Houston Celebrates Living Legend King Sunny Ade’s 70th Birthday in a Grand way, made him Honorary Citizen & Goodwill Ambassador

We gave you a first look at living legend King Sunny Ade‘s 70th birthday celebration in Houston, Texas (click here if you missed it). Now we’re bringing you all the juicy details on what happened.

The celebration was a part of the memorable performance by KSA and his 20 member African beats band, with Kunle Afolayan, Dayo Adeneye and MD/CEO of Saheeto Small Chops, Saheed Kekere-Ekun in attendance. The show started with a performance by the Yoruba School of Language & Culture led by Gabriel Babalola reciting the Nigerian National Anthem in Yoruba “Dide Eyin Ara” (Arise O’ Compatriots).

Followed by the opening act, a cultural batta dance performance which was followed by a musical performance dedicated to KSA by Omo-Oba Eledua. MC Ajele from Nigeria played host as he entertained the audience in rib cracking, uncommon and never heard before jokes which took the audience to a totally different level of comedy session.

The official opening for KSA was done by Femi Fadipe aka Melloh Rhythms. A top leading popular Juju musician who gave an outstanding performance which ushered King Sunny Ade and his Afro Beats Band on stage with a rousing applause and ovation from the crowd which set the tone for the night.

One would imaging that the number 70 and body movement when it comes to dance doesn’t go together but the legend thrilled the audience to some nostalgic dance performances just like he was know to dance in his “hay days” when he started in a 2 hrs straight performance which led us to the reason why we were celebrating the king himself in the first place.

Ademola Adejayan popularly known as Demola Violinist was also there to serenade KSA with an outstanding performance, starting with a “Happy Birthday” song which thrilled the audience, then went into “Aiye Nreti Eleya Mi o”  then “The Merciful God” which thrilled KSA himself as he danced on his seat, clapped his hands and enjoyed the relaxing time with his VIP guests rounding it up with “Eleko,” which gave him a rousing applause as he exited the stage.

The Highlight of the birthday celebration was the tastefully designed cake by cake guru herself Ehi of Ehi’s Cakes who trilled KSA with a 4 tier birthday cake in white & gold, with a life size edible guitar and a musical turntable cake which played some old classic KSA tunes that he hadn’t listened to in a long while.

Watching the turntable cake play his tunes with amazement was one of the highlights of the night. Comedian Seyi Law who coordinated the cutting of the cake with his signature throw back birthday count from zero -70yrs describing the every decade of KSA’s life journey taking the crowd way back in KSA’s success as a true legend.

Rounding up the birthday celebration for KSA was a proclamation from the Mayor’s Office declaring King Sunny Ade as an Honorary Citizen “Goodwill Ambassador” of the City of Houston which was presented by Ayomide Shittu of YAP (Young African Professionals) and Abby Kotun of NAMC (Nigerian-American Multicultural Council)

The musical concert continued with an all night long performance by KSA as the Crowd danced and showered him with love, it was a night to remember.

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Credits
Photography: Evi Greene Photography | @evigreene
Cake: Ehi’s Cakes | @ehiscakes
Promotion, planning and coordination: Segungele Productions.
KSA in Houston was brought to you by Toy Gun Entertainment.
Sponsors & Partners: Wazobia African Market & Restaurant, Ship To Naija, Honey Kaz International Small Chops, Ehi Cakes, Ajit Productions, Vineyard TV, ABN TV, Golden Icons, AMC Clips, Gem Media Creative, Ovacom Media, Evi Greene Photography, Nollywood Spotlight, WAP, Arik Airline, ROD, SK Entertainment, OlaPunch, T & S Productions, Melloh Rhythm, Kolawole Akinmuyiwa, Tosin Makinde, Jamila Ope, Funsho Awoyade, Ayomide Shittu, Eunice Aluko, Rebecca “Nollywood Spotlight”, Halima, Wole Omogunsoye, Evi Greene, Daniel DJ Tunes, Olawale Sabitu, Toyin Olorogun & CEO Moji Olorogun.