Fuji music

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Fuji
Stylistic origins
Were music
Cultural origins
1960s Nigeria
Typical instruments Drums, harmonica, vocals
Derivative forms Apala Music
Regional scenes
Nigeria
Fuji is a popular Nigerian musical genre. It arose from the improvisational Ajisari/were music
tradition, which is a kind of music performed to wake Muslims before dawn during the Ramadan
fasting season. Were music/Ajisari itself was made popular by Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.

Contents

1 History
o 1.1 Modernization
o 1.2 Continued growth

2 Notes

3 External links

History
Were music/Ajisari, traditionally, was an Islamic type music played by the Muslim children in
Yorubaland to wake the faithful for fasting or Suhur during Ramadan period. This musical genre
was made popular by Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara, the deceased who based in Ibadan,was the
"awurebe" founder and Ganiyu Kuti, a.k.a. "Gani Irefin".[1]
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 the sakara drum but without the violin-like goje instrumentwhich 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.
Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister is the creator of Fuji Music, one of the variations of were/Ajisari
musical genre.[2] The name, "Fuji," chosen for the new musical genre was conceived in a rather
funny and unusual way. According to Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister: "I came up with it when I
saw a poster at an airport, advertising the Mount Fuji, which is the highest peak in Japan." Fuji,
in this context, should not be mistaken for the Yoruba word "fuja," or "faaji," which means
leisure or enjoyment. "Onifuja" or "Onifaaji" is Yoruba for a socialite, or one who relishes leisure
or enjoyment.
Fuji music is an offshoot of were/Ajisari musical genre. In one of his early LPs, which he used to
chide the unreasonable critics who dubbed his creation "a local music," Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde
Barrister explained that "Fuji music is a combination of music consisting of Sakara, Apala, juju,
Aro, Afro, and gudugudu, possibly highlife." Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister did a tremendous job
of popularizing his craft by taking it all over the world; he started touring the European
continent, especially Britain, since the early 1970s. Also, he first brought his trade to the North
America, particularly the United States of America in 1984. All these tours happened before any
subsequent Fuji players ever left the shores of Africa.
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.

Modernization
Since the early 1980s, Alhaji Kolynton Ayinla (Baba Alatika or Kebe-n-Kwara) is a name to be
reckoned with as far as fuji music is concerned. Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Barrister before he changed
his name to Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, has gradually emerged (with hits such as "Talazo
Fuji", 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 artist, Adewale Ayuba, dabbled into

Fuji music and took the nation by storm in the early 1990s. He managed to give off a vibe of
class, though Fuji music was more popular among Yoruba Muslims, as opposed to Juju music.
His brand of Fuji, termed "Bonsue Fuji", was clean,lively, and appealed to young and old alike as
it was not hard to accept. Ayuba clearly did an excellent job by staying away from any feud with
any other musician. He still performs till date and has many followers. Another artist that
emerged in the early 1990s was Abass Akande Obesere(Omo rapala),who brought lewd street
slang called "Asakasa" into the Fuji scene. He became popular with the street type and even the
educated buy and hide in their cars and rooms to listen to his music. Generally, the lyrics are in
Yoruba. Due to its popularity with young Nigerians, Fuji is now the main hook lines of Nigerian
hip-hop music.

Continued growth
Popular modern Fuji musicians in Nigeria include (Sir) Shina Akanni, Alhaji Rasheed Ayinde,
Adewale Ayuba, Abass Akande Obesere (PK 1);Otunba Wasiu Alabi,(Oganla 1, Pasuma
Wonder); Alayeluwa Sulaimon Alao Adekunle Malaika(KSA), King Dr Saheed Osupa (His
Majesty), Shefiu Adekunle Alao (Omo Oko), Sule Adio (Ataww), Wasiu Ajani, (Mr. Pure
Water), kanayo, Taiye Currency, Alhaji Komi Jackson, Tajudeen Alabi (Istijabah), Remi
Aluko(Igwe fuji), Muri Alabi Thunder, Karube Aloma, Karubey Shimiu, Adeolu Akanni (Paso
Egba), Shamu Nokia, Bola Abimbola, (Quintessential) Sunny Melody, Olusegun Ologo and
Segun Michael.
Today, fuji music has continued to attract younger generations; there are now over 10 fuji singing
kids (such as Shanko Rasheed, Wasiu Container, Konkolo Wally G, Global T, Muri Ikoko etc.,)
that are doing well in the industry. In this generation of singers, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, known
as (KWAM1 or K1 De Ultimate), has been the most recognizable name in the genre since the
mid - to late 1990s and in the late 1990s the trio of Wasiu Alabi Pasuma (Oganla fuji), Alayeluwa
(King) Sule Alao Malaika and King Saheed Osupa are dominating the scene till present. Wasiu
Ayinde marshal worth 500 billion naira

Notes
1.
W. Akpan, "And the beat goes on?", in M. Drewett and M. Cloonan, eds, Popular Music
Censorship in Africa (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2006), ISBN 0-7546-5291-2, p. 101.
1.

Unknown facts about Sikiru Ayinde Barrister

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/117934-unknown-facts-aboutsikiru-ayinde-barrister-by-olayinka-olaribigbe.html#sthash.sZUtB1FO.dpbs

External links

africasounds.com - "FUJI BUBBLE" by Hortense Fuller

All About Nigerian Music Industry

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Nigerian styles of music

Yoruba music

African popular music

Popular music

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