When Amayikowan Osadolo finds himself on the road driving through an area with no radio signal he says that’s a good time to meditate. He says it’s a chance for a melody to come to him, sometimes the baseline comes after then the beat, music comes naturally to Osadolo.

Osadolo, who is also known as Ju Drum, was offered the opportunity to play the drums for Femi Kuti, a Grammy-nominated musician, on his tour. Music is Osadolo’s life, he writes and produces about his experiences in Nigeria and uses his platform as a voice to raise awareness. 

Osadolo creates AfroReggae music about his life in Nigeria, experiencing political issues, police brutality and protesting. Coming to America felt like a chance to be free until Osadolo learned that the land of the free wasn’t what he expected. 

“People are getting kidnapped in America, Black people are getting shot at in the street and that keeps happening in Nigeria too,” Osadolo said. 

In Nigeria, people are killed for not giving police money when they ask and Osadolo compares these types of situations to the violent treatment of Black people in America. Osadolo says it’s because of the way we look that police become insecure. “They should be protecting, not hurting us,” Osadolo said. 

“Seeing everything happen you know all happening right here, it’s hard not to come out and say something,” Osadolo said. “Being a musician having that platform is very important. You can say things and spread a message, it’s very powerful.”