May Odegbami, known professionally as May7ven, is a Nigerian-born singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, actress, model and entrepreneur.

Life

May7ven was born in

Ibadan Ibadan (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the third-largest city by population in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano, with a total population of 3,649,000 as of 2021, and over 6 million people within its ...

, Nigeria. Her father is the former footballer

Segun Odegbami Patrick Olusegun Odegbami (born 27 August 1952), often shortened as Segun Odegbami, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward Early life Odegbami was born on 27 August 1952 in Lagos, Nigeria to Jacob Adebola Odegbam ...

. She debuted in 2008 in the UK with single ''Hands Up'', which she co-wrote with songwriter and producer Aeon 'Step' Manahan. In May 2009 Take off my clothes/Bo Aso La Ra Mi, released under her own label Best entertainment, produced and co-written by

Aeon Manahan Aeon 'Step' Manahan is a British songwriter, music producer and performer. He was born in London. Nine Yards In 1998, Manahan signed a recording contract with Virgin Records UK Ltd as part of R&B group Nine Yards and released the album ''Wher ...

and May7ven was released in the UK and Nigeria. The single included remixes by Colin Emmanuel and pioneer musik. The video was directed by Ben Peters and produced by Luti Media. May7ven renowned for her acrobatic African dance displays, street dance, tap infused with traditional Nigerian dance steps. Her 2009 video for single "Bo Aso La Ra mi" charted no.5 Nigerian Charts Nigeezy and Ben TV for 20 weeks, Music Africa, Hip on TV, Soundcity Top 10 for 12 weeks and Top 10 MTV Base UK, Europe and Africa,

Channel AKA Channel, channels, channeling, etc., may refer to: Geography * Channel (geography), in physical geography, a landform consisting of the outline (banks) of the path of a narrow body of water. Australia * Channel Country, region of outback Austral ...

for six weeks. In February 2009, May7ven teamed up with DJ Abrantee as her tour DJ in Nigeria and the UK. In April 2009, May7ven signed to African Mobile Giants Globalcom as an ambassador and embarked on an 18 city tour for six months. May7ven performed for the president of Nigeria at Aso Rock in Abuja August 2009. May7ven won her 1st award at the NMVA (Nigerian Music Video Award 2009) for Best Video in Europe and the 1st female to win that category. She secured endorsements with Guinness, ExxonMobil, Zain, Nigerian Bureaus and Nigerian Law Bar Association. In 2012, May7ven released 'TEN TEN' under Skata Records, and 'Hey Mr' in 2013 under M7 Music Group. Both Singles were Playlisted on Choice FM, now known as Capital Xtra for six weeks and received heavy rotation across multiple UK radio stations. On 7 May 2014, May7ven release single 'Werk' which was awarded Best UK Afrobeats Promotional Single at the Screen Nations Awards and single 'What Ur Feeling' both produced by TY Mix.

Early life

May7ven was born in

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

to one of Nigeria's greatest footballing & sports legends, Chief

, and a Nigerian mother, Jumoke Tejumola, an accountant and ex-athlete. She attended Bodija International School before relocating to the UK at the age of six with her mother, her brother Junior Odegbami and sister Funmi Odegbami CEO of MINK Cosmetics LLP. May7ven has other siblings, Tolu Odegbami, Steven Odegbami, Mo Odegbami and Tito Odegbami who live in Nigeria with their mothers. During her adolescence, May studied Music, Sound Engineering, Building surveying and Architecture. She joined her church choir when she was 10 and started teaching street dance at her local community centre in Kensal Green age 14. She landed her first job as an estate agent and property developer at age 17 whilst pursuing a studies and music career.

1997–2020: Songwriting and backing vocals

At age 15, May7ven started as a songwriting and backing singer. In 1997 provided backing vocals for Phoebe One, Wayne Marshall, Ebony, LLoydie Crucial and KRS1. May7ven provided backing vocals on three tracks of RnB Singer

Jamelia ' Jamelia Niela Davis (born 11 January 1981) is an English singer, songwriter and television presenter. She has released three studio albums, each of which has reached the Top 40 in the UK, which collectively have spawned eight UK top-ten singl ...

's 2000 debut Album Drama on tracks 'Money', 'One Fine day' and 'Bout it' feat.

Rah Digga Rashia Tashan Fisher (born December 18, 1974), known professionally as Rah Digga, is an American rapper and actress. She is best known as a longtime member of the Flipmode Squad, a hip hop group led by Busta Rhymes. Her debut album, '' Dirty ...

produced by

Colin Emmanuel Colin Emmanuel aka C-Swing is an English music producer, remixer and writer who works across most genres including Hip hop, R&B, Alternative and Soul genres. He has produced, remixed or written for the likes of; The Beta Band, Jamelia, KRS-One, ...

