Emeka Morris Ogbowu (born May 15, 1993), better known as Asuquomo, is a Nigerian-Canadian rapper, singer and visual artist based in

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

. In 2020, he won the RBC x Ottawa Arts Council's Emerging Artist of the Year Award. As a performer, he has opened for international artists such as

Burna Boy Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (born 2 July 1991), known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He gained recognition in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album '' ...

WizKid Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), better known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is a blend of Afrobea ...

, and

Algonquin College Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is a publicly funded English-language college located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The college has three campuses, all in Ontario: a primary campus in Ottawa, and secondary campuses in Perth and ...

, with a certificate in professional illustration and concept art from Algonquin's school of media and design.

Career

Asuquomo is known for both visual and auditory

storytelling Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing narrative, stories, sometimes with improvisation, theatre, theatrics or embellishment. Every culture has its own narratives, which are shared as a means of entertainment, education, cul ...

; his works have been described as having a

Pan-African Pan-Africanism is a nationalist movement that aims to encourage and strengthen bonds of solidarity between all indigenous peoples and diasporas of African ancestry. Based on a common goal dating back to the Atlantic slave trade, the Trans-Sa ...

narrative as

Afro-Fusion Afro fusion (also spelled afrofusion or afro-fusion) is a dance and musical style that emerged between the 1970s and 2000s. In the same way as the dance style, the musical style invokes fusions of various regional and inter-continental music ...

influences. He has been an

opening act An opening act, also known as a warm-up act, support act, supporting act or opener, is an entertainment act (musical, comedic, or otherwise), that performs at a concert before the featured act, or "headliner". Rarely, an opening act may perform ...

for Wizkid and Grammy-nominated Burna Boy, as well as

Mdou Moctar Mahamadou Souleymane (born 1984), known professionally as Mdou Moctar (also M.dou Mouktar), is a Nigerien guitarist, singer and songwriter who performs modern rock music inspired by Tuareg guitar music. His music first gained attention through a ...

Shay Lia Shanice Dileita Mohamed (born on September 8th 1993), known as Shay Lia, is a French-Djiboutian musician based in Montreal, Quebec.Mr. Wavv"Shay Lia is one with the funk" ''Cult MTL'', May 10, 2019. Best known for her collaborations with Kaytranad ...

, Zaki Ibrahim, Violent Ground,

Jazz Cartier Jahmarie Wishart Adams (born March 19, 1993), known professionally as Jazz Cartier, is a Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his mixtapes: ''Marauding in Paradise'' and ''Hotel Paranoia''. He has twice been a long list ...

Lido Pimienta Lido Pimienta (born 1986) is a Colombian Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence after her 2016 album, '' La Papessa'', won the 2017 Polaris Music Prize.Cadence Weapon Roland "Rollie" Pemberton, better known by his stage name Cadence Weapon, is a Canadian-American rapper based in Toronto, Ontario. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Pemberton released his first album, '' Breaking Kayfabe'', in 2005 with posit ...

, Kimmortal, BROCKHAMPTON, Keynes Woods, and

Kodie Shane Kodie Shantil Marr (born Kodie Williams on October 28, 1998), better known by her stage name Kodie Shane, is an American rapper and singer. She gained recognition in 2016 for her song "Sad" featuring rapper Lil Yachty, and as a member of "Sailin ...

. He has played festivals including Marvest CityFolk, Ottawa RBC Bluesfest and Arboretum Festival. In 2018, he released the mixtape ''This That Mo''. In June 2020, Asuquomo released his EP, ''Diobu'', which received support from the

Ontario Arts Council The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is a publicly funded Canadian organization in the province of Ontario whose purpose is to foster the creation and production of art for the benefit of all Ontarians. Based in Toronto, OAC was founded in 1963 by O ...

. He had begun working on the EP in 2018, during an

artist residency Artist-in-residence (also Writer-in-residence), or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs that involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs that pr ...

at the

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity (formerly Banff Centre) is an arts and culture educational institution in Banff, Alberta. It offers arts programs in the performing and fine arts, as well as leadership training. It was established in 1933 ...

. The album was well received by critics. ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'' described it as a project which " xploringthemes of family, home, and the immigrant experience in his adopted city."The EP was featured on ''

Exclaim! ''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly ''Exclaim!'' print magazine publishes seven ...

s "Best EP's of 2020", CBC’s ''All in a Day'', and ''HotNewHipHop.'' In September 2020, he released the music video for "Don't Be Scared." Following the release, ''American Songwriter Magazine'' described the visuals as "piercing, personal, intriguing and entrancing."

Discography

Albums * ''Diobu'' (2020) - EP * ''OT Riddim'' (2020) - EP * ''This That Mo'' (2018) - Mixtape Singles * “Yahweh” (2020) * “Wide Awake” (2020) * “Northside” (2019)

Filmography

* Don't Be Scared

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asuquomo 1993 births 21st-century Canadian rappers Nigerian male singers 21st-century Nigerian rappers English-language singers from Nigeria Living people 21st-century Black Canadian musicians Nigerian emigrants to Canada Singers from Ottawa