Fuji music
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Fuji is a popular Nigerian musical genre. It arose from the improvisation Ajisari/were music tradition, which is a kind of Muslim music performed to wake believers before dawn during the Ramadan fasting season. Were music/Ajisari itself was made popular by the likes of Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara, the deceased Ibadan-based "awurebe" founder and Ganiyu Kuti or Gani Irefin.
[edit] History
FUJI MUSIC is a popular Nigerian musical genre. Most Fuji musicians had the background of “WERE” music which is PURELY A MUSLIM MUSIC PERFORMED TO WAKE MUSLIMS BEFORE DAWN DURING THE RAMADAN FASTING SEASON. “WERE” music was NEVER played outside this season as it was not a professional music. “WERE”/“AJISARI” music itself was made popular by the likes of Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara, the deceased Ibadan-based "awurebe" founder and Ganiyu Kuti or Gani Irefin
The Muslim community in Lagos metropolis (Lagos Mainland and Lagos Island) had a sizeable number of “ajiwere” acts. These early performers drew great inspiration from Yoruba Sakara music style (using sakara drum but without the violin-like goje instrument—which is normally played with an accompanying fiddle). The long list of notable Isale Eko (lower lagos city) “ajiwere” performers during the early Independence years included Sikiru 'omo' Abiba, Ajadi Ganiyu, Ayinde Muniru Mayegun a.k.a. "General Captain," Ajadi Bashiru, Sikiru Onishemo, Kawu Aminu, Jibowu Barrister (under whom Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister performed), Ayinde Fatayi, Kasali Alani, Saka Olayigbade, Ayinla Yekinni, Bashiru Abinuwaye, etc.
Varying styles were beginning to evolve by this time, and it was not unusual for a few to play mouth organs (harmonica) between “ajiwere” interludes within their compositions. Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister was the lead singer/composer of the popular ajisari group, Jibowu Barrister, under the leadership of Alhaji Jibowu Barrister (mentioned above). Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and other young “ajiwere”” "rocked" Lagos and its environs.
On the Lagos Island, Saka Olayigbade; a leader of a WERE group sang a style of WERE and tagged it “Fuji Lawa”, Kasali Alani also sang a style of WERE and tagged it “Jolly Lawa”, these were new slangs for “Faaji”, the Yoruba word for pleasure or entertainment. This introduction of slang words was a very common (and still is) practice by musicians to differentiate themselves. Other slangs of the time include when Ebenezer Obey sang “Miliki” system, and King Sunny Ade sang "Sweet banana".
Growth
Dr. Sikiru Ayinde claimed to be the first to name the MUSIC Fuji even when Saka Olayigbade had already came up with a name call "Fuji Lawa" claiming the right to be the FUJI MUSIC CREATOR. Barrister claims "Fuji£ was conceived in a rather funny and unusual way, stating he came up with it when he saw a poster at an airport, advertising Japan's Mount Fuji, which is the highest peak in Japan. "Fuji," in this context, should not be mistaken for the Yoruba word "fuja," or "faaji," meaning leisure or enjoyment as mentioned above. ("Onifuja" or "Onifaaji" is Yoruba for 'a socialite, or one who relishes in leisure or enjoyment').
Fuji music grew rapidly and was accepted by the public, other Were singers soon follow suit and started calling their music Fuji. Fuji music is a transformed Were; it is the combination of music, consisting of Sakara, Apala, Juju, Aaro, Afro and Gudugu and it has been played around the world.
Controversy regarding the creator of Fuji music has consistently been raging around Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, who dubbed himself as the Fuji Music Creator; substantial number of people do agree with his claim to thanks to the popularity of his songs. Some say it was Jibowu Barrister and some say it was Saka Olayigbade who created Fuji music, especially since it was Saka Olayigbade that first came up with the name "Fuji" .
Dr. Sikiru Ayinde is not one of the pioneers of Were/Ajisari music (although he started playing Were when he was 10 in 1958) but the likes of Sikiru 'omo' Abiba, Ajadi Ganiyu, Ayinde Muniru Mayegun a.k.a. "General Captain," Ajadi Bashiru, Sikiru Onishemo, Kawu Aminu, Jibowu Barrister (under whom Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister performed), Ayinde Fatayi, Kasali Alani 'Jolly Lawa', Saka Olayigbade, Ayinla Yekinni, Bashiru Abinuwaye.
Another popular act of the time, Alhaji Ayinla Kollington, himself a discharged soldier-turned-singer also started gaining ground, he transformed fuji by introducing jazz. Having broken into the local dancing charts, aided by introduction of traditional Yoruba bàtá drum in part. Kollingnton Ayinla believes Barrister's claim of fuji creator is a fraud and never regards him as a senior figure in the industry, as it is customary for new acts to respect existing stars.