. She later went on to work with, tour and supported

Blu Cantrell Blu Cantrell (born Tiffany Cobb; March 16, 1976) is an American contemporary R&B, R&B and soul music, soul singer-songwriter. Cantrell rose to fame in 2001, with the release of her debut single, "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)", which peaked at num ...

Beverley Knight Beverley Knight (born Beverley Anne Smith, 22 March 1973) is an English recording artist and musical theatre actress. She released her first album, '' The B-Funk'', in 1995. Heavily influenced by American soul music icons such as Sam Cooke and ...

Mary J Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...

Angie Stone Angela Laverne Brown (born December 18, 1961) known professionally as Angie Stone, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. She rose to fame in the late 1970s as member of the hip hop trio The Sequence. In the early 1990 ...

Stevie Brookstein.

Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (; born April 16, 1973), known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up" (featuring Styles ...

, Joe Thomas plus others. In summer of 2008 May7ven performed for the Jacksons Jacksons

Marlon Jackson Marlon David Jackson (born March 12, 1957) is an American entertainer, singer and dancer best known as a member of the Jackson 5. He is the sixth child of the Jackson family. Marlon now runs Study Peace Foundation to promote peace and unity wo ...

at the La Campaign Tropicana in Lekke, Nigeria. In 2009, May7ven was commissioned to write and produce several programmes and theme music for TV and films including the 1st Eko Awards, Abuja Festival, The 1st Annual Gospel Music Awards UK 2009. In 2010 May7ven created, produced and co directed The DJ Abrantee Show on Sky TV with Rex chosen as the Director. In 2011 May7ven teamed with producer Antoine Stone to complete works on her album which included recording an

Afrobeats Afrobeats (not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing), or Afro-pop or Afro-fusion (or Afropop or Afrofusion), is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and ...

single "Ten Ten" released in May 2012. In 2012, May7ven created the platform "Search for an Afrobeats Superstar" which became a TV show in Africa and UK in 2014. In 2014, May7ven created the Afrobeats News on Capital Xtra and hired Beat FM's top presented Toolz to anchor during DJ Abrantee's Afrobeats Radio Show. In 2018 May7ven started working with Music producer Silverston on new music.

Performances

2008 performed in New York venue Sugar Bar owned by Mowtown singers

Ashford & Simpson Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946). Ashford was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, ...

, Opened up for

Grandmaster Flash Joseph Saddler (born January 1, 1958), popularly known by his stage name Grandmaster Flash, is an American DJ and rapper. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of Hip Hop DJing, cutting, scratching and mixing. Grandmaster Flash and the Fur ...

at the Ingenuity Festival in

Cleveland Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U. ...

to various performances in London. May7ven also performed at the 1st 'Koko Concert' by Dbanj and the Mo Hits at Indigo2 held at the

O2 arena O2 Arena may refer to: *The O2 Arena (London) *O2 Arena (Prague) *The 3Arena, Dublin, formerly known as The O2 *The Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin, formerly known as O2 World Berlin *The Barclays Arena The Barclays Arena (originally known as the ...

in London. This concert consisted of African star

D'Banj Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (born 9 June 1980), better known by his stage name D'banj, is a Nigerian singer and rapper and the founder of Mo' Hits Records with producer Don Jazzy. He has won several music awards, including the awards for ''Best Af ...

, Don Jazzy and the rest of the Mo Hits squad with May7ven as the only female artist. In Oct 2009 May7ven headlined 5

Nigerian Independence Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

Day concerts over a 2-day period in London & Dublin. In 2009 May7ven headlined her first show in Sweden's Fryshusset performing to over 4000 students and at The Sound Factory, Street Soul TV in Germany and sang the National Anthem of Nigeria Opening the Shell World Cup Football tournaments to over 40,000 spectators in Lagos. An hour Special on May7ven was broadcast on The Bisi Olatilo's Show ON 7TH May 2009 . In March 2011 May7ven performed on the IDOLS WEST AFRICA Live show in Nigeria where she debuted her 3rd single "Number". In June 2011 May7ven Joined Ginuwine and J.holiday to perform at

The O2 Arena The O2 Arena, commonly known as the O2 (stylised as The O2 arena), is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the centre of the O2 entertainment complex on the Greenwich Peninsula in southeast London. It opened in its present form in 2007. It has the ...

where she introduced single "Number". In August 2011 May7ven performed in the 1st UK Afrobeats Festival being the only female artist on the bill along with

Wizkid Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. A prominent figure in the modern-day Afrobeats music scene, Wizkid is regarded as one of the biggest and most influential Afric ...

