Ayan De First is a Multi Award winner and Global Cultural Icon. He is  a versatile performing and visual Artist as well as the first recognised Talking drummer in Europe.

Our Role model for this week is also The CEO of Oduduwa Talking Drummers Limited,Cultural Heritage Showcase and ADF School of Arts and Culture.He was born to a family of Drummers and started his career as an apprentice by performing with his Dad and Uncles at the early age of five.

His ambition as a science student was  to become a medical Doctor/Pharmacist which was distorted by his talent and love for music.

An increase and demand for cultural performances prompted him to change his career from studying  Medicine  and Pharmacy related disciplines  to Arts, design & graphic studio skills course. He was brought to the UK as a cultural promoter in community & private schools and  has so far worked with up to 600 private & community schools,  the feed back has been overwhelming with so many reference letters and evaluation forms.

He also works hand in hand with different Boroughs/Councils to deliver different projects to promote community cohesion and inclusion in UK.
Besides his services in schools in Britain,he started his performances in London one day in 1993 when he was financially down,forced to perform in two underground stations.and subsequently performed for the Labour Party UK in London.  He later performed for Sir Richard Bramson(Virgin Atlantic),Lord Mayor of London,Former Nigeria president Retired,Abu Bakar, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,Prince Charles and Camila Parker Bowles( Duchess Of Cornwall) at St Jame’s Palace,former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam and lots of Dignitaries.

Ayan De First has also appeared on all British Television Channels & CNN, as well as in British and Nigeria national and local newspapers and Magazines.

He broke a record to be the first African Talking entertainer to perform for Her Majesty The Queen And The Royal Family at Buckingham Palace London during Golden Jubilee celebration.

He then later performed for HRH Prince Charles & Duchess of Cornwall Camila Parker Bowles at St James’s Palace & in Croydon London.
He became the first African performer to entertain guests on Channel 4 programme called ”Come Dine With Me”. He has exhibited his Artworks and performed at different recognised venues and festivals across Europe.

He also works hand in hand with Boroughs/Councils in the UK on different projects. With his relentless  passion for African Cultural Heritage he recently founded a yearly Global cultural event called ” Cultural Heritage Showcase”.And the first event was held in London in 2014.

Ayan De First has performed with different Artists globally including King Sunny Ade,Sikiru Ayinde Barrister,Adewale Ayuba,Saheed Osupa,Salawa Abeni,Yinka Ayefele, Abass Obesere and Jeff Tain Watts American Jazz musician.

He has featured on a  few famous CDs in Nigeria,”Mi o mon peju ogun laye by Micho Ade,Festival of Love,Brown Sugar by Jide Chord ,Ijo Ya by Weird MC.

He has 16 Awards with loads of certificates and medals to his name.

Contact information for Ayan de First

Moblie: 07956482148, 07960877447