Entertainment
Sammy Sodeke: Drumming from church to global stage
In an era increasingly dominated by solo artistes and Djs, Aristos Band, a 35-member live ensemble is quietly positioning itself as one of Nigeria’s most formidable live music outfits.
At the center of it all stands Sammy Sodeke aka Sammy Sho, the bandleader and saxophonist whose journey began in the church.
“I started in church,” he recalled, smiling at the memory. “I was a young drummer before graduating to keyboards.”
After secondary school, Sodeke joined iconic Afrobeat musician Lagbaja as a keyboardist while studying Microbiology at the Lagos State University.
According to him, the experience shaped more than just his musicianship.
“Lagbaja is very disciplined. He made me understand that you can’t go far without dedication and passion.”
Touring the world with Lagbaja in the early 2000s exposed Sodeke to diverse audiences, genres and performance standards. Yet even while performing on global stages, he was quietly building his own vision, Aristos Entertainment.
Today, the outfit operates a full band structure that includes engineers and administrators, with up to 15 musicians performing on stage at major events.
“Maintaining a live band is not easy,” he admitted. “Rehearsals are constant because the only competition we have is ourselves. We just want to get better at every shows.”
The band’s sound fuses African rhythmic intensity with modern and classic global influences, from Nigerian melodies to international sounds.
“We can play R&B, highlife, hip-hop and even rap. But when you hear that blend of heavy percussion and saxophone, you know it’s Aristos,” he said.
Since officially launching in 2008, Aristos Band has performed at high-profile corporate events, weddings and for leading political and business figures.
At the just-concluded 9th African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA), the band staged an ambitious 80-man ensemble performance that drew widespread acclaim.
In recent years, Aristos Band has taken its sound beyond Nigeria, touring the United Kingdom and Canada with a United States tour currently in the works.
In a bold move rarely attempted by live bands in Nigeria, Aristos also staged its own standalone concert tagged ‘Life of the Party’ during last year’s Detty December festival.
“That concert was historic. We were one of the first live bands to headline our own show,” Sodeke, who’s 2023 City People Music Awards recipient, expressed..
According to him, the next edition of ‘Life of the Party 2.0’ is scheduled for December 17, 2026. “We have a pack of surprises for our fans, including tours, new singles and performances. Whether you’re 18 or 80, we have something for you.”
