This is a good piece of news and thing of pride for all musicians and fans of juju maestro, Otunba Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye aka King Sunny Ade. On Thursday May 28, 2009 the King of World Beats moved upscale, transforming from a performing musician to a university lecturer.

•King Sunny Ade Photo: Sun News Publishing

Mores Stories on this Section advertisement

On that day, Sunny Ade was not only made the Faculty of Arts Distinguished Fellow but also appointed as Artiste in Residence by Professor Michael Faborode, Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

KSA says: “I dedicate the award to the music profession and to all musicians dead or alive. It was not only an award but I was appointed as a lecturer in Residence with an office of my own on the campus.”

But how would Sunny Ade earmark time for lectures in spite of his tight musical schedule? His response: “I have taken it as something I have to do. I have instructed my management to schedule time for lectures. I would lay emphasis on both theory and practical.”

Mr. Clement Ige, former journalist and consultant to Sunny Ade, said the artiste had scored a first by being made a lecturer in the premier university. “For Sunny Ade to be so honoured by a big university like OAU is a thing of joy and good news to all musicians. This is the first time OAU is appointing a professional musician as a lecturer. It is a well deserved honour considering Sunny Ade’s vast experience and exposure as a performing artiste.

He has a lot to impart in the younger ones. Now, it is mandatory that he should be going to Ife to lecture the students. For him, this is a big challenge,” he says.

On his annual world tour, Sunny Ade told Blockbuster that he’s jetting out of the country on June 10, and that the tour would take him to about 22 cities both in Canada and the United States.

“I am embarking on a world tour as from June 10. It’s not really a world tour because I am going to Canada and America while arrangements are yet to be concluded on the tour of Europe. But the good thing about this tour is that I am going to perform in 22 cities both in Canada and America. Also, I will be performing at the famous Hollywood Bowl. It will be the second time I am performing there, the first time was in the 1990s,” KSA states.