Banky W.
Olubankole Wellington (born 27 March 1981), popularly known by his stage name Banky W and credited in film as Banky Wellington, is a Nigerian-American singer, rapper, actor, entrepreneur and politician. Early life. Olubankole Wellington was born in the United States on 27 March 1981 to Nigerian parents. His family moved back to Nigeria when he was five years old. He started singing at a young age in his church choir. Education. He schooled in Lagos for his primary and secondary education and returned to further his tertiary education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York on a scholarship . He started his record label E.M.E in 2002 while studying. He also worked at GlobalSpec and would sing very loudly with his headphones on. In 2009, he left the US for Nigeria and established his record label in Lagos where he signed artists like Niyola, Shaydee, Skales and Wizkid to the label at the time. His breakthrough debut studio album, "Back in the Building" was released in 2005. His debut single was Ebute Metta He wrote the first theme song of Etisalat Nigeria titled "0809ja for life". 2012–2013: "R&BW". The day after Valentine's Day of 2013, Banky W launched  his new album "R&BW" with a concert tagged the "Grand Love Concert" at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, which featured several other artistes including Iyanya and Waje. The first two singles from the album are "Lowkey" and "Yes/No". 2017: Dissolution of E.M.E. Banky W announced in February 2018 that E.M.E was dissolved as a record label; he said the label is now a talent management company focused on creative marketing, advertising, PR and brand events. Banky W named DJ Xclusive, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Tolu 'Toolz' Oniru, and his wife Adesua Etomi as the first set of  clients of the rebranded company. Other collaborations. In 2017, Banky W participated in the initiation of a monumental heirloom, the "Philosophers Legacy". Political career. On 11 November 2018, Banky W declared his intention to run for the Lagos' Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in Nigeria's House of Representatives, on the platform of Modern Democratic Party, formed in 2017. On 23 February 2019, Banky Wellington lost the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency Elections to Babajide Obanikoro of the All Progressive Congress. Ahead of 2023 general election, Banky W announced that he had decamped from Modern Democratic Party to Peoples Democratic Party , seeking the party's ticket to again vie for the Lagos' Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in Nigeria's House of Representatives. Personal life. He married Adesua Etomi traditionally on 19 November 2017 and subsequently did his white wedding in South Africa on 25 November 2017. He had a successful skin cancer surgery on his shoulder in 2017. In early 2021, Banky and Adesua had a son. They kept the pregnancy a secret from the world and everyone was caught off guard when they heard of the arrival of the new baby.