Nigeria ’s fastest rising R&B singer, Maya Hunta popularly known as Ekaette ( Ekaette is the title of his latest single) is finally ready to release his new album. He revealed this to Rhythm & Sounds few days back. The act who returned from South-Africa to promote his songs has no doubt received massive acceptance from every sector of the society. He has become a darling to both the old and the young. For the past three months, there has been no day his music does not enjoy generous rotation on different television stations. He has shown through his lead single that he is here to stake a claim since his explosive entrance into the music scene.
Real Names Olumayowa Adekunle Odejimi, Mayé is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. His surname Odejimi, in Yoruba language means the “crowned hunter”. Instead of using the word “hunter” he put a twist to it and made it Hunta – which is more African.
Maye once got three nominations at Channel O Music Video Awards such as Video of The Year, Best West African Video and Best Reggae Dance Hall Video. Since he returned into the country, he has been getting invitations to perform at different shows. He performed at Rhythm Unplugged last year December, Dynamix Awards Pre-Award party, to mention but a few. All these performances are part of the build up for his new album.
His soon to be released album is titled MAYEFESTATION which he explained as the manifestation of Maye. “The title of my album came to me as an inspiration. With the talent in me, I knew I’m going to be unstoppable in music. By the time I release my album, people would actually know the kind of stuff I’m made off. So the title of the album which is Mayefestation simply means the manifestation of Maye”, he explained.
His new album is going to contain 14 tracks and two skits featuring Sound Sultan, ID Cabasa, Tosin Igho and Male from Swaziland . He is currently signed to Made Entertainment.
Mayé 's love for music dates back to his childhood days (he was a member of a boy group called Basic Boyz as well as the Pentecostal Church choir), but it was only in 1998 that the music bug bit him and he decided to take it up as his career. At the age of 13, Mayé and his group members co-wrote their first song titled 'Who Is She?' and even though the song was never recorded it made a mark in his life. He crossed over to South African shores to further his education in 2002.Throughout this time music was still his biggest priority and so he took his demo to major labels and it eventually caught the attention of an A&R executive at Gallo Records. He was then offered free studio time to record another demo at Gallo Records’ “Down Town” studios in Newtown, Johannesburg. Negotiations for a record deal based on the demo were in the pipeline but this never happened as the said official left the company.
Things changed for the better when he met fellow Nigerian, songwriter, producer and Kora and Channel O Music award winner- Kunle Odutayo who went on to become his close friend and producer. He also met another fellow Nigerian, Channel O’s DJ Waxxy. Together Mayé, Kunle and Waxxy went on to form a synergy.
In late 2004 Mayé joined the band 'Kunle Ayo' as a back up vocalist and they have since performed at major jazz festivals around South Africa, such as the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, sharing the stage with heavyweights like Dave Koz, Kirk Whalum, Hugh Masikela and Richard Bona, just to mention a few. This inspired the rising star to pick interest in the acoustic guitar. Although not a master of the guitar yet, playing around with the instrument inspired him to write most of the songs that will be on his new album. Though no definite date yet for the release of the album, he said the album will hit the shelves in a matter of weeks.
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