P-Square P-Square is a Nigerian music duo consisting of the twin brothers Peter Okoye and Paul Okoye. They produced and released their albums through Square Records (now Square Root Entertainment) In December 2011, they signed a record deal with Akon' ...

and

Ice Prince Panshak Henry Zamani (born 30 October 1984) better known as Ice Prince Zamani or just Ice Prince, is a Nigerian rapper, hip hop recording artist and actor. He rose to fame after releasing " Oleku", one of Nigeria's most remixed songs of all t ...

to over 5000 spectators, including

, Mobo founder Kanya King,

Tim Westwood Timothy Westwood (born 3 October 1957) is a British DJ and presenter. He is often referred to by other DJs and artists appearing on his shows simply as Westwood. He was described by ''The Guardian'' in 2022 as "a veteran of the hip-hop scene ...

and more. In October 2011 May7ven performed at the MTN 10th-anniversary show in Lagos. In January 2012 May7ven performs a new to be released single "Ten Ten" at the Afrobeats Sunday event at IndigO2 with Iceprince, Hosted by DJ Abrantee. In 2016 May7ven headlined the Afrobeats Music Festival at Indigo At The O2. May7ven set up a number of charities for children including TMACC (The Mathematical African Children's Charity) and is also a part of the International Sports & Music Academy in

Wasinmi, Nigeria Wasinmi or Wasimi () is an Egba town located on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ewekoro local government of Ogun State. It is a few miles from Abeokuta. It is home to one of the oldest churches in the area, St. Michael's Anglican Church, and hom ...

(her ancestral home) owned by her father Segun Odegbami. May7ven is also the Co-founder of SistasUnite Charity for women and children founded in April 2014. In April 2018 May7ven co-founded The Abrantee Boateng Foundation.

Present

In March 2016, May7ven released new single entitled 'Better days' under M7 Music Group accompanied by an animated video tackling mental health amongst young people. In 2014 May7ven and her father produced the first 'May7ven Home Coming'in Abeokuta, Nigeria headlined by May7ven featuring special guests, Seyi Seyi, Sound Sultan, Mr 2kay, Jimmy Jatt and many more at the 10,000 capacity Abeokuta Centre. In May 2014 May7ven executively produced a charity single 'SISTAS UNITE' in support of the Bringbackourgirls campaign in Nigeria. She signed UK producer Mictizzlebeats and Daniel Sync and lined up 14 African female artists to lend their voices to the cause which included Shiikane, Ezi Emela, Vicky Sola plus others. In April 2013, May7ven launched Afrobeats Live at Jazz Cafe hosted by Abrantee Boateng. An event that showcases Afrobeats Musicians on a Live Stage and TV Platform In March 2011 May7ven launched her own radio show on City FM 105.1 in Nigeria broadcasting each Friday from 8pm to 10pm co produced by DJ Abrantee. The radio show was presented by May7ven for two hours playing her Top 7 music count down, music from across the world and Live interviews with other artists. In March 2011, May7ven signed to Malta Guinness and Endemol as a judge on the hit TV Show's 4th season of The Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa 4 2011 along with judges Wale Rubber and Franklyspeaking. May7ven launched her 3rd single entitled "Number" produced by Step of Badself Entertainment, remixed, mixed and mastered by Ayodele Basil aka Delb in Nigeria in May 2011. In March 2012, May7ven's unreleased single "Ten Ten" was A-Listed on UK's Choice FM Radio making it the 2nd Afrobeat song to be playlisted on a UK Commercial Radio, after Dbanj's "Oliver Twist" in 2013 May7ven founded M7 Music Group, Afrobeats Live, CDN, May Zing white Hair line and Created of Afrobeats Search for a Star in September 2013 with Abrantee Boateng

Tour history

* 2008 How We Does Tour – Germany, Sweden * 2009 Globalcom Rock n Rule Tour * 2009 Koko Concert with D'banj and Mo Hits * 2010 Koko Concert with D'banj and Mo Hits * 2011 Afrobeats Club & Festival Tour * 2014 UK School Tour (Anti Bullying & Sistas Unite)

TV presenting

* Star Host 1 Hour Special – Soundcity Music Channel 2009 * Naija's TOP 10 Count Down – Nigeezy with Andre Blaze * Ben TV's Top 10 Count Down – Sky TV * Atunda Half Hour Special – Biscon, Bisi Olatilo Show * Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa 2010 – Celebrity Guest Judge * Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa 2011 – Judge
Fame Music
presents Afrobeats Search for a Star Judge 2015 – Judge

Awards and nominations

References

External links

May7ven's official site

for May7ven's music Videos

for BEFFTA AWARDS WINNERS LIST

for BBC ARTIST
{{authority control 1984 births Living people Musicians from Ibadan Nigerian women singer-songwriters 21st-century Nigerian women singers Actresses from Ibadan Yoruba women musicians Nigerian film actresses Nigerian female models Nigerian television personalities Nigerian women singers Nigerian songwriters Yoruba actresses Nigerian businesspeople Nigerian women in business Nigerian female dancers Nigerian television actresses Nigerian television presenters Nigerian film producers Nigerian women film producers 20th-century Nigerian actresses Nigerian women musicians Nigerian pop musicians Nigerian hip hop singers Afrobeats musicians