The Cavemen (band)

Last updated
The Cavemen.
The Cavemen on Plus TV - cropped.png
Background information
Origin Imo State, Nigeria
Genres Highlife
Instrument(s)Bass, drums
Years active2020–present
LabelsSounds From The Cave
MembersKingsley Okorie
Benjamin James

The Cavemen (stylized as The Cavemen.) are a Nigerian highlife band consisting of sibling duo Kingsley Okorie, a bassist, and Benjamin James, a drummer. They were brought to the limelight by Lady Donli and are known for their live performances. [1] They won the 2020 Headies Award for the Best Alternative Album. [2]

Contents

Early life

The Cavemen are natives of Orlu, Imo State, in the southeastern region of Nigeria and started out as choristers. Kingsley earned a law degree from Babcock University and Nigerian Law School's Kano campus. Benjamin however attended Peter King College of Music, Badagry, Lagos State in the southwestern region of Nigeria. [3]

The Cavemen were officially formed in March 2018 [4] and they stylised their band name with a dot to avoid lawsuits from a New-Zealand artiste with the trademarked name. [3]

Career

They released their debut single, ''Osondu'' in 2020 and released their debut album, Roots in August 2020. [1] The album was recorded in their living room and was fully produced by the duo. [1] [3] They also produced 11 of the songs on Lady Donli's Enjoy Your Life album who in turn was a co-executive producer on Roots. They performed at the finale show of the fifth season of Big Brother Naija. [5] The duo's sophomore album Love and Highlife was released in October 2021, with guest appearances from Cobhams Asuquo, Made Kuti, PC Lapez and Etuk Ubong, in 2023 the duo featured on Davido's Timeless album. [3]

Education

Kingsley earned a law degree from Babcock University and Nigerian Law School's Kano campus. Benjamin, however, attended Peter King College of Music, Badagry, Lagos. [6]

Legacy

The Cavemen. have often been praised for recreating highlife in a way which retains its essence. The writer, Michael Chiedoziem Chukwudera writes about Cavemen's second album for Afrocritik,

“Love and Highlife” embodies an innovative effort to perfect the recreation of Highlife while remaining conservative. The combination of drums, trumpets, piano, and other supporting musical instruments creates a sound that retains the traditional essence of Highlife.

"The Cavemen. teaches us that innovation supersedes creating what is new—which is a beautiful thing to do—and that one can be innovative by taking what was there before and owning it.

"The subject of The Cavemen.’s music is love and philosophy. There is no talk of money, clothes, women, or inane vanities. This lends a purist quality to the music. The duo seems to have derived some of their philosophy from the music of Oliver De Coque; and even the third song in the album, “Biri” is a sample of Oliver De Coque’s classic “Biri ka m Biri,” a song which espouses the principle of “Live and Let live.” But even while they have borrowed from Oliver De Coque’s music, they have been careful to avoid adopting the praise of politicians and wealthy people in society, a style rife in Oliver De Coque’s music. Oliver de Coque as well as Osita Osadebe were pioneers of praise-singing for wealthy and sometimes corrupt individuals in the southeast. The music created by The Cavemen. is made so that it is self-sustaining. It does not pander to any clique, nor does it seek validation from any group of people." [7]

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleDetailsRef
2020 Roots [8]
2021Love and Highlife
  • Released: October 29, 2021 (NG)
  • Label: Sounds from the Cave, Stellar International, Immensum Music
  • Formats: digital download, streaming
 [9]

Singles

YearTitleAlbum
2020''Osondu'' Roots
"Anita"
"Who No Know Go Know"TBA
2023Open Your Mind/Saviour
2024What a Day That Was [10] TBA

Videography

Bena - 2020 [11]

Adaugo - 2023 [12]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryNominee/WorkResultRef
2020 The Headies 2020 Best Alternative AlbumThe Cavemen - Roots Won [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-Q</span> Nigerian rapper and songwriter (born 1986)

Gilbert Bani, known by his stage name A-Q, is a Nigerian rapper and songwriter. His single "Agu Ji Ndi Men" was nominated for Best Rap Single at The Headies 2016.

Oliver Sunday Akanite, better known by the stage name Oliver De Coque, was a Nigerian guitarist and one of Africa's most prolific recording artists.

Peter King Adeyoyin Osubu, known as Peter King, was a Nigerian musician who played several instruments, but was best known as an alto saxophonist playing a combination of Afrobeat and jazz. Peter King is perhaps better known in Europe and America than in Nigeria for his "Miliki Sound" on the record A Soulful Peter King, where he played popular classics such as "Sincerely", "We Belong Together" and "Just Because".

Kaycee Records is an independent record label established in the United Kingdom, jointly owned and managed by the founders Kennedy Kesidi Richard from Oguta, Nigeria, and Kingsley Chibuzor Aguoru from Orlu, who are the chief executive officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flavour (musician)</span> Nigerian singer (born 1983)

Chinedu Okoli, better known by his stage name Flavour N'abania or simply Flavour, is a Nigerian singer. He began his musical career as a drummer for a local church. Flavour is popularly known across Africa and the world for his hit song "Nwa Baby ". He is currently signed to 2nite Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basketmouth</span> Nigerian Comedian

Bright Okpocha, better known by his stage name Basketmouth, is a Nigerian comedian and actor. He has organized popular stand-up comedy concerts like Basketmouth Uncensored across the globe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illbliss</span> Nigerian rapper

Tobechukwu Ejiofor, professionally known as Illbliss, is a Nigerian rapper, actor, and businessman. He is the owner of the talent managing outfit known as 'The Goretti Company', company responsible for launching the careers of Chidinma and Phyno, among others. He is regarded as one of the most influential Nigerian Rappers helping to pioneer the 'Eastern - Igbo Boy Movement' in Nigerian hip hop.

