King Sunny Ade has appeared three times in Hollywood classics

Juju King and world music star!

This is how the Western media, and even major record companies, described King Sunny Ade in the 1980s.

Before Davido performed the song “Assurance” in Eddie Murphy’s movie “Coming 2 America” In 2021, 41 years ago,

Saudi Arabia – as he is widely known – wrote his name in Hollywood history as the first Nigerian musician to appear in three major films.

Saudi was the first Nigerian to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of “Best Popular or Ethnic Recording” 40 years before the Burna Boys, Tems, Wizkids and Davido emerged today with his album “Syncro System”.

He was truly a man of many firsts!

The first African artist to incorporate instruments such as pedal steel guitar, synthesizers, clarinet, vibraphone and tenor guitar into juju music.

But this is not the focus of this article. The focus is on his achievements in Hollywood, an industry that many high-profile Nigerian actors aspire to break into.

Not many people know that Saudi Arabia starred in three Hollywood films “Breathless,” “OC and Stiggs,” and “One More Saturday Night” in the 1980s. Although he did not play a major role (at the time, black African actors rarely got leading roles), his contributions were relevant.

OC and Stages

In 1987, 41-year-old King Sunny Ade introduced juju music to the world in the Hollywood comedy “OC and Stiggs.”

In this comedy by Robert Altman, King Sunny Ade and his band African Beats perform Penkele’s song in a lively concert for the film’s main teen duo.

Their brief appearance at the end of the film showcased their energetic stage presence and exciting music, giving a glimpse into the world of juju music.

Contrary to some reports, OC and Stiggs did not focus on King Sunny Ade’s acting skills, but instead showcased an exhilarating display of his musical talent, leaving the audience wanting more of his catchy tunes and dynamic stage presence.

It is important to mention that King Sunny Ade, without any spoken lines or acting scenes, only appeared with his band for the musical performance in the film.

Another Saturday night

In the movie OC and Stiggs, King Sunny Ade’s band had a long show on stage, but in the 1986 movie One More Saturday Night, their appearance was brief.

Sunny Ade’s Synchro Sound makes a brief appearance in a nightclub scene in this comedy directed by Tom Davis and Al Franken.

“Maajo” added a lively feel to Afrobeat music, as it showed people dancing and enjoying the music in a club.

Notably, Sunny Ade did not appear on screen, creating uncertainty as to whether he was present but not depicted or absent.

In this film, King Sunny Ade’s role is limited to his music, with no on-screen performance or speaking role.

Viewers unfamiliar with his music may have missed his contribution to the film.

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Likewise, his song “365 Is My Number/The message” brought a lively energy to a thrilling chase scene in a Richard Gere movie.

In the 1983 film Breathless, King Sunny Ade had a minor role compared to his roles in The OC and Stiggs and One More Saturday Night.

The song “365 Is My Number/The message” plays quietly in the background, adding suspense and excitement to the chase.

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Read also: Rema broke King Sunny Ade’s four-decade hit record in the United States

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The focus was not specifically on the music itself, so only those familiar with Sunny Ade’s music may have recognized it.

Although it is nice to mention that King Sunny Ade was a part of the movie through his music, viewers who are not familiar with it may easily miss it.