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Asuquomo

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Asuquomo
File:Asuquomo Musical Artist.jpg
Born
Emeka Morris Ogbowu

(1993-05-15) 15 May 1993 (age 32)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • Visual Artist
  • Film Maker
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active2018–present
LabelsSecretly Publishing International

Emeka Morris[1] Ogbowu[2] (born May 15, 1993), better known as Asuquomo, is a Nigerian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In 2020, Asuquomo won the RBC x Ottawa Arts Council’s Emerging Artist of the Year Award [3] . As a performer, he has opened for international artists such as Grammy award-winning Burna Boy, WizKid, and Lido Pimienta.

Early Life & Education

Asuquomo was born on May 15, 1993, in Port harcourt, Nigeria. He discovered his interest in music at a very young age. He grew up in his grandfather’s household listening to artists like Michael Jackson, Fela Kuti, and DMX who became his music influences. Asuquomo[4] moved to Ottawa, Canada with his mother in 2013. He is a graduate of Algonquin College with a certificate in Professional Illustration and Concept Art from the school of Media and Design.

Career

Asuquomo[5] [6] is fondly known in both visual and auditory storytelling by his fans. Blending non-verbal spells while using West African spirituals as hooks, his works often explore a Pan-African narrative as an Afro-Fusion artist. His broad artistic range and energetic stage presence has earned him opening slots for the likes of Nigerian superstar Wizkid and Grammy-nominated Burna Boy. He has also shared stages with Mdou Moctar, Shay Lia, Zaki Ibrahim, Violent Ground, Jazz Cartier, Lido Pimienta, Cadence Weapon, Kimmortal, BROCKHAMPTON, Keynes Woods, and Kodie Shane. Locally, he has played festivals like Marvest CityFolk, Ottawa RBC Bluesfest[7] and Arboretum Festival. Asuquomo has also completed two artist residencies at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. In June 2020, Asuquomo[8] [9] released his EP, DIOBU[10], which received support from the Ontario Arts Council. Pitchfork describes it as a project which “explores themes of family, home, and the immigrant[11] experience in his adopted city” in their "20 Great Records You May Have Missed: Summer 2020 seasonal roundup". Named after his birthplace, his EP Diobu, (2020) was recorded between Ottawa and Banff, and is a brief, immense, contemplation on the African diaspora in Canada and a collective recollection of ancestry. DIOBU received financial support from the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa’s cultural funding department. The lead track, ‘YAHWEH’, is an enchanting prayer that considers the understanding of patience and how it modifies one’s relationship with time. DIOBU is pure contemporary African folk, inspired by Port Harcourt, a port city echoing to the brim with fragments of memory and cries of jubilation. DIOBU has been featured on CBC’s All in a Day, HotNewHipHop, placed on Spotify’s Editorial Playlist, Pitchfork, and a playlist curated by Japanese record producer Toshio Matsuura (Playlist: TOKYO MOON). In October, he dropped the music video for “Don’t Be Scared”[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]which received support from the City of Ottawa. Following the release, American Songwriter Magazine described the visuals as “piercing, personal, intriguing and entrancing” in their Five to Discover: Acts You Need to Know. Over the years, Asuquomo has received positive press coverage from CBC, HotNewHipHop, Bandcamp Daily, Apt613, Pan-African Music, and FACES Magazine. Asuquomo has been featured on Errol Nazareth’s ‘Frequencies’ CBC radio segment highlighting popular Nigerian acts by CBC Music and has been interviewed twice on Allan O’Neals ‘All in A Day’ show. Asuquomo[18] is co-managed by Kingsley Swim and Martyna Turczynowicz. During the Fall of 2020, he was scouted by Secretly Publishing A&R Melanie McClain and signed January 2021. Beyond putting out music, Asuquomo has served the Creative Arts community in the following professional capacities:

Amid the international pandemic, Asuquomo continues to express his pan-African narrative and artistry. He was included to perform at the Afrofest Ottawa livefestival. He is currently working on the release of his first full-length album in 2022.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Filmography

  • Don’t Be Scared

Awards & Nominations

Year Award Ceremony Prize Reciepient Results Ref
2021 Canada Council for the Arts - Concept to Realization WON
2021 SAW Gallery - Price for New Works WON
2020 Canada Council for the Arts - Arts Across Canada WON
2020 City of Ottawa - Creation and Production WON
2020 RBC x Ottawa Arts Council - Emerging Artist Award Diobu WON
2018 Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity - Rick and Brune Sinneave Artist Award WON

References

Category:1993 births Category:Canadian musicians Category:21st-century Nigerian singers Category:Nigerian male singers Category:Nigerian rappers Category:Nigerian musicians Category:English-language singers from Nigeria

  1. ^ "SAW Gallery announces winners of the SAW Prize for New Works". apt613 ca.
  2. ^ "Spotlight on Marvest: Morris Ogbowu". Spotlight Ottawa.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "The Emerging Artist Award". Ottawa Art Council.
  4. ^ "ARTIST OF THE MONTH // JULY – NIGERIAN-CANADIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER, ASUQUOMO". Shifter Magazine.
  5. ^ "Ottawa's hip-hop community has blossomed. But media coverage hasn't followed". Ottawa Citizen.
  6. ^ "Bourne: The top Black Ottawa artists and creators you should know". Ottawa Citizen.
  7. ^ "Shad, Haviah Mighty, Basia Bulat, Patrick Watson to Perform at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest Drive-In Concert Series". Exclaim Ca.
  8. ^ "Tune in for a special day of radio storytelling". cbc ca.
  9. ^ "Instagram Live featuring local hip-hop artists". cbc ca.
  10. ^ "Asuquomo releases his new EP Diobu". cbc ca.
  11. ^ "Rapper Morris Ogbowu Elevates Ottawa's Immigrant Communities". BandCamp.
  12. ^ "Le rappeur Asuquomo, sombre dans le clip « Don't Be Scared »". Pan African Music.
  13. ^ "Who Get Ear Vol. 112: Here are the 10 songs you need to play this week". Pulse ng.
  14. ^ "Ottawa's ASUQUOMO Braves the Darkness In His "Don't Be Scared" Video". Exclaim Ca.
  15. ^ "Don't Be Scared Asuquomo". cod ckcufm.
  16. ^ "Video of the Week: "Don't Be Scared" by Asuquomo". apt613 ca.
  17. ^ "ASUQUOMO REVEALS DARKER SIDE ON NEW VISUALS FOR "DON'T BE SCARED"". Shifter Magazine.
  18. ^ "The Emerging Artist Award". Ottawa Arts Council.
  19. ^ "Great Records You May Have Missed: Summer 2020". Pitchfork.
  20. ^ "Exclaim!'s 25 Best EPs of 2020". Exclaim ca.
  21. ^ "Asuquomo Talks DIOBU EP & Navigating Dual Cultures". Thiiird Space.
  22. ^ "Nigerian-Canadian Artist Asuquomo Brings "O.T. Riddim" On Afrofusion Mixtape". Hot New Hiphop.
  23. ^ "OT Rising: CBC Ottawa and SHIFTER collaborate on 4-part digital series". CBC Ottawa.
  24. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW – MORRIS OGBOWU PLAYS NO GAMES ON THIS THAT MO". Shifter Magazine.
  25. ^ "Neil Young, Tkay Maidza, 1010 Benja SL, More: This Week's Pitchfork Selects Playlist". Pitchfork.
  26. ^ "Nigerian-Canadian Artist Asuquomo Moves With High Vibrations On "Yahweh"". Hot New Hiphop.
  27. ^ "ASUQUOMO: YAHWEH". 45rpm blog.
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