{"id":368,"date":"2021-02-06T10:53:14","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T10:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/entertainment\/?p=368"},"modified":"2021-02-06T10:53:14","modified_gmt":"2021-02-06T10:53:14","slug":"banky-ws-prolific-careers-scandals-and-personal-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/entertainment\/2021\/02\/06\/banky-ws-prolific-careers-scandals-and-personal-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Banky W\u2019s Prolific Careers, Scandals And Personal Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Banky W is dubbed the \u2018King of African R&B\u2019, a versatile singer, producer, actor and politician.<\/p>\n

Early Life<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Banky W<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Olubankole Wellington, widely called \u2018Banky W\u2019 was born on March 27, 1981 in New York City, United States of America. His father, George Bankole Wellington, hails from Badagry, Lagos and his mother, Mrs Wellington (also called Mommy W) from Calabar, Cross River State.<\/p>\n

Banky W has four siblings – three brothers and a sister. His sister, DeeDee George, is the co-founder of The Urban Marketplace (TUM) Showcases and Events. Funmi Wellington, his brother works at KPMG, where he works as an Advisory Associate, but he also hosts events and works as a DJ. Another of his brother, Kema Wellington, works as a Trader\/Investor at Kema Investments. The youngest brother Temi Wellington is an Account Manager at a company called Atradius. He also dabbles in music under the nickname DJ Aux Cord (not to confuse with another DJ with a similar name).<\/p>\n

In the early years of Banky W\u2019s life, they all lived in the US, but they moved back to Nigeria, when he turned five years old.<\/p>\n

Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Banky
Banky W<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Banky W attended Corona Primary School, Home Science Association Secondary School and Ajao Secondary School all in Lagos.<\/p>\n

He returned to the US for college and studied Industrial Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, RPI, in New York. When he was a junior year in RPI, he started writing, producing and hitting the studios. Later, he attended New York Film academy for a short course in Directing\/Filmmaking and another course in Screenwriting.<\/p>\n

Music Career<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Banky
Banky W performing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Banky W began his singing career at age 8, he won the Albany Idol competition which brought him to the fore in his music career. He went on to establish the Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E.) in order to project his music more.<\/p>\n

In 2013, he dropped his debut album, Undeniable, it was sold on the internet and from the trunk of cars. The success of his marketing strategy got Fox 23 News New York to cover him and this got him a distribution deal with Trans World; one of North America\u2019s largest music distributors.<\/p>\n

The song later became one of the top selling independent record, which won Banky the 2003 R&B\/Soul Artiste of the Year at the Urban Independent Music Awards. Some of his other albums include; Back in the Building (2005), Mr. Capable (2008), The W Experience (2009) and R&BW (2013).<\/p>\n

Banky W moved to Nigeria in 2008 with the aim of promoting African music to the world and dominating the Nigerian airwaves with mind blowing songs. He has since gone on to release several beautiful songs till date. He is a Philanthropist, he founded the \u201cI am Capable\u201d Scholarship fund which provides tuition, room, and board for indigent undergraduates who met the foundation\u2019s requirement. He is also in the fore front of the Light up Nigeria project aimed at achieving steady electricity power supply in Nigeria.<\/p>\n

Banky W announced in February 2018 that E.M.E was dissolved as a record label; he said the label is now a talent management company focused on creative marketing, advertising, PR and brand events. Banky W named DJ Xclusive, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru, and his wife Adesua Etomi as the first set of clients of the rebranded company.<\/p>\n

Acting Career<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Banky W has featured in several movies such as; The Wedding Party (2016) and The Wedding Party 2 (2017)<\/p>\n

Political Career<\/strong><\/h2>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/KGjtTTlotSk<\/p>\n

Banky W made a bold political statement at the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria. On November 11, 2018, Banky W declared his intention to run for the Lagos’ Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, representing on the platform of Modern Democratic Party, formed in 2017.<\/p>\n

Breakout Songs<\/strong><\/h2>\n