Keziah Jones

He is known for his distinctive style of guitar playing, including his percussive right-hand technique which is similar to a bass guitarist's slapping technique. • Illustration — ph.

• Name — Keziah Jones • Landscape — yes • Birth Name — Olufemi Sanyaolu • Born — 10 January 1968 • Birthplace — Lagos, Nigeria • Died — YYYY MM DD • Genre — Blues, Funk, Yoruba music, soul • Years Active — 1992–present • Instrument — Vocals, guitar, piano, bass, percussion, clarinet • Occupation — Musician, songwriter, photographer, poet, playwright, painter • Label — Delabel Records Virgin Records Because Music • Illustration — Unplugged concert in Strasbourg, France, September 2008

Olufemi Sanyaolu a.k.a. Keziah Jones was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. Son of Oshodolamu Sanyaolu, Chief of the Yoruba people and successful industrialist Abiola Sanyaolu, he was being prepared to follow his father's footsteps in the family concern and was expected to have an academic career. That is why, at the age of eight, he left Nigeria and relocated to England to attend the prestigious Millfield School in North London. Reflecting on his experience, Jones has remarked: "I had to find a way out of all that (English public school system), and music was it!". By 13, he had discovered the piano and began teaching himself how to play and write songs. Three years later, he took up the guitar and started busking in London’s underground stations, folk clubs, and streets, often evading the police. In the late 1980s he moved to Paris, busking in the metro, where he was discovered by manager Phil Pickett. Jones attributes his Parisian subway experiences as highly instrumental to his by now blossoming career. Keziah Jones developed a reputation as a distinctive musician and charismatic performer with a unique hard funk style, moving frequently between London and Paris. In 1992, he released his debut album, "Blufunk Is A Fact", which included the hit single “Rhythm Is Love”. This track gained global recognition and established Jones as a significant musical talent. Over his career, he has released six studio albums, producing hits such as “Where Is Life,” “A Million Miles From Home,” “Beautiful Emilie,” “Femiliarise,” “Kpafuca,” and “1973.” Recently, Keziah Jones recorded his first full live album in Lagos with his long-term band, including Josh “McNasty” McKenzie on drums, Joey “Anchor man” Grant and Alex ‘Beanz” Miller on bass, and Edem “Amen” Viana on guitar. He is currently working on his seventh studio album and collaborating on various side projects, including an EP titled Class Of 89 with famed French EDM producer Philippe Cohen Solal. There are plans to expand this project into a full studio album.

List of albums, with selected details and chart positions • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions • AUS — BEL (FL) — BEL (WA) — FRA — SWI • Blufunk Is a Fact — * Released: 23 March 1992 * Format: CD — — — — — — — 56 — — • African Space Craft — * Released: 27 March 1995 * Format: CD — 95 — — — — — — — 16 • Liquid Sunshine — * Released: 10 May 1999 * Format: CD — — — — — — — 39 — 38 • Black Orpheus — * Released: 22 April 2003 * Format: CD — — — — — — — 13 — 22 • Nigerian Wood — * Released: 1 September 2008 * Format: CD — — — 73 — 31 — 4 — 14 • Captain Rugged — * Released: 1 January 2013 * Format: CD — — — — — 169 — 58 — 97

List of compilation albums, with selected details and chart positions • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions • SWI • Rhythm Is Love – Best Of — * Released: 2 November 2004 * Format: CD — 98

• Class Of 89 - Philippe Cohen Solal feat. Keziah Jones (2022)

• Frinigrô Interstellar (1991) • Live (1993) • The African Anarchist (1999)

• Live at the Elysée Montmartre (14 June 2004)

List of singles, with selected chart positions • Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Album • AUS — FRA — UK • "Rhythm Is Love" — 1992 — — — 40 — — — Blufunk Is a Fact • "Where's Life?" — — — — — — • "Million Miles from Home" — 1995 — 92 — — — 181 — African Space Craft • "If You Know" — — — — — —

• Year — Title — Role • 2015 — Eva & Leon