are a genius. As an aspiring musician, your kind of music gives me lots of inspiration.
- Abu, D.
What I admire the most in your music is its simplicity submerged in complexity and overlaid with our cultural heritage. - Obot, N.
I just can't deny the fact that you're a reviving force in the protection of African rhythm and culture. Keep up the good job man. Thumbs up for an African icon.
- Oke, F.
Your style is absolutely rare. Your song has inspired many people in Nigeria...
- Olusegun, B.M.
Thanks for your music... Inu mi ma ndun nigbagbogbo listening to your CD. 'Owuro Lojo' is my wake up call daily - it is great to wake up to the tune - it was a thing of pride for me to see a brother who is making waves with traditional folklore at a time when some people believe there is no hope for any type of music that is not hip-pop or rap. You are a true ambassador of the Yoruba nation, Nigeria, Africa and all the indigenous peoples of the world. Words cannot adequately express how happy and proud I am of your achievements...
- Kola-Olusanya, A.
I have been a great admirer of yours for the past 2 to 3 years. It's a great job you've been doing and what I like mostly is how you arrange the rhythms of your music.
- Edu, T.
Your works have spoken for you. I hear a lot from people concerning your music and, so far, I have been extremely overwhelmed. Your music to me is a beautiful surprise.
- Ogunyanwo, Muyiwa
I wish to commend your last work "Jangbalajugbu". It is rich, original and very natural. It is unfortunate that urban life has virtually eroded our natural settings for traditional folklore and songs, which your music now projects. The fusion of this into contemporary music is ingenious.
- Patrick Akinnimi
As somebody who is very emotional and sensitive to what is going on around him, I was moved to tears when I heard "The Small People's Anthem". All the tracks in your last album are still a "dream" to me. It is as if I never listened to such music. If I may ask you, where have you been all these days?
- Odukogbe, T.
You've brought smiles and happiness to me, and others, through your music.
- Ogbola, O.
You are setting a new and nice pace for real African music.
- Osaretin, M.
Jangbalajugbu is the best thing i have listened to all my life
- Tunrayo Olaotan
Please let me give birth to a baby like you...
- Dortman oau
You are an extraordinary lyricist. I really appreciate your brand of music and the style of your folk music.
- Ikechukwu Anyanwu
All the tracks are fantastic!... uncommon valor. For something as positive as you to come from where only negatives abode can really inspire others. O kare omo.
- Ola Oyinloye
It is pertinent for me to acknowledge your musical ingenuity and organisational skills as an artist.
- Saka Adeyemi
I compare you with musical legends of other continents.
- Ige-Babarunde O.
I have been praying for God to provide somebody like you in my generation so that posterity will have lots to appreciate
- Toyin Bose
Anytime I listen to your music, it just swells up this desire inside of me to just bust out the talents I have inside of me
- Ayo Komolafe
I am one of your admirers who has used you as a case study in most of my public workshops and discussions on how to convert talent to wealth. Your success is a demonstration of natural talent and endowment. You are really an asset to the African entertainment and artistic industry. We need more of you
- Sam Asekunowo
You are really a shining star from the midst of gloominess. At a time every sensibility is being forgotten in our musical culture, it is quite a good thing to see people like you coming up and giving some hope to ones like myself.
- Kehinde Olakunle-Alabi
I am surprised that a young man can actually come up with such soul - touching music that brings tears to my eyes.
- Kemi Oso
I believe you can do a lot to change the mindset of the youths with your kind of songs
- Ronke Fateye
Your music is indeed a show-case of talent and one thing that strikes me most is that it has a way of passing serious message in a very smooth manner.
- Ayo Agunloye
You are one of the best things this country has exported in a long time!
- Akinrogunde A. O.