Laolu Senbanjo

Laolu (Olaolu) Senbanjo, also known as "Laolu NYC", is a Nigerian visual artist, musician, singer-songwriter and former human rights attorney.

Early life Senbanjo was born and raised in Ilorin, Nigeria by Yoruba parents. His father was a lawyer, his mother was a nurse. He grew up performing in his church's choir. While in school he had a music group called Light and Fire which performed original songs and covers.

Senbanjo studied law at Nigeria's Law School and, despite wanting to drop out during his second year, received his degree in 2005. He then worked as a human rights lawyer for five years, spending his final three years working at the National Human Rights Commission as a senior legal officer focusing on women and children's rights. Senbanjo travelled to different parts of Northern Nigeria visiting schools and villages to educate men and women about why children should be in school.

"I knew if I pursued a career in the arts, I'd have to live with the fact that some people in my hometown might never talk to me again", said Senbanjo in an interview with 99U. Senbanjo says his Nigerian roots are a major source for his visual inspiration. Though his visual references have been described as sharing "affinities with Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring".

He has had commissions from and formed partnerships with, celebrities and brand titans including Nike, Beyoncé's album Lemonade, the Grammy Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. which he describes and explains in an 11 September 2017 TED talk. In his TED talk, Senbanjo talks about his work Dreamscape. In Laolu Senbanjo's 2018 print, Dreamscape, he reflects his frustration with the injustice in the world. Working as a human rights attorney, he saw cases with children who faced the harsh reality of getting forced into marriage or continuing their education at a university. Some of the print's "major themes include religion, war, politics, technology, Egyptology, sexuality, economics, environmental waste, media, history, music, greed and human nature."

Selected exhibitions and talks

December 2014: Three shows at Art Basel Miami. May 2016: His exhibit "Sounds of Africa" opens at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA in collaboration with BET. September 2016: Laolu performs " Creation as a Ritual: Performing Disguise", a live art installation featuring three dancers and live musicians, at the Brooklyn Museum.

Art appearances in selected music videos Senbanjo and his Sacred Art of the Ori Ritual has been featured in various music videos, including: April 2015: "Come with me." by South African Black Coffee (DJ) April 2016: Sorry from Beyonce's Visual Album, Lemonade September 2017: "Big Bad Soca" by Bunji Garlin February 2018: "Catch Your Eye" by Jussie Smollett ft Swizz Beatz October 2019: "LA CANCIÓN" by J Balvin x Bad Bunny

Brand collaborations Senbanjo has been invited to collaborate with several brands, including: Nike invites Senbanjo to become a Master of Air and create a T-shirt and sneaker design for Nike Air Max 2016, for sneaker enthusiasts. BVLGARI Man in Black Essence limited edition Cologne bottle Limited-edition packaging for Starbucks Espresso Roast, also available as a ceramic double-wall tumbler, 2018 Belvedere Vodka Limited-edition bottle, 2018 NYC Fashion week Apple Inc., 2019 Target Corporation, 2019 Essence cover with Serena Williams, 2019 Facebook Lift Black Voices Artwork, 2020 Instagram Barclays Center

Music Senbanjo is a world music artist who draws influences from Fela Kuti, Sade (singer), Bob Marley, and King Sunny Adé. He is a singer, producer, and guitarist. His musical style is deeply rooted in the traditions of Afrobeat and High Life, mixed with Afro-Soul and Reggae. Senbanjo blends singing in his native Yoruba language and often translates Yoruba folks songs, proverbs and his oriki into English.

Work with Beyoncé on Lemonade Laolu Senbanjo was contacted by Beyoncé's company, Parkwood Entertainment to work on the visual album Lemonade. In an interview with Essence Magazine, Senbanjo states that "[Beyoncé] told me what I did with the body art, what I did with my shoes and jackets was so unreal." He painted the faces and bodies of the dancers and Beyoncé, which can be seen in the Sorry music video. In the video, Beyoncé and other women have their faces painted in Ori, a Yoruba tradition, done by Senbanjo.