Review by Dawoud Kringle
Artist: Amayo
Title: Madam President
Label: self-produced
Format: Digital Single
Singer, songwriter, band leader, producer, and MFM member Duke Amayo has released a single dedicated to Kamala Harris.
Amayo who was raised in Nigeria immigrated to the US at age 17 to attend Howard University on a football scholarship and majored in medical illustration. As the frontman of Antibalas for 23 years, he was credited for bringing Afrobeat to a global audience, leading it to become a genre of itself. During this time, he recorded 9 full-length albums with Antibalas, and performed over 2000 shows worldwide from 1998 – 2022, including four performances at Carnegie Hall. He also directed Antibalas’ music video for “Fight Am Finish” about an African American returning home via the slave route.
His solo album Fu Chronicles was nominated for the GRAMMY Award for “Best Global Music Album of the Year” in 2020. The album is unique in blending Afrobeat with Chinese Kung Fu elements (he has been a senior master/Sifu of the Jow Ga Kung Fu School of martial arts since 1982). He is also an anointed Orisha “Awo.” In this tradition, Amayo sings Nigerian spirituals and stories passed down in a sacred lineage. He is also a member of MFM.
“Madame President” is Amayo’s first single from his upcoming album, Lion Awakes. Amayo composed, performed, and hand-illustrated the new single. It was released on August 22, 2024, the day US Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris gave her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Amayo played keyboards and vocals on the single. Joining him are Giancarlo Luiggi (Shekere, Claps & Background Vocals), Dende Macedo, Agogo Bell, and Raja Kassis (Guitars), Vince Chiarito (Bass, Engineering and Mixing), Tosin Aribisala (Drums), Jordan McLean (Trumpet), Stuart Bogie (Saxophone), David Smith Smoota (Trombone), and Eddie Venegas (Violin and Trombone).
The song builds itself on an irresistible groove in 6/8. Amayo’s roots in the music of Fela Kuti are clear. The band is magnificent. The horns weave in and around the vocals with stealth and precision. The guitars provide beautiful color to the rhythm section. The drums, percussion, and bass are beyond criticism.
He sings “Fight for Kamala and she’ll fight for us! When she wins, freedom wins!” The topics of affordable housing, and reproductive rights, There is also a Nigerian Ibo chant in the song: “Hayimba” is a call to action, and the response, “Hayin” is “We’re ready.” “Who’s ready?”, “I am!” Then, “Hayshobay” is “Let’s go!”
For a Nigerian who grew up with the influence of Fela Kuti, it is foolhardy to assume that music and politics can ever be separated. There is, of course, nothing new about this. Court musicians in every kingdom and empire throughout human history sang praises of their rulers. Beethoven dedicated his 3rd symphony to Napoleon. In this tradition, Amayo is standing at his metaphorical podium to preach his alliance with Harris and calling others to the cause.
