By Ghazali Ibrahim
Over the years, Nigerian music now known as Afrobeats has become a viral genre widely accepted globally. The international movie industry has also caught the bug particularly Hollywood which is unarguably the biggest movie base in the world.
With 2face’s 2004 hit, African Queen scoring a place in Phat Girlz and Davido appearing in Coming to America, Nigerian music has continued to gain wide acceptance in Hollywood.
However, long before all these, music legend King Sunny Ade already made an impact which remains unmatched even four decades later.
He appeared as a guest artiste in the 1986 ‘OC and Stiggs’, where he also contributed to the film’s music score. His presence and sound brought a fresh African flair to American cinema at the time.
In addition to ‘OC and Stiggs’, KSA also featured in ‘Breathless’ and ‘One More Saturday Night’, further cementing his status as a global cultural ambassador.
Beyond film, King Sunny Ade broke ground as the first Nigerian artist to receive a Grammy nomination.
His album ‘Synchro System’ was nominated for Best Ethnic/Traditional Folk Recording which was later won by Clifton Chenier, an American Creole musician.He earned a second nomination in 1999 for ‘Odu’ in the Best World Music Album category later won by Brazillian singer, Gilberto Gil.
Now at 79, KSA remains a powerful figure whose influence transcends borders blending music, cinema, and international recognition into a legacy that continues to inspire.
