Bayo Martins

**Bayo Martins** (1932–2003) jẹ́ olórin  ọmọ orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíría  akọrin jazz . Ó jẹ́ onílù àti alùlù ìlú kóńgà, ó jẹ́ Olùdarí  Afro-jazz. Ó jẹ́ ọmọ ẹgbẹ́ nínu àwon ẹgbẹ́ tí  wọ́n ṣe ipìnle awọn orin Afirika.

Fún ọdún  púpọ, ó ko ipá takuntakun nínú ìtèsíwájú  àṣà  áwọn olórin ní  orílé èdè Nàìjíríà. Ó ṣiṣẹ́ nínú ẹgbẹ́ olórin. Martins jẹ́ òǹkọ̀wé  àti pé ó ti kọ ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ìwé  bíi *The Message of African Drumming* àti *Give Musicianship a Chance*.

## Background

### Early life
Bayo Martins wọn bí Adebayo Santos Martins ní ọjọ́ kẹrìnlélógún oṣù kọkànlá ọdún 1932 ní ìpínlè Calabar, ní orílé èdè Nigeria.

 iṣẹ  orin rẹ̀ bẹ́ẹ̀rẹ̀ ni ọdún 1946 nígbà ti àwọn ẹbí rẹ̀ kó lọ sí ìpínlè Èkó.

A tún mọ̀ sí John Martins. 

### Musical
Ní ìbámu pẹlú àyọkà yìí, "Fela Kuti: Chronicle of A Life Foretold" láti ọwọ́ Lindsay Barrett tí o jáde nínú *The Wire* September 2011, Martins jẹ́ àwòkọ ṣe  fún Fela Kuti, ó tún ṣẹ amojuto fún gbogbo nkán tí Kuti n gbó  ti o sì ṣe atókùn fún ùn nípa ibi ti o mú orí le nínú ìrìn àjò orin rẹ̀, pèlú bí o ti  sẹ yí orin jazz àti highlife papọ.

Ó jẹ́ ọ̀rẹ́ B. B. King.  Ìrìn àjò ọ̀rẹ́ wọn bẹ́ẹ̀rẹ̀ nìgbà tí King lọ́ si Èkó, ó tún  jẹ́ àlejò king ní ìlu Èkó ní 1974.

## Career

### 1950s to 1960s
Martins was part of a small jazz combo called the Nigerian Jazz Club which was founded by Bobby Benson in 1953. The ensemble included Zeal Onyia on trumpet, Paul Isamade on saxophone, Martins on drums and Benson on Piano. They just played modern jazz.

In 1959, Martins and his professional boxer older brother came to London. At some stage he undertook a course in journalism.

Martins left England in 1962 and returned to Nigeria. That year, the Afro-Jazz ensemble was formed, consisting of Chris Ajilo on tenor saxophone, Bayo Martins on drums, Zeal Onyia on trumpet, and Ayo Vaughan on bass. It later expanded into a five-piece ensemble and by 1964, it became the Jazz Preachers.Martins was a member of the Koola Lobitos, a band that was formed by Fela Kuti in 1960. The ensemble also included Wole Bucknor on piano.

In 1964, Martins formed the African Messengers with Mike Falana; eventually, the band included Peter King, Humphrey Okoh and Paul Edoh in the line up. The group  recorded 7-inch including "Highlife Piccadilly" and "Blues for Messengers", which was released on Carnival CV 7013 in 1964. They won the World International Jazz Contest in Switzerland. In addition to appearing at clubs and festivals, the ensemble had provided backing for the Four Tops, The Temptations and Diana Ross.

### 1970s to 1990s
Bayo Martins worked with Grand Marcus, also known as Marcus Mvouka, playing congas on his *Rythmes Et Voix Du Congo* album.

Martins worked with the group Ikwezi, a group which consisted of Billy Allen, Don Ridgeway, Gerhard Schäfer, and Joan Faulkner. He played congas on their self-titled 1981 album that was released on Biton BIT 2122. He later had had heavy involvement with the *Rhythms and Voices of Africa* by A.K.V. Collective, which was released on Biton 2016. In addition to co-producing and co-designing the album with Don Ridgeway, he composed the tracks "Oniyangi", "The Way" and "Next Time Your Colour Talk". He also handled percussion, sang and provided narration. He also compiled the book, *Fela Anikulapo-Kuti Abami Esa* which was published in the late 1990s.

## Personal life
Martins was married to German born author Gerwine Bayo-Martins.

## Death
Martins died in Germany on 12 August 2003.

## Later years
Martins appears on two tracks from the various artists *Highlife on the Move* compilation which was released in 2015 on compact disc and vinyl LP.  The track "Fancy Baby" is credited to John Santos Martins, and the track "Maggie" is credited to John Santos Martins, Zeal Onyia & His Band.

## Published works

### Books

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### Articles

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## Film, documentary etc.

## References

## Further reading

* Universität Hildesheim – Bayo Martins: Voice of the Drum, An insider account into popular music in Nigeria. A biographic interview with Dr. Wolfgang Bender.
* *The Guardian*, Sat 23 Aug 2003 – Obituary, Bayo Martins Nigerian drummer who pioneered Afro-jazz – By Val Wilmer

## External links

* Discogs – Bayo Martins
* WorldCat – "Martins, Bayo"
* zootcat channel, Nov 24, 2010 – Bayo Martins – Atoto  <small>Dedicated to the late great African jazz/trap drummer, BAYO MARTINS on the remembrance of his birthday, November 24th. Today!</small>