In a recent CNN interview, Nigerian artist Ahmed Ololade, known professionally as Asake, opened up about his intriguing decision to adopt his mother’s name as a central element of his artistic persona. According to Asake, his friends started playfully calling him “omo Asake” (child of Asake), and the nickname stuck, leading him to officially adopt it.
Explaining the reasoning behind this choice, Asake said, “So it’s so easy for me [to adopt the name] because when I’m introduced on stage, people expect a beautiful lady or a nice girl. I just like the feeling and the shock on their faces. Also, I love my mother and the fact that people call my mother’s name through me.”
Asake’s deep connection to music has its roots deeply embedded in his upbringing. He fondly recalled,
“I fell in love with theatre as a child; my father used to be a singer, and my mother dances a lot, so it’s a family thing; although my parents didn’t do it professionally, they only did it for the fun of it,” he said.
Despite his passion for dancing, Asake made the decision to pursue music as a career due to the financial opportunities it presented.
“The main reason why I left dance is for the love of money. I know I want to be very honest. Dance is something that I love,” he said. “I can’t even do without moving, but I feel like the kind of money I want, I’m not sure dance can give me. I think both music and dance work together because, in a video without a dancer, it’s like this song is boring.”
Asake’s fusion of music and dance has made him a rising star in Nigeria’s music scene, adding a captivating dimension to the country’s musical landscape.