Between 1970 and throughout the 1980s, other fuji musicians included Fatai Adio, Saura Alhaji, Student Fuji, Rahimi Ayinde (Bokote), Ramoni Akanni, Love Azeez, Waidi Akangbe, Sikiru Olawoyin, Agbada Owo (who prematurely experimented with the guitar), Iyanda Sawaba, Ejire Shadua, Wahabi Ilori, Wasiu Ayinde Barrister (he later changed his name to Wasiu Ayinde Marshall) and also the Ibadan quatro of Suleiman Adigun, Sakaniyau Ejire, Rasheed Ayinde, and Wasiu Ayinla emerged, all introducing their versions of Fuji music. Of all these, Wasiu Ayinde (Barrister) Marshall rose to the top, later becoming trumoing bothe Kollington and Barrister, the two top contenders of the time. Marshall was able to do this because he introduced more vulgar terms and rhythms that appealed to a younger crowd. He also kept his music fresh by refusing to enter the feud raging between the top two, who had abandoned lyricism and turned their energy toward discrediting the other.
It is worthy of note that Barrister's controversial claim as the creator of fuji music attracted swipes from many other popular musicians/singers in the country (Late Ayinla Omowura, Dr. Orlando Owoh, Alhaji Ayinla Kollington, etc.) perhaps because Alhaji Ayinla Omowura has also claimed to play fuji music even before the first waxed album of Barrister in 1976 implying that "fuji" might actually mean "faji".
Modernization
Since the early 1980s, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Barrister (before he changed his name to Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall), has gradually emerged (with hits like Talazo 1984) after tutelage under Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, -- Marshall had served under Barrister in different roles such as his instrument packer and notably as his road manager. He served under Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister for 15 years. Marshall's style evolved through the early 1990s as he added youthful vigour to it. By the end of the 1990s, his brand of Fuji had become one of the most popular dance genres in the country. Another act, Adewale Ayuba, though more of a Juju musician, dabbled into Fuji style and also took the nation by storm in the early '90s. He managed to give off a vibe of class, though Fuji music was deemed for the lower class among Yorubas, as opposed to Juju music. His brand of Fuji, termed "Bonsue Fuji" was clean, and lively, appealed to young and old alike and was hard not to accept. Ayuba clearly did an excellent jjob of staying away from any feud with any other musician. He still performs today and has many followers.
By and large, the lyrics are in the Yoruba language. Due to its popularity with young Nigerians, Fuji is now featured alongside Nigerian hip hop music. It has found inroad into gospel circle. It is sung by male and female alike, Muslims, Christians and ethnic religions irrespective of the tribe they come from. Sunny T Adesokan is one talented modern Fuji artistes but not a Yoruba by tribe. He has recorded many albums; he tagged to all his albums a special prayer track that made him unique among others to his fans. Sunny T Adesokan popularly called "Omo 'Nna", is from Rivers State of Nigeria, settled in Mushin area of Lagos, proved his talent among Yorubas that’s of the same job. Sunny T Adesokan as a Fuji music ambassador could not be left out in Fuji genre.
Of note is Salawatu Abeni, perhaps the only female Fuji singer to ever produce actual records, learned under Kollington as they were married for a number of years. Salawatu Ibiwunmi Abeni, branded her version of Fuji as "waka". She was also know as "Waka Queen". Kollington branded his form as "Alatika". As musicians tend to do, Salawatu informed the listening world of her relationship with Kollington thru her music.
Continued Growth
Popular modern Fuji musicians in Nigeria include (Sir) Shina Akanni, Adewale Ayuba, King Dr Saheed Osupa, Otunba Wasiu Alabi, (Pasuma Wonder); Saidi Osupa (Saridon Papa), Alhaji Abass Akande Obesere; Konkolo, Shefiu Alao (Omo Oko) Wasiu Ajani, Mr. Pure Water, Remi Aluko, Muri Thunder, Sule Alao, Sule Atawewe, Karubey Shimiu, Shanko Rasheed.
Today, fuji music has continued to attract younger generations; there are now over 10 fuji singing kids (such as Shanko Rasheed, Wasiu Container, Kokolo, Global T, and etc.,) that are doing extremely well in the industry. IN THIS GENERATION OF MUSICIANS, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, known as KWAM1 (King Wasiu Ayinde marshall the first), has been the most recognizable name in the genre since the mid - to late 1990s.
Many fuji musicians show their indebtedness to all fuji musicians they perceive as senior colleagues in Fuji music.
Otunba Wasiu Alabi, (Pasuma Wonder); who happens to have a popularity among the Nigerian youths, escpecially in Lagos. A Kwara born residence of Omole Estate. Pasuma stated his music career in late 80's and has recorded many albums including Recognition, Mr. Machine, Orobokibo, etc.
[edit] External links
- africasounds.com - "FUJI BUBBLE" by Hortense Fuller
