Ayan De First Performing and visual artist Contact us at: info@Ayanthefirst.com
Ayan Ayandosu AKA Ayan De First Achievements as a Visual Artist
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Ayan Ayandosu AKA Ayan De First Ayan Ayandosu, known as Ayan De First founder and artistic director of the Oduduwa Talking Drummers was born into a family of drummers and started playing with his father and uncles from the age of five. He attended a Methodist primary school from 1974 to 1979, a Baptist Secondary School 1979 –1984, the School of arts and design in the town of Ile Ife 1986-1988, and then a part time course at the African Studies department of Obafemi Awolowo University.
Having a natural talent for science, Ayan initially aspired to be a medical doctor or pharmacist. However, as his talent and passion for music continued to increase, it became apparent that he was destined to become a musician. Ayan later went on to study Arts and Design, which marked the start of his artistic career, which he combined with his love for music . In Nigeria, Ayan performed in many shows and concerts at a number of venues, and has also exhibited his beautiful paintings in both Nigeria and other countries such as Togo-Lome, Ivory Coast and Cotonou.
Ayan De First came to the UK in the early 1990s as a full time artist and has since given many concerts and shows in the UK, as well as educational workshops in over 500 schools within the UK and in Europe. Ayan De First attended Stockport college in 1991-1992,Camberwell College of Arts and the London College of Printing from 2002-2003.
Achievements as a Visual Artist Ayan De First started his career as an artist by attending an Art & Design course and then trained under Adeniji Adeyemi, a professional Osogbo artist of the Ori Olokun school of Art, formed by Professor Ulli Beier, assisted by Suzanne Wenger and his wife Georgina Beier.
He has worked at venues in England like the Horniman and British Museums in London, Preston Arts Project, the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, and Bradford Arts Centre. As the first Talking Drummer in Europe, Ayan’s photograph has been on display at the Horniman Museum, London since 1998.
Ayan De First has exhibited his artworks at many venues such as:
The venues Ayan has performed at include the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the British Museum, Ronnie Scott’s, the Royal Albert Hall and the African Centre. Ayan played his drum for Sir Richard Branson to dance to at London’s Heathrow Airport during the inauguration of Virgin Atlantic’s first flight to Lagos.and was privileged to play before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the Golden jubilee anniversary at the Buckingham palace.
The Queen and the Royal family were so impressed with his performance with the Oduduwa Talking Drummers during the Golden Jubilee anniversary that he received a certificate commending his excellent show. Afro Hollywood also presented him with an award in 2003 for the “Best Achiever and first and most recognised Talking Drummer in Europe”.
As well as being the first professional Talking Drummer in Europe, Ayan was the first to combine music with visual art, and formed the first ever Talking Drum troupe in the West in 1999, since when the troupe has gone from strength to strength. (See Oduduwa Talking Drummers’ Achievements).
Apart from his achievements with the Oduduwa Talking Drummers, Ayan was the first talking drummer to perform on BBC Radio, BBC1, ITV, Granada TV, Sky BEN TV, Sky OBE and Revelation TV. He also appeared in The Times with the former Northern Ireland Secretary, the Late Mo Mowlam, following an Oxfam fund raising event. He has also appeared in The Metro , the Evening Standard, and Time Out as well as a number of Nigerian magazines and newspapers.
Ayan De First performs yearly at the Afro Hollywood awards night with his cultural troupe for the Nigerian actors & actresses. He has also worked with Peter Badejo (OBE) of Badejo Arts, Bode Lawal (Sakoba Dance Company), Femi Elufowoju Jnr, and Tiata Fahodzi in their productions of ‘Ticket & Ties’ and ‘Makinde’.
Ayan can play his talking drum to any genre of music including Hip-hop, Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Soul, Pop, Rock, etc…. He has performed with Jeff Tain Watts (an American Jazz musician) and played on CDs by Baba Maal of Senegal and Dele Shosimi from Nigeria. Ayan has co-ordinated bands and performed with many top Nigerian singers, including, Queen, Salawa Abeni, Sir Shina Peters, Yinka Ayefele, Adewale Ayuba, Weird MC, Opelope Anointing, YK Ajao, Saheed Osupa, Shina Akanni and Wumi Soul2Soul. He has also performed with many Nigerian top stars in London including Jide Chord, JJC & 419 Squad.
Ayan has also played on the following hit CD’s
Ayan is also an agent for live bands including gospel, modern and cultural as well as wedding planners, caterers, cake bakers, clowns, MC’s, DJ’s, venue decorators and PA System suppliers. Whatever kind of event you are organising, Ayan will put you in touch with the right person/group to ensure that it is a success.
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