Asuquomo
Asuquomo | |
|---|---|
| File:Asuquomo Musical Artist.jpg | |
| Born | Emeka Morris Ogbowu 15 May 1993 Port Harcourt, Nigeria |
| Occupations |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | Secretly Publishing International |
Emeka Morris[1] Ogbowu[2] (born May 15, 1993, better known as Asuquomo, is a Nigerian-Canadian visual artist and musician based in Ottawa. In 2020, he 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 and education
Asuquomo was born on May 15, 1993, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He discovered his interest in music at a very young age.[citation needed] He grew up in his grandfather's household listening to artists like Michael Jackson, Fela Kuti, and DMX, who became his musical influences. He[4] moved to Ottawa, in Canada, with his mother in 2013. He is a graduate of Algonquin College, with a certificate in professional illustration and concept art from Algonquin's school of media and design.
Career
Asuquomo is known for both visual and auditory storytelling; his works often have a Pan-African narrative as an Afro-Fusion artist.[5] [6][according to whom?] He has been an opening act for Wizkid and Grammy-nominated Burna Boy, as well as Mdou Moctar, Shay Lia, Zaki Ibrahim, Violent Ground, Jazz Cartier, Lido Pimienta, Cadence Weapon, Kimmortal, BROCKHAMPTON, Keynes Woods, and Kodie Shane. He has played festivals including Marvest CityFolk, Ottawa RBC Bluesfest[7] and Arboretum Festival. Asuquomo has also completed two artist residencies at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
In June 2020, Asuquomo released his EP, Diobu[8], which received support from the Ontario Arts Council. Pitchfork describes it as a project which “explores themes of family, home, and the immigrant[9] experience in his adopted city” in their "20 Great Records You May Have Missed: Summer 2020 seasonal roundup".[citation needed]Named after his birthplace, Diobu, the EP is a "contemplation on the African diaspora in Canada and a collective recollection of ancestry". The recording received financial support from the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa's cultural funding department.[citation needed] The lead track, "Yahweh", is "a prayer that considers the understanding of patience and how it modifies a person's relationship with time. Diobu is contemporary African folk, inspired by Port Harcourt."[according to whom?][citation needed] Diobu has been featured on CBC’s All in a Day, HotNewHipHop, Spotify’s editorial playlist, Pitchfork, and a playlist curated by Japanese record producer Toshio Matsuura [citation needed].
In October [when?], he released the music video for “Don't Be Scared” [10][clarification needed]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".[citation needed]
Discography
Albums
Singles
Filmography
- Don't Be Scared
References
- ^ "SAW Gallery announces winners of the SAW Prize for New Works". apt613 ca.
- ^ "Spotlight on Marvest: Morris Ogbowu". Spotlight Ottawa.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The Emerging Artist Award". Ottawa Art Council.
- ^ "ARTIST OF THE MONTH // JULY – NIGERIAN-CANADIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER, ASUQUOMO". Shifter Magazine.
- ^ "Ottawa's hip-hop community has blossomed. But media coverage hasn't followed". Ottawa Citizen.
- ^ "Bourne: The top Black Ottawa artists and creators you should know". Ottawa Citizen.
- ^ "Shad, Haviah Mighty, Basia Bulat, Patrick Watson to Perform at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest Drive-In Concert Series". Exclaim Ca.
- ^ "Asuquomo releases his new EP Diobu". cbc ca.
- ^ "Rapper Morris Ogbowu Elevates Ottawa's Immigrant Communities". BandCamp.
- ^ "Ottawa's Asuquomo Braves the Darkness In His "Don't Be Scared" Video". Exclaim Ca.
- ^ "Great Records You May Have Missed: Summer 2020". Pitchfork.
- ^ "Nigerian-Canadian Artist Asuquomo Brings "O.T. Riddim" On Afrofusion Mixtape". Hot New Hiphop.
- ^ "ALBUM REVIEW – MORRIS OGBOWU PLAYS NO GAMES ON THIS THAT MO". Shifter Magazine.
- ^ "Neil Young, Tkay Maidza, 1010 Benja SL, More: This Week's Pitchfork Selects Playlist". Pitchfork.