Sikiru Adepoju, the celebrated Nigerian percussionist, has etched his name in Nigeria’s musical legacy with two Grammy Awards.
Hailing from a musical family in Eruwa, Oyo State, Nigeria, Adepoju was introduced to drumming at a young age by his father, Chief Ayanleke Adepoju, alongside his brothers, Saminu and Lasisi. As a descendant of the Yoruba Ayan lineage, known for producing master drummers, Sikiru was immersed in rhythm from early childhood.
As a teenager, Adepoju toured and recorded with the Inter-Reformers Band, led by the legendary Nigerian Juju music icon, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey. His exceptional skills earned him international recognition, opening doors to collaborations with world-renowned musicians.
Adepoju’s big break came when he joined Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum, a group that blends percussion styles from various cultures. The album Planet Drum won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 1991, making Sikiru Adepoju the first Nigerian to win a Grammy.
His success continued with the 2009 release of Global Drum Project with Mickey Hart, which won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Adepoju’s path to global acclaim began in 1985 when he moved to the United States to perform with O.J. Ekemode’s Nigerian All-Stars. Soon after, he met the legendary Nigerian percussionist Babatunde Olatunji and joined his group, Drums of Passion. Through Olatunji, Adepoju was introduced to Mickey Hart, the drummer of the iconic rock band Grateful Dead, initiating a lifelong collaboration.
Meanwhile: Dr. Nonye Soludo, the wife of the Governor of Anambra, has emphasized the importance of increasing awareness about early cancer detection, highlighting that the disease only becomes fatal when identified too late.
Speaking in Awka on Tuesday to mark the 2025 World Cancer Day, Mrs Soludo, Founder of the Healthy Living Initiative, stressed the critical role of early detection in combating cancer.
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