Adegoke Odukoya, professionally known as Adé Bantu (born 14 July 1971), is a Nigerian-German musician, producer, activist, and social entrepreneur. He is the frontman of the 13-piece band BANTU, founder of the musical collective Brothers Keepers, and creator of the live concert series Afropolitan Vibes, held monthly in Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a vocal social critic and cultural figure with influence spanning both Europe and Africa.
Early Life
Adé Bantu was born in Wembley, London, to a Nigerian father, Adeleke Odukoya, and a German mother, Barbara Odukoya. In 1973, his family relocated to Lagos, Nigeria. After the death of his father in 1986, Adé moved to Germany with his mother and siblings. He is the elder brother of Nigerian musician Abiodun (Don Abi).
Career
Early Music Career in Germany
In 1989, Adé joined the hip hop group Exponential Enjoyment under the alias Duke T, helping to pioneer Germany's early hip hop movement. Their 1993 album Chop or Quench was the first multilingual hip hop album in Germany. He later collaborated with jazz artists like Peter Kowald and Sainkho Namtchylak on the album Expo's Jazz & Joy.
He went on to form Weep Not Child, a politically conscious hip hop group whose music addressed racism and xenophobia. The song Je Ka Bere was featured in the European Media Against Racism campaign.
Founding BANTU
In 1996, Adé co-founded BANTU, a multicultural music collective, with his brother Abiodun, Patrice, and Amechi Okerenkwo. Their debut Nigerian album Fufu produced hits like Nzobu and Fire Inna Dancehall. BANTU later released several albums blending Fuji, Afrobeat, hip hop, funk, and reggae.
Their 2005 album Fuji Satisfaction—featuring Fuji legend Adewale Ayuba—won the Kora Awards for "Best Group West Africa" and "Best Group Africa".
Brothers Keepers
Adé Bantu founded Brothers Keepers in 2001 in response to racist violence in Germany. The group’s song Adriano (die letzte Warnung) became an anti-racism anthem in Germany, selling over 220,000 copies and reaching the Top 5 in the German charts. The project later expanded into Sisters Keepers and released the album Lightkultur and the follow-up Am I My Brother's Keeper? in 2005.
Afropolitan Vibes
In 2013, Adé launched Afropolitan Vibes, a monthly concert series and annual music festival in Lagos that showcases alternative African music and culture. It became a platform for cross-generational and cross-genre collaboration, welcoming acts like Tony Allen, Seun Kuti, and Nneka.
Discography
With BANTU
- Fufu (1999)
- BANTU (2004, Europe)
- Fuji Satisfaction (2005)
- No Man Stands Alone (2011)
- Agberos International (2017)
- Everybody Get Agenda (2020)
- What Is Your Breaking Point? (2023)
With Brothers Keepers
- Adriano (Single) (2001)
- Lightkultur (2001)
- Bereit (Single) (2005)
- Am I My Brother’s Keeper? (2005)
Activism
Adé Bantu is a vocal activist both in Germany and Nigeria. He co-founded Brothers Keepers e.V., an NGO that worked on issues of racism, asylum reform, and youth education. He helped initiate the Ken Saro-Wiwa week in 1997 and participated in the Partnership for Africa Forum hosted by Germany’s president in 2007.
He led a campaign against the use of the N-word in German pop culture, notably challenging rapper B-Tight’s 2007 album Neger, Neger.
BornTroWay
In 2011, Adé co-founded BornTroWay, a community arts initiative aimed at empowering disadvantaged youth through creative expression. The first project was launched in Ajegunle, Lagos.
Other Media Appearances
- Film: Featured in Yes I Am, a documentary on Afro-Germans.
- Television: Guest on German soap Lindenstraße.
- Reality TV: Judge on Project Fame West Africa (2012–2015).
- Radio: Host of Good Morning Africa on Deutsche Welle (1997–2000).
Awards
- Kora Award (2005) – Best Group West Africa and Best Group Africa (with BANTU)
- 1LIVE Krone Award (2001) – Best Single of the Year (Adriano)
- North Rhine-Westphalia Cultural Prize (1997) – For the musical Coloured Children
Selected Collaborations
- UB40 – Rudie (Hold It Down) (2003)
- Gentleman
- Seun Kuti – Yeye Theory (2020)
- Tony Allen
- Wana Wana
- Nneka
- Mode 9
External Links
- BANTU Official Website (Archived)(https://web.archive.org/web/20121024115317/http://www.bantucrew.com/)
- Brothers Keepers Official Website(http://www.brotherskeepers.de)
- Lagos Jump Music Video on YouTube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol9zE5N1RUY)