Cobhams Asuquo (January 6, 1981) is a renowned Nigerian musician, producer, songwriter, businessman, and speechmaker. In 2015, Asuquo, as a songwriter, was privileged to sign on with Sony ATV London.
Early Life and Education
Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo was born in Jos, Plateau State, on January 6, 1981. He grew up in military cantonments in Nigeria’s Jos and Lagos. Asquo was born with a disability. He hoped to become a lawyer and build a career that would eventually lead him to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Throughout his primary and secondary school years, he participated in various debate clubs and writing competitions, winning both local and state recognition for his gifted talent.
He then continued his education by studying law at the University of Lagos in Nigeria. However, due to admissions errors that hampered his entire academic career, he was forced to drop out of his third-year university. As a result, he made a complete commitment to his musical journey.
Career
At the age of six, Asuquo began honing his talent. He enjoyed making beat sounds with whatever he could find around his family’s home. He began by puffing his cheeks and playing the 12 Blues while using dining utensils and paying close attention to the nuance of pitch, tone, and timbre.
At the age of seven, he entertained his neighbors with a song he wrote using whatever objects he could find. At the age of ten, he also helped position music for his school’s band and guided himself in learning the keyboard.
Asuquo, between the ages of 13 and 19, would often pay visits to music studios, finding opportunities for figuring out the thrill of creating music and spending nights in studios, longing to own a studio.
Throughout his adolescence, Asuquo would frequently lend his voice to background vocals he produced for other artists. Then he shot to fame in 2007, when he appeared in a Nigerian campus favorite, Mo Like Jesu Gan by Dekunle Fuji, and became widely known as a singer and performer. Following that, he appeared in the song’s music video, making his official debut in front of a genuine Nigerian audience and finally achieving fame. In 2008, he produced and dropped a verse on Lagimo for the gospel duo Rooftop MCs, which quickly became a fan favorite.
In 2008, Asuquo launched his first record label and music production company, Cobhams Asuquo Music Production (CAMP). In 2016, he established Vintage Gray Media Ltd. Vintage Gray Media Ltd produced 74 episodes of the music countdown show “The Top 12 Countdown with Cobhams Asuquo,” which aimed to highlight new music.
On his birthday, January 6, 2018, Asuqauo released a hit that quickly went viral. The hit became popular the following year, and it was inspired by the Nigerian political scene, featuring Bez and Sound Sultan. His single was released in September of the same year and was well received for its mainstream Nigerian sound.
He released a beautiful song in 2019 about gender inequality, women’s rights, and gender-based violence. We Plenti was released a few months later, and Asquo featured Simi.
Asuquo rose to international prominence in relation to other Nigerian soul artists, such as ASA’s debut album. He wrote or co-wrote the hits “Fire on the Mountain” and “Jailer,” among others. He has worked with a number of local (Nigerian) and international musicians.
He began producing songs in the early 2000s, including Maintain’s “Maintain in India” and “Catch Cold,” Djinne’s “Ego,” Omawumi’s “In the Music,” and Omawumi’s most recent album, “Butterflies,” released in 2017. Asa, Banky W, Omawumi, Eldee, Sasha, Dare Art-Alade, Waje, Timi Dakolo, Djinne, Faze, Seyi Shay, Korede Bello, Tiwa Savage, Ego, Yemi Alade, Bez, Omolara, Chidinma Ekile, Shola Allyson, Lara George, Silver are among the artists he manages. He was named an MTN Nigeria ambassador for the company’s corporate elite clients in 2015.
Some of the international music events he has orchestrated music for and performed with bands include the Harare International Festival of Arts, the AFA Sponsored French Cultural Centre Concert with Asa and Angelique Kidjo, the AFA Sponsored French Cultural Centre Concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nigeria Week in Paris, and the launch of MTV’s 100th channel (MTV Base Africa) in Abuja, Nigeria. He has written and orchestrated film scores for conservatories as well as films and stage productions such as Uche Macaulay’s “A Voice for Ella,” “Sunshine” (Alpha Vision), Isang Awah’s “Bent Arrows,” and Communication for Change’s “Bayelsan Silhouettes.”
In January 2014, Asuquo performed with other prominent Nigerian artists at the World Economic Forumin Davos, Switzerland. He was interviewed at full length by CNN Africa Voice on December 2011.
Asuquo traveled to the White House with African singers Dbanj, Omawumi, Femi Kuti, and Somi to raise agricultural awareness in Nigeria through Bono’s international humanitarian organization, ONE Campaign. In addition, he was invited to a three-day US-Africa conference to create an anthem for “Poverty Is Sexist,” titled “Strong Girls.” He worked and produced with Judith Sephuma (South Africa), Waje (Nigeria), Victoria Kimani (Kenya), Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania), Arielle T (Gabon), Gabriela (Mozambique), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Selmor Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe), newcomer Blessing Nwafor (South Africa), and video star Omotola Jolade-kehinde (Nigeria).
Another remix of “Strong Girl” by Asuquo was created, but this time Bono was one of the artists. Asquo co-produced the song “Tell Everyone.” He was also invited to participate in the United Nations Global Goals campaign. The song featured African artists such as Sautisol (Kenya), Mafikizolo (South Africa), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), and Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania).
Asuquo performed live on stage on September 26 at the Global Citizens Festival in New York City’s Central Park alongside a number of other international artists, including Pearl Jam, Beyonce, Common, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran, to raise awareness of the UN Global Goals. Asuquo worked as a producer on the third season of COKE Studio Africa, which aired in several African countries. Asuquo produced the Rhythm Unplugged concert and Hennessy Artistry in 2016. In addition, he organized the first “One Africa” concert in Houston, Texas. Wyclef Jean, an artiste and former member of the group Fugees, joined Asuquo.
Personal Life
Asuquo is married to the love of his life, Ojuola Asuquo Olukanni, a music producer and singer, on the 2nd of December, 2020. The couple is blessed with two sons.
Discography
Singles
- Ordinary People (2014)
- Star of Wonder (2015)
- Do The Right Thing feat Bez (2015)
- Ordinary People Video (2015)
- Stronger Than Before sung by Morayo (2015)
- Boosit feat Falz (2016)
- The Other Room feat Ugovinna (2016)
- Adore feat Lauretta Cookey and Fome Peters (2016)
- One Hit (2018)
- We Plenti (2020)
- We Go Win Corona (2020)
Production Work
Asuquo wrote and co-wrote several singles, including “Fire on the Mountain” and “Jailer.” Asuquo has also written songs for notable Nigerian musicians such as Banky W and Omawumi.
Among the international music events he has orchestrated music for and performed with bands are the Harare International Festival of Arts, the AFA Sponsored French Cultural Center Concert with Asa and Angelique Kidjo, the AFA Sponsored French Cultural Center Concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nigeria Week in Paris, and the launch of MTV’s 100th channel (MTV Base Africa) in Abuja, Nigeria.
He has composed and orchestrated film music for conservatories, as well as for films and stage productions such as Uche Macaulay’s “A Voice for Ella,” “Sunshine” (Alpha Vision), Isang Awah’s “Bent Arrows,” and Communication For Change’s “Bayelsan Sillhouttes.”
In 2016, Asuquo debuted a digital radio countdown show. According to Asuquo, the digital radio show’s host, the Nigerian audience should be listening to the best African and Nigerian music. The Cobhams Top 12 Countdown The program’s name is Asuquo.
Cobhams Asuquo’s Net Worth
Asuquo had made approximately up to $1 million dollars from his talent.
