Amayo, the former frontman of Antibalas, has announced his debut solo album Lion Awakes, set for release on the 17th of January, 2025, with a launch party scheduled for the 25th of January at Brooklyn Bowl, in New York. The album’s first single, “Black Magic Sister,” blends vibrant afrobeat rhythms with spiritually charged lyrics, offering blessings and calling on ancestral spirits for guidance.

The song, performed in Yoruba and Edo, directly addresses seeking prosperity—highlighted by invoking blessings for twins, considered auspicious in many African traditions—and resilience in the face of grief, emphasising the importance of familial and ancestral support. “Black Magic Sister” sets a profound tone for the album, which Amayo describes as a narrative journey blending myth with reality, deeply influenced by his heritage and his practice of Kung Fu.

Indeed, Lion Awakes showcases Amayo’s distinctive blend of Chinese and African cultural influences, a reflection of his extensive experience in both Kung Fu and traditional Nigerian spiritual practices. The album features collaborations with noted artists from the Dap-Kings and Antibalas, with production led by Thomas Brenneck at Diamond West Studios.

Stream and listen to “Black Magic Sister” HERE