Sadé Awele
Sadé Awele, the Nigerian-born musical visionary, is a captivating force in the realm of R&B, afropop and afrosoul. Her music draws deeply from her heritage, combining bold innovation with influences from legends like Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Beyoncé, and Lauryn Hill.
Sadé grew up in a musical home where gospel, R&B, jazz, Afro-fusion and Afrobeats were embraced. As a music enthusiast, Sadé would listen to the lyrics of songs on repeat and soon after picked up on storytelling and songwriting.
Sadé's culture plays a major role in her identity, being both of Igbo and Yoruba descent. On her Yoruba side, her paternal grandfather grew up with drummers in a home called "ile dun dun". To this day, incorporation of the drums is an important aspect of Sadé's music.
Growing up, Sadé participated in competitions and represented her school in songwriting and performing arts. Sadé was not one to be camera shy, as she embraced the spotlight and stage with grace and boldness. It was where she found her voice.
Awele's remarkable talent earned her the 2020 Female Artist of the Year award by AFAM. She was named one of the "Top 100 Black Women to Watch in 2023" by CIBWE. She has been recently nominated as Western Canadian Music Awards 2024 R&B Artist of the Year, and is celebrated as a "rising soulstress" by Wonderland magazine.
Sadé Awele's talents extend into the world of film, with her single and music video, "Intuition," gaining acclaim at the Atlanta Film Festival and ranked #9 on Canadian online radio (R&B) and #37 in top 100 songs of 2023 by CBC The Block.
Awele's international presence was solidified through a successful European tour in 2023 where she received accolades from overseas fans. Recently she completed a Canadian tour in the spring of 2024 to celebrate the release of her latest EP, Intuition, which has been described as "a remarkable display of artistry" (by Unorthodox Reviews).
Sadé has shared stages with renowned artists like Grammy winner Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. She has also left her mark by performing the national anthem at the inaugural Black History Month hockey event organized by the NHL at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, and the first-ever Monster Jam event at Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta.