Draft:Francis Ofili Adetokunbo

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Francis Olowu Ofili Adetokunbo is a Nigerian musician known under the stage name "Ofili" currently living in Athens, Greece.[1] He started his first attempts in singing, songwriting and recording in 2000 in Lagos, Nigeria. His music is inspired by the sounds and experiences of contemporary African beats in a new Greek setting. His lyrics use Pidgin, Igbo and Yoruba.

He came to Greece in 2016 and was signed as a footballer for AE Sparti and Aittitos Sparton but soon left the sports career for his passion for music. Francis is the oldest of the so-called "Antetokounbros", son of Veronica Antetokounmpo [Adetokunbo] and the brother of the basketball players Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Alexandros Antetokounmpo. The difference in the writing of the surnames Adetokunbo and Antetokounmpo are a result of the official transcription of foreign names in Greek (and back to the Latin alphabet). "Ofili" is the name of his grandfather from his mother's side.

In June 2022, Disney+ released a 110-minute-plus film biography about the Antetokounmpo (actually Adetokunbo) family, titled "Rise". The work traces Giannis' Antetokounmpo's family background and his journey with the family to the NBA. The movie, which is an invented story based on real events, has several references to Francis. The movie includes Ofili's songs "Rise" and "Obago".

"Ofili's" musical career started with the single “Shekosi”, where Darko Perić appears as guest star (well-known as “Helsinki” in La Casa del Papel). Soon after followed “Jump on it” using a clearly Afrobeats tune, “Obago”, “Paid” (in cooperation with the Greek-Ghanaian rapper Black Morris/Negros tou Moria and Moose) and "Count on you". The song "Like Giannis" is dedicated to the success of his brother as MVP. In 2021 appeared his EP "Rise" including the songs "Location", "One Kiss", "Jeje", "Meant to Be", "Calling" and "Wetin Man Go Do" . He also cooperated with the Institute of Modern Greek Studies at the University of Munich in a project called "More than one Revolution"[2].

Ofili was signed to Universal Music but changed in 2021 to newly founded Skyvector Music.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Φράνσις Αντετοκούνμπο: Αν δε θέλει μας θέλει μία χώρα να μας γυρίσει ειρηνικά πίσω". 3 July 2022.
  2. ^ Lilia Diamantopoulou: More than one Revolution: einige Worte zur Entstehungsgeschichte des Songs. Last seen 16. October 2022.