Bola Abimbola

Infobox Person
born = "Bola Abimola"

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birth_date = 1966
birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria
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occupation = songwriter
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Bola Abimbola- a Nigerian singer/songwriter, born in 1966 in Lagos. Debuted professionally as a songwriter and producer for young Nigerian artists, including Daddy Showkey, Saheed Osupa and Pasuma.

In 1997, he released his first recording as a solo act, titled, “Buyanga”, which earned him the honor of being named “Artist of the Year” at Nigeria’s Fame Awards in 1998. His talents then caught the attention of King Sunny Ade, who invited Bola to tour with him as a guest artist and backing vocalist. Bola appeared with Sunny on his 1999 world tour and at several WOMAD (World of Music, Arts, and Dance) festivals. King Sunny Ade’s most recent recording, Seven Degrees North (2000), also features Bola’s voice.

After leaving Sunny’s band, Bola relocated to the United States to study and share influence with American musicians. He completed another album, titled, “Kekerenke”, which was released in Nigeria in 2000, and reflects his love of American Rhythm and Blues. With an enthusiasm for worldliness and all things percussion, Bola has been recording and touring with other like-minded artists, such as Grammy-winning Nigerian percussionist Sikiru Adepoju, (Babatunde Olatunji, Mickey Hart) and master conguero Giovanni Hidalgo (Tito Puente, Paul Simon, Eddie Palmieri).

Stylistically, Bola Abimbola is known for his versatility, equally comfortable with: traditional Nigerian genres of Juju, Highlife, and Apala; contemporary African popular music, like Afrobeat and Fuji; plus American Pop and R&B. He has even made successful forays into Reggae, Soca, Soukous, and Electronica.

Bola currently resides in Denver, Colorado. He performs regularly throughout the United States, and has most recently finished a full-length album, Ara Kenge, his first U.S. solo release, draws from the best of Bola’s traditional music experience, and merges it with contemporary styles and recording techniques. It features a cast of diverse, talented and noteworthy musicians, rich vocal harmonies, traditional Yoruba percussion, Afrobeat groove, and a touch of pop song structure and production.