Bankole Wellington
Olubankole Wellington (born March 27, 1981) is a Nigerian-American musician, rapper, actor, entrepreneur, and politician better known by his stage name Banky W and credited in film as Banky Wellington.
Profile
Name: | Olubankole Wellington |
Date Of Birth: | 27 march, 1981 |
Born: | New York City (United States) |
Profession: | Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Rapper, Politician |
Status: | Active |
Children | 1 |
Early Life
Olubankole Wellington was born in the United States to Nigerian parents on March 27, 1981. When he was five years old, his family returned to Nigeria. He began singing in his church choir at an early age.
Education
Wellington attended primary and secondary school in Lagos before being awarded a scholarship to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, USA.
Career
While studying in 2002, he founded the musical label Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He worked at GlobalSpec as well.
In 2009, he left the United States for Nigeria and founded his record company in Lagos by signing Niyola, Shaydee, Skales, and Wizkid.
In 2005, he released his debut studio album, Back in the Building.
His debut record was titled Ebute Metta. He composed the first anthem for Etisalat Nigeria, entitled “0809ja for life.”
The day after Valentine’s Day in 2013, Wellington debuted his new album “R&BW” with a show titled “Grand Love Concert” at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, which also included Iyanya and Waje. The album’s first two singles are “Lowkey” and “Yes/No.”
In
E.M.E Crashing
In February of 2018, Wellington revealed that E.M.E was dissolving as a record label; he stated that the label would continue as a talent management firm focusing on creative marketing, advertising, PR, and brand events. According to Wellington, the first clients of the relaunched company were DJ Xclusive, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru, and his wife, Adesua Etomi.
Other partnerships
In 2017, Wellington participated in the initialing of Iyasile Naa, commonly known as The Legacy, a huge collaborative artwork.
Political Career
On 11 November 2018, Wellington declared his intention to run for the Lagos Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the Nigerian House of Representatives on the banner of the newly-formed Modern Democratic Party.
On February 23, 2019, Wellington lost the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency Elections to All Progressive Congress candidate Babajide Obanikoro.
Prior to the 2023 general election, Wellington revealed that he had defected from the Modern Democratic Party to the Peoples Democratic Party, vying for the party’s nomination to run for the Lagos’ Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the Nigerian House of Representatives.
Personal Life
Wellington wedded Adesua Etomi in a traditional ceremony on November 19, 2017; their white wedding took place in South Africa on November 25, 2017
In 2017, he successfully underwent surgery for skin carcinoma on his shoulder. Early in 2021, Wellington and Adesua gave birth to a boy. They kept the pregnancy a secret, surprising many with the birth announcement.
Albums
- Back in the Building (2006)
- Mr. Capable (2008)
- The W Experience (2009)
- R&BW (2013)
EPs
Undeniable (2003)
Playlists
2017: Songs About U (2017)
Compilation albums
Empire Mates State of Mind (2012)
Singles
- Jasi 2013
- Jaiye Orimi 2014
- High Notes
- All I Want Is You feat. Chidinma 2015
- Cash Only As featured artist 2015
- Made for You 2016
- Onyeuwaoma As featured artist 2016
- Mi Re Do (Cocoloso) feat. Stonebwoy and Shaydee 2016
- Selense feat Mercy Chinwo 2021
Filmography
- The Wedding Party (2016)
- The Wedding Party 2 (2017)[28]
- Up North (2018)
- Sugar Rush (2019)
Net Worth
Olubankole Wellington, better known by his stage as Banky W and credited as Banky Wellington in the film, is a Nigerian musician, actor, entrepreneur, politician, and former owner of the now-defunct EME Record company with an estimated net worth of $5 Million.
He remains one of the most bankable celebrities in Nigeria and is a brand influencer and ambassador for numerous major global businesses such as 9Mobile (formerly Etisalat), Samsung, Uber, and others, earning millions of Naira in the process.