Bukola Elemide (born 17 September 1982), professionally known as Aṣa is a Nigerian – French multi-award-winning singer, recording artist, songwriter, and performer. Her stage name Asa pronounced “Asha,” is a Yoruba phrase for Hawk. Her musical prowess is outward; she is proficient with the trumpet, guitar, and vocals. Her father influenced her love for music, as he had an elaborate collection of classic acts such as Diana Ross, Erykah Badu, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, and Marvin Gaye.

EARLY LIFE

Asa was born on 17th September 1982 in Sign Virgo, Paris. At the time of her birth, her parents were studying cinematography in France. Elemide is the only female child in the family alongside 3 brothers. When she was two, her family relocated to Nigeria, so she grew up in Lagos state. After 18 years, she returned to Paris and began her music career.

Asa is a Yoruba woman by tribe, but she does not speak it fluently. She hails from Itoko Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria. Asa started life in Paris, France, and when she was 2 years old, her parents relocated to Lagos, South-Western Nigeria. She was the only girl out of four children, and she has three brothers. Asa’s parents were frequently away, so she tended to her little brothers. Her family attended the Celestial Church of Christ (White garment Church).

Life in Lagos did not go well with her, and it was a city where the rich, poor, Muslims, Christians, and hustlers lived together amidst love, hate, laughter, and violence. Lagos was little New York, and if you must venture into the music in Nigeria, you first must penetrate the Lagos Market. Although Asa was a lonely child while growing up, she was different, and music was her best friend. She would go to the park with her brothers, dance, and sing, but she took refuge in an imaginary world she alone lived in.

She felt out of place in a strange world that does strange things to be happy; the singer was mocked, laughed at, and even ostracized by the church choir. However, she fought against rejection and struggled through the ups and downs of societal standards that were bizarre to her. Finally, she found solace in music, and it became the love of her life.

 

 EDUCATION

Asa attended the prestigious Corona High School in Lagos. She spent her formative life in Jos, Plateau State, Middle Belt, Nigeria, and attended Federal Government College Jos, where she got her West African Senior Secondary Certificate. Upon her return to Lagos at the age of 18, she lived with the harsh reality of her parent’s divorce. She also studied Theatre Arts and Music at Lagos State University. However, she dropped out as a Diploma student, spending a little over six months as the curriculum clashed with her Saxophone lessons class with Peter King’s Musical School in Badagry Lagos, where she majored in Guitar for a year. At age 20, after completing her primary, secondary, and university education, she returned to France to study at the IMFP school of Jazz. In 2004, while she was 22 years old, Asa met her manager and friend Janet, who introduced her to Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo that partnered with her to make music. Her genre of music is Pop, Alternative, and Jazz. Regarding her looks, she grew dreadlocks as an inspiration she got from Bob Marley. Asa was nominated for the 2011 Female Artist of the Year award at the French Music Awards.

CAREER

The award-winning singer drew her first musical inspiration from her father’s music collection while he worked as a cinematographer. The collection included the music of Fela Kuti, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, King Sunny Ade, Miriam Makeba, Diana Ross, and Nina Simone.

Elemide attended Peter King’s School of Music where she learned how to play guitar in six months. In 2004, she met Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, a songwriter and producer through her manager and friend, Janet Nwose. Cobhams thereafter became the producer of her debut studio album ‘Asa’.

At the age of 20, Asa went back to France to study at the IMFP school of Jazz music. To her surprise, her teachers told her to go on with her recordings because she was qualified and needed no schooling. In 2007, she took up the challenge and recorded her first single in Nigeria, ‘Eye Adaba’. Eye Adaba interpreted as a dove is a solemn song full of hope, prayers, and a cry for peace in the country. In no time, the song gained worldwide acceptance and applause.

Afterward, Asa got signed to Naive Records. She worked together with Cobhams, Christopher Dupuoy, and Benjamin Constant to produce her first platinum album named after her, Asa. In an interview with Funmi Iyanda, Asa said that Angelique Kidjo is her mentor.

PERSONAL LIFE

Asa has always appeared to be single, or at least that is what she has convinced people to believe. However, there is little information regarding which person she has dated, is dating, or will date. She noted that her fans think she is uptight, but that is not the case; she stated that she is a product of good parenting and society.

Asa was a shy person and a tomboy while growing up, perhaps because she was the only female amongst three boys. In 2013, Asa was reported to be a lesbian and her manager Janet Nwosu was her alleged lover. She denied the allegation and went as far as suing the media house that published the news for libel. In 2014, she revealed that she has finally found the love of her life. However, it is not known if the lover is male or female.

In 2015, she stated in an interview that she lost her virginity at age 28. Also, in 2015, in an interview, she said she found love and was dating a handsome Englishman whose real identity remains unknown. We only know he is an entrepreneur and was the inspiration behind her track “How Did Love Find Me.” A picture of them backing the camera and facing the beach surfaced on Instagram.

 

NET WORTH

Asa is currently one of the wealthiest and most influential singers, recording artists, songwriters, and performers in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of about $28 Million