What Is Your Breaking Point?
What Is Your Breaking Point? is the seventh studio album by Afrobeat and Afrofunk collective BANTU released on June 9, 2023, on Soledad Productions. The album features a unique fusion of Afrobeat, Afrofunk and various Yourba musical influences. It explores themes of Africa's brain drain, post colonial trauma, gender oppression and social class discrimination.[1]
| What Is Your Breaking Point? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 9 June 2023 | |||
| Recorded | October 2022 – March 2023 | |||
| Studio | Blackstar Studio, Lagos, A.LR, Lagos, Manultec Soundlab Cologne | |||
| Genre | Afrofunk, Afrobeat, Jazz | |||
| Length | 43:13 | |||
| Label | Soledad Productions | |||
| Producer | Aman Junaid & Ade Bantu | |||
| BANTU chronology | ||||
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| Singles from What Is Your Breaking Point? | ||||
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Background
The album was recorded over a six-month period from mid-2022 to early 2023 and marked a significant creative endeavor for the band. Led by frontman Ade Bantu, BANTU aimed to create a musical journey that challenges conventional genres and invites listeners to reflect on the oppressive forces stifling individual and collective growth.[2]
Content
What Is Your Breaking Point? has ten tracks, each delving into different aspects of the album's overarching themes. The album features a blend of rhythmic grooves, socially conscious lyrics, and intricate instrumentation, showcasing the band's versatility and artistic depth.[3]
Themes and lyrical content
The album's title serves as a central theme, prompting listeners to consider their own limits and explore the breaking points that shape their lives. The lyrics address a range of topics, from societal norms and expectations to female empowerment, the scramble for Africa's resources, Nigeria's End SARS protest movement, resurgence of Coup d'etas on the African continent and the ongoing brain drain. BANTU's signature style of storytelling and impactful messaging is evident throughout the album.[4]
Collaboration
The single track "Na Me Own My Body" a song centered on the empowerment of women features a collaborations with notable African-American rapper Akua Naru.[5]The songs is also a direct riposte to Nigeria’s former President Buhari’s infamous quip during a visit to Germany that his wife’s place was in the kitchen and bedroom.[6]
Critical reception
What Is Your Breaking Point? has received acclaim from music critics. Reviewers praised the album for its innovative blend of genres, thought-provoking lyrics, and captivating performances. Music In Africa's Gabriel Myers Hansen wrote "The 13-piece collective's new album, a brazen 10-track manifesto not only strips back dire social circumstances that have bedevilled [insert African country] but also works as the soundtrack to an impending revolution"[7]
Chart performance
What Is Your Breaking Point? peaked at the number 5 spot on the Trans Global World Music Chart in August 2023.[8]
Promotion
BANTU embarked on an international tour to promote the album, engaging with fans through live performances and interactive events. The band's tour received positive responses, highlighting their ability to connect with diverse audiences.[9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wayo and Division" | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke, Ayomiku Aigbokhan, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Akinkunmi Olagunju. | 3:52 |
| 2. | "Japa Japa" | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke, Ayomiku Aigbokhan, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Kazeem Amusa, Damilola Williams, Abigail Ireoluwa Allen. | 4:50 |
| 3. | "Ten Times Backwards" | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke, Ayomiku Aigbokhan, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Kazeem Amusa, Damilola Williams, Abigail Ireoluwa Allen. | 5:36 |
| 4. | "Worm & Grass" | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Kazeem Amusa, Damilola Williams, Abigail Ireoluwa Allen. | 3:45 |
| 5. | "Borrow Borrow" | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke, Ayomiku Aigbokhan, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Akinkunmi Olagunju, Damilola Williams, Abigail Ireoluwa Allen. | 4:20 |
| 6. | "Africa for Sale" | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke, Ayomiku Aigbokhan, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Akinkunmi Olagunju, Damilola Williams, Abigail Ireoluwa Allen. | 5:18 |
| 7. | "Na Me Own My Body" | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Akinkunmi Olagunju, Damilola Williams, Abigail Ireoluwa Allen. | 5:15 |
| 8. | "Breaking Point" | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Kazeem Amusa, Damilola Williams, Abigail Ireoluwa Allen. | 4:17 |
| 9. | "Your Silence" | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke,, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Akinkunmi Olagunju, Damilola Williams Abigail Ireoluwa Allen. | 3:15 |
| 10. | "We No Go Gree" (featuring Akua Naru) | Babajide Okegbenro, Mayowa Osuntokun, Olukorede Omirinlewo, Adegoke Odukoya, Abiodun Oke, Ayomiku Aigbokhan, Tunde Alabi, Opeyemi Oyewande, Isaiah Odeyale, Akinyanmi Akinhinmola, Akinkunmi Olagunju, Damilola Williams, Abigail Ireoluwa Allen. | 4:45 |
| Total length: | 43:13 | ||
Personnel
- Ade Bantu – lead vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9,10)
- Ayomiku "MideTheMusicMan" Aigbokhan – lead vocals (track 4), backing vocals (track 1–6, 8-10)
- Abigail Ireoluwa Allen – lead vocals (track 7), background vocals (track 1-10)
- Damilola "DharmiWillz" Williams – lead vocals (track 7), background vocals (track 1–10)
- Mayowa Oshuntokun – bass (track 1–10)
- Babajide Okegbenro – keys (track 1–10)
- Olukorede Omirinlewo – guitar (track 1-10)
- Tunde “Jimmy” Alabi – drums (track 1-10)
- Abiodun "Wurasamba" Oke – percussion (track 1–10)
- Akinkunmi Olagunju – talking drums (track 1,5,6,7,9,10)
- Kazeem Amusa – talking drums (track 2,3,4,8 )
- Opeyemi Oyewande – all horn arrangements & trumpet (track 1–10)
- Isaiah Odeyale – trombone (track 1–10)
- Akinyanmi Akinhinmola – saxophone (track 1–10)
- Akua Naru – lead vocals (track 7)
Credits
- Composed and written by BANTU
- Producers – Aman Junaid & Ade Bantu
- Recording engineers – Aman Junaid, Oluremi Iyilade
- Mixing engineer – Manu Schlindwein
- Mastering – Tony Dawsey
- Executive Producer – Ade Bantu
- Album Photography – Victor Adewale
- Layout and album design – Graeme Arendse
- Art direction – Andy Okoroafor
References
- Babarinsa, Olusola (June 10, 2023). "BANTU drops 10-track album, What is your breaking point?". The Punch. punchng.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- Onuoha, Chris (May 30, 2023). "Afrofunk giant, Ade Bantu makes statement with new hits". Vanguard Nigeria. vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- Lindig, Vincent (May 17, 2023). "Treibender Sound für den gesellschaftlichen Wandel". COSMO. www1.wdr.de. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- Okuyeme, Tony (June 16, 2023). "I See Myself As An Apprentice Of Life –Ade Bantu". New Telegraph. newtelegraph.ng. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- Summer, Ralf (June 7, 2023). "Neuerscheinungen der Woche". Bayern 2. www.br.de/radio/bayern2. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- Rinke, Andreas (October 14, 2016). "Nigeria's Buhari says wife 'belongs in the kitchen'". Reuters. www.reuters.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- Myers Hansen, Gabriel (June 20, 2023). "BANTU charged and relevant as ever on What Is Your Breaking Point?". Music In Africa. Music In Africa. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- "Transglobal World Music Chart". Transglobal World Music Chart. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- Kampen, Katharina (June 20, 2023). "5000 Besucher beim Edelweißpiratenfestival in Kölner Südstadt". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. ksta.de. Retrieved 10 August 2023.