Keziah Jones (born Olufemi Sanyaolu on 10 January 1968) is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He describes his musical style as "Blufunk", which is a fusion between raw blues elements and hard, edgy funk rhythms. Also his Nigerian roots in Yoruba music and soul music can be considered a major influence on his sound.
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.
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 LondonâÂÂs 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 âÂÂRhythm Is Loveâ . 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 âÂÂWhere Is Life,â âÂÂA Million Miles From Home,â âÂÂBeautiful Emilie,â âÂÂFemiliarise,â âÂÂKpafuca,â and âÂÂ1973.âÂÂ
Recently, Keziah Jones recorded his first full live album in Lagos with his long-term band, including Josh âÂÂMcNastyâ McKenzie on drums, Joey âÂÂAnchor manâ Grant and Alex âÂÂBeanzâ Miller on bass, and Edem âÂÂAmenâ 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.
Jones cites Fela Kuti, Miles Davis, and Jimi Hendrix as his primary musical influences. His signature sound, Blufunk, is a blend of punk-funk attitude, Yoruba rhythms, and diverse lyrical themes, sung predominantly in English with occasional Yoruba. Visual arts is an integral part of KeziahâÂÂs work, himself a draughtsman.
Jones, who splits his time between Lagos, Nigeria, and Paris, France, frequently explores the relationship between the northern and southern hemispheres in his art. He aims to portray the modernity of post-colonial Africa, challenging the Western perception of Africa as a continent ravaged by famine and conflict. He highlights the vibrancy of contemporary urban African culture, particularly in Lagos, a city of 25 million people. Jones emphasizes that modern African culture thrives in music, fashion, and art, greatly influenced by the African Diaspora. He states:
â What I want to show the world is the modernity of post-colonial Africa, far from the image that the Western world carries of a continent devastated by famine and/or war. IâÂÂm talking about young urban Africa.âÂÂ
Keziah Jones continues to innovate and create, solidifying his place as a significant figure in both the African and global music scenes.
⢠Class Of 89 - Philippe Cohen Solal feat. Keziah Jones (2022)