Nigerian artiste, Olamide ‘Badoo’ Adedeji beat Yemi Alade, Vanessa Mdee, Anne Kansiime, and South Africa’s Refiloe Maele ‘Cassper Nyovest’ Phoolo to clinch The Future Awards Africa Prize in Entertainment.
The event which held yesterday at Inter-Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos was a celebration of Africa’s most creative minds across various fields.
Olamide who recently lost his dad thanked the organizers of the awards and gave a shout out to his fans on his Twitter page: “Future awards! Oshey ….thanks God bless u guys… God bless my supporters.”
The 26 year old artiste released his first single in 2010, and has gone on to release four commercially successful studio albums as well as a collaborative record with fellow indigenous rapper, Phyno. His latest album, Eyan Mayweather was recently released to critical acclaim.
26-year-old Olamide’s road to fame is one for the history books. Not too long ago, he was a regular kid growing up in Bariga, at the Heart of Lagos Mainland. His talent and doggedness got him the right notices and in 2010, he hit the ground running with his first hit single, Eni duro.
He has gone on to release 4 commercially successful studio albums as well as a collaborative record with fellow indigenous rapper Phyno.
Olamide raps in a unique blend of Yoruba and English with lyrics that are at once playful and punchy. He has emerged in the last five decades as one of the most prolific and commercially viable artistes on the
continent. With numerous hit singles and albums, Olamide has been able to crossover into mainstream circles.
A businessman and label boss, Olamide’s YBNL label and artiste management outfit manages his career and has introduced fast rising acts such as Lil Kesh, Viktoh, Chinko Ekun and Adekunle Gold.
The Future Awards Africa has been called the ‘Nobel Prize for Young Africans’, and the ‘most important youth awards’ by Forbes. It is a set of prizes given annually to celebrate and accelerate innovation,
creativity and enterprise amongst young Africans aged 18 – 31. It has produced over 150 winners and over 1550 nominees since its first edition in 2006.
It is presented in conjunction with The Future Project, which has a mandate to build empowered citizens across Africa, through (inclusive) enterprise and (active) citizenship. This focus on Human Capital
Development is informed by our value proposition: Africa’s growth needs a generation of young people who are gainfully employed and able to demand and secure better leadership.