Igbo highlife is a contemporary musical genre which combines highlife and Igbo traditional music. The genre is primarily guitar-based music, with a rare characteristic blend of horns and vocal rhythms. Igbo highlife lyrics are sung mostly in Igbo with occasional infusion of Pidgin English. One of the most influential composers and performers of the music is Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe whose career spanned over 40 years. Osadebe's discography comprises numerous popular songs including the 1984 hit "Osondi Owendi" which launched him on the world stage as a pioneer of the Igbo highlife genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kcee (musician)</span> Nigerian singer and songwriter

Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo, better known as Kcee, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He was formerly in the Hip Hop duo group called Kc Presh. He is from Amaputu in Uli in Ihiala local government area in Anambra State Nigeria. He currently has a record deal with Five Star Music. He worked with Del B, a record producer known for producing Kcee's popular song "Limpopo". He is the elder brother to E-money.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladipoe</span> Nigerian rapper

Ladipo Eso popularly known as Ladipoe or Poe is a Nigerian rapper and musician. On 28 February 2017, Ladipoe signed a record deal with Mavin Records. He rose to prominence with the song "Feel Alright" where he got featured by SDC "Show Dem Camp". He also released a new single "Jaiye" in March 2019 before dropping the hit song, "Know You" featuring Nigerian Joromi singer, Simi. He is also a member of the Nigerian supergroup Collectiv3 and goes by the alias, “Leader of The New Revival”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Case (song)</span> 2018 song by Teni

"Case" is a song by Nigerian singer Teni. Produced by Jaysynths, it was officially released on October 19, 2018. The song won Best Pop Single at The Headies 2019.

The Headies Award for Producer of the Year is an award presented at The Headies, a ceremony that was established in 2006 and originally called the Hip Hop World Awards. It was first presented to Don Jazzy in 2006.

Zainab Elizabeth Donli, known as Lady Donli, is a Nigerian musician. She is an alternative R&B, hip hop, alternative jazz and Afrobeat singer and songwriter.

<i>Boo of the Booless</i> 2020 studio album by Chike

Boo of the Booless is the debut studio album of Nigerian singer Chike. It was released on February 14, 2020. Chike enlisted Ogaga Sakpaide to A&R the album.

<i>Roots</i> (The Cavemen album) 2020 album by The Cavemen

Roots is the debut studio album by Nigerian highlife band The Cavemen. It was written, vocalised and produced by the duo, with fellow Nigerian singer Lady Donli serving as the executive producer and released under Freeme Music, a Nigerian indigenous record label. It was released on 21 August 2020.

Akano Samuel is a Nigerian record producer, Mixing Engineer and Arranger. Born in Niger State, Minna He is notable with the mainstream sound tag "Classic" and "if it's Spax then it gotta be" which is well known in the African mainstream music scene.

<i>Enjoy Your Life</i> 2019 studio album by Lady Donli

Enjoy Your Life is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Lady Donli. It was released on 9 August 2019. The album features guest appearances from Tems, BenjiFlow, Amaarae, SOMADINA, The Cavemen., VanJess, Tomi Thomas, and Solis. After the album's release, she embarked on a two-city concert in Nigeria, and a UK tour, in three cities from 26 January to 4 February 2020.

Praise Onyeagwalam known professionally as Director Pink is a Nigerian music video director, cinematographer and film director. She directed the music video "Running To You" and "Abracadabra”. She is also the founder of "Pinkline Films", a Nigerian film company.

Zule Zoo is a Nigerian music duo that formed in the late 1990s by Michael Aboh and Al-Hassan Ibrahim who were both from Benue State. They are known for their fusion of different musical genres such as traditional Nigerian rhythms, hip-hop, and reggae.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Cavemen release their highly anticipated debut album, 'ROOTS'". NativeMag. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  2. 1 2 "See di full list of winners for di 14th edition of Headies". BBC News Pidgin. 2021-02-21. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Ihekire, Chinonso (2021-03-06). "Cavemen… Redefining Highlife Music". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  4. ↑ Obi, Ify. "The Cavemen". nataal.com. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  5. ↑ "How viewers vote BBNaija Laycon, Olamilekan Agbeleshe to win Big Brother Naija lockdown Season 5 show - BBC Pidgin". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  6. ↑ "The Cavemen". Music In Africa. 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  7. ↑ "In "Love and Highlife," The Cavemen. Become Better Masters of their Craft - Afrocritik". 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  8. ↑ Alake, Motolani (2020-08-21). "The Cavemen release new album, 'ROOTS'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  9. ↑ Oloworekende, Wale. "The Cavemen Detail Their Sophomore Album, 'Love and Highlife'". The NATIVE. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  10. ↑ "What A Day That Was Lyrics by The Cavemen". NotjustOk. 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  11. ↑ Onabanjo, Adedamola (2020-09-22). "Heartbreak And High-life Fuse Perfectly In The Cavemen.'s Video For 'Bena'". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  12. ↑ "Premiere: Watch The Cavemen's Stunning Music Video for 'Adaugo' - Okayplayer". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.