Duke Amayo

In 1995, he moved to NYC where he designed clothes and taught Kung Fu in his storefront, the Afrospot Temple,[2] a dojo and venue in pre-gentrified Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He put on fashion shows with models from the Fashion Cafe walking to live Nigerian percussionists. He had his own clothing line, AMAYO.[3]

In 1998, two guys came into his Afrospot and asked him to be part of a new band, Antibalas.[4] His Afrospot became their rehearsal space and where Daptone Records was founded. They put on many parties and events there.

After joining Antibalas, Amayo spent a year teaching himself to play the piano and wrote his first tune, “M.T.T.T. (Mother Talker, Tick Tock)” in 2000, (nominated for a GRAMMY[5] in 2020).

Songs on the "Fu Chronicles" album all written by Amayo include, "Fist of Flowers[6]" based on the Kung Fu movement, "Flower Fist." Other songs he wrote like, "Gold Rush" and "Tombstown" were about the ancestors.[7]

He performed at the Apollo with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley as part of the Daptone Soul Revue, which was also made into a documentary.[8] He was the face and lead singer for the band for 23 years, who many affectionately called the spirit of Antibalas, as the only authentic Nigerian in the band.[9]

Songs in the repertory include ‘Amenawon’,[10] "Lion Awakes", "Happy Lion", "Fist of Flowers' and "MTTT" first put out in his "Kung Fu Lessons of Life" album in 2002.[11]

‘Fu Chronicles’ sets the tone for the type of music he's been performing on tour. He has a new album under his own name, AMAYO, being recorded at Diamond West studios in LA.[12][13]

He left Antibalas to launch is solo career as AMAYO.[14] Since then he brought his new band to Nigeria to perform for the first time at Felabration, 2022.[15] He debuted his new band[16] at BAM, Brooklyn,[17] along with a run of shows on the East and West Coast in 2023.

• Antibalas, “Fu Chronicles”, February 7, 2020
• Henry Cole & Villa Locura, “Buscando La Vida”, November 19, 2021
• Amayo, “Osun Osogbo”, August 16, 2021
• Armo, “Armo”, February 13, 2019
• Antibalas, “Where the Gods Are in Peace”, September 15, 2017
• Antibalas, “AWOL 45”, October 18, 2012
• Antibalas, “Antibalas (Self-Titled), August 7, 2012
• Professor Wouassa, “Dangerous Koko!”, February 4, 2011
• Melvin Gibbs, “Ancients Speak”, March 17, 2009
• Antibalas, “Security”, March 7, 2006
• Antibalas, “K-Leg and R.O.C.”, January 1, 2006
• Antibalas, “Government Magic”, January 1, 2005
• Antibalas, “Who is this America”, October 19, 2004
• Red Hot +Riot, “Red Hot + Riot”, October 15, 2002
• Antibalas, “Talkatif”, March 1, 2002
• Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra “Afrobeat Disciples (Reissue)”, 2002
• Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra, “Afrobeat Disciples”, January, 2002
• Antibalas, “Liberation Afrobeats”, April 9, 2001
• Antibalas, “Liberation Afrobeat Volume 1”, 2001
• Antibalas Tour EP, 2001
• Antibalas, “Uprising” April 9, 2000