JJC & 419 Squad have been nominated in the ‘Best African Group’ category at Africa’s famous KORA AWARDS, the only awards ceremony that recognises and celebrates musical excellence amongst artists from the continent and the African diaspora…

The All Africa Music Awards nomination for their song “Kilonsele” is a fantastic achievement for the London-based, Nigerian hip-hop four-piece, and a win at the gala event to be held in South Africa next month would definitely be a great end to a successful year. The Kora award would be the group’s third award. They are also the recipients of an Award for Excellence for outstanding contribution to the positive image of Africa and Africans in the UK (presented to them by The Trumpet newspaper) as well as the Best Artiste Award presented to them by US-based Nigerian magazine Momentum MV at a ceremony in Maryland, USA.

JJC & 419 Squad like to ‘keep it real’ by fusing African rhythms, hip-hop and salsa, as well as mixing their native Yoruba language with English. JJC (which stands for ‘Johnny just come’) is also a top UK producer (using his alias Skillz) and has worked with Jamelia, Lemar, Big Brovaz, Liberty X, Jay Sean and many more. Classifying themselves as Afropean (Africans based in the European Diaspora, in this case Nigerians living in London), their music draws from a diversity of influences, both modern and traditional, to create a young, urban African sound. JJC & 419 Squad have brought their energetic and vibrant stage show to Nigeria (Femi Kuti’s New Africa Shrine in Lagos, Do It All in Lagos, The Dome in Abuja), America, France, as well as having performed at numerous shows in the UK (including the WOMAD 2003 & 2004 festivals). Whether playing to World Music fans, a Nigerian audience or at hip-hop shows, JJC & 419 Squad feel equally at home. (“ The Nigerian hip-hop and blend of English and Yoruba has left the likes of the Respect and WOMAD festivals speechless.” The Guardian)

JJC & 419 Squad tracks have been featured on compilations, in movies and TV dramas: Latin-flavoured Anglo-Yoruba feel-good track “Atide” has been featured in Stephen Frears’ Oscar-nominated film Dirty Pretty Things and is included on Charlie Gillett’s World 2004 compilation (Wrasse Records). African Salsa track “Malemicita” is included on Union Square Music’s Afrobeat Sessions compilation and “Ewajo” on the label’s Global Hip Hop compilation. The group’s tracks “Kilonsele”, “I’m A Naija …”, “Birthday” and “Maje aye” were used in a Channel 4 prime-time TV drama called “Stealing Lives”, a film which based on the true story of London-based Nigerians being involved in identity fraud. The group also made cameo appearances in this film.

Last year, JJC was the host of African Vibes on BBC Radio 1Xtra where he showcased African hip-hop, Afrobeat, Raï, hip-life, kwaito, Juju and lots more, bringing modern African music to a wider (and young, urban) audience. This year, in his quest to become an ambassador for young African music in the UK, JJC has become one of the on-line hosts of Africa On Your Street http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/africaonyourstreet/jjc.shtml, a BBC Radio 3 website celebrating the African music scene across the UK and beyond.

Despite living in London the group have strong ties with their motherland Nigeria. During their promotional trip to Nigeria in the summer the group gave interviews at countless radio stations, including Cool FM Lagos & Abuja, Eko FM, Metro FM, Brila FM, Star FM, Ray Power and Rhythm FM Abuja, as well as being guests on many TV stations, including NTA (“AM Express”), MiTV (“Reach Out”), A.I.T. (“Gbedu”), LTV (“Full House”), Silverbird TV (“Music Africa”), Galaxy TV (“Drums”), Time TV (“Sing On”) and MCTV (MC Morris). They were also interviewed by print publications, such as Hip Hop World Magazine, Vanguard, Phat Entertainment Magazine, Bubbles, National Encomium and Campus Dynamix. Their music videos “Kilonsele”, “Atide”, “Se Gbo” and “Jekalo” are on constant rotation on Nigerian TV. JJC & 419 Squad have also recorded tracks with fellow Nigerian artists Maintain, Weird MC, Trybesmen, Blaise of Da Trybe, SID of Da Trybe, Sasha, Ruggedman, D’banj and Kween. And best of all, the group’s album “Naija, Atide!” is finally to be officially released in Nigeria in December (by TJoe Enterprises Limited).

Commenting on their Kora nomination JJC says: “Being nominated for a Kora is a dream come true. To be recognised in Africa by an African awards ceremony means a lot to us and especially to be nominated for Best African Group is amazing. Africa has so many fantastic groups so to be regarded as one of them is fantastic.”

This is the 9th edition of the annual Kora awards ceremony with entries from throughout the African continent and the diaspora having been entered and subjected to a rigorous judging process from a panel of judges from across the African continent. The entries comprised of an impressively wide range musical genres, with the common factor being their connection to the African continent. The nominations, in a total of eighteen categories, include artists from Nigeria, Guadeloupe, Angola, Guinée, Zambia, Benin, Botswana, the U.S., Uganda, Congo, Martinique, South Africa and Ethiopia, to name a few.

Through a partnership with Canal France International, the Kora Awards ceremony, set to be held on Sunday, 12th of December, 2004 at the Sandton Convention Centre, will be broadcast live to over 700 million viewers across Africa, Europe, the United States and the Caribbean.

Other Nigerian artists that are nominated this year are Sasha (‘Most Promising African Female Artist’ for her song “Emi le gon”), 2Face Idibia (‘Most Promising African Male Artist’ for his song “Keep on Rocking”), Kush (‘Best African Gospel Group’ for their song “Let’s Live Together”), Kunle (‘Best African Male Artist’ for his song “Slowly but Surely”) and Follu Gee (‘Best African Male Artist’ for his song “I Go Give My Life”).

http://www.jjc2uk.com

http://www.koraawards.co.za/

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