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 “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 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 an acrnonyms for “Faaji”, pleasure or entertainment which is none other than when Ebenezer Obey sang “Miliki” system.

WERE music should not be confused with FUJI MUSIC. Unlike Fuji Music, Were music was never a professional or career music. WERE music which is PURELY A MUSLIM MUSIC PERFORMED TO WAKE MUSLIMS BEFORE DAWN DURING THE RAMADAN FASTING SEASON was NEVER played outside this the Ramadan season.

It was Dr Sikiru Ayinde who first named his MUSIC Fuji (not a WERE style) thus giving him the right to be the FUJI MUSIC CREATOR. The name - fuji - was conceived in a rather funny and unusual way, according to the legend himself,. Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister once said that he came up with it when he 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," meaning leisure or enjoyment. ("Onifuja" or "Onifaaji" is Yoruba for 'a socialite, or one who relishes in leisure or enjoyment').

It was the acceptance of his new brand of music by the public that made others who were once WERE singers to follow suit and started calling their music Fuji.

• It was Sikiru Ayinde who first waxed an album labelled FUJI, • It was him who gave the meaning of his creation (Fuji Music) as "combination of music, consisting of Sakara, Apala, Juju, Aaro, Afro, gudugudu, Highlife ", • It was him who defended his handiwork when Fuji music was being called a local sound. • It was him who took Fuji music out of the shores of Nigeria to other parts of the world

Sadly, lately; controversy has been gathering around Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister's authority as Fuji Music Creator. Some says it was Jibowu Barrister and some says it was Saka Olayigbade who created Fuji Music. The fact is:

• Jibowu "Captain" Barrister was not even a singer but the leader where Sikiru Ayinde Barrister was the lead singer of the WERE/AJISARI group. • Saka Olayigbade NEVER PLAYED FUJI MUSIC, he started playing “SAKARA” after he stopped performing “WERE”

The confusion and controversy came as a result of people's failure to differentiate between WERE MUSIC and FUJI MUSIC.

• WERE/AJISARI was a once in a year event that took place in the muslim's month of Ramadan, ONLY SANG BY MUSLIMS. • FUJI Music is a carrer/professional music. • Saka Olayigbade and other “WERE” pioneers started playing SAKARA after they stopped performing "WERE", • Dauda Epo Akara created his own brand of music called "AWUREBE" after he stopped performing "WERE". • Dr Sikiru Ayinde created his own brand of music called FUJI after he stopped performing "WERE

It is important to point out that Dr Sikiru Ayinde is not one of the Pioneers of WERE/AJISARI (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. Many of these "WERE" pioneers did not make career out of music after they stopped playing WERE, those who did (Saka Olayigbade, Kasali Alani & Co) started playing SAKARA MUSIC; they NEVER played Fuji. NONE OF THESE "WERE" PIONEERS EVER CLAIMED TO HAVE CREATED FUJI MUSIC.

Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister fully recognised that “WERE” pioneers were his elders in the “WERE” Music kingdom and accorded them due respect accordingly. He onced waxed a record, "Iba fun gbogbo agbagba ti n be ni le yi ninu oni “were”, e je ko yemi Ayinde Ade o oba orin". He mentioned the names of the likes of Sikiru 'omo' Abiba, Ajadi Ganiyu, Ayinde Muniru Mayegun, Ajadi Bashiru, Sikiru Onishemo, Kawu Aminu, Kasali Alani 'Jolly Lawa', Saka Olayigbade, Ayinla Yekinni, Bashiru Abinuwaye showering them honour; and requested that they should let it be well with him

It is important to mention that Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister as a war-injured was posted to Armed Forces Resettlement Centre for rehabilitation, though playing part-time and was already releasing albums. By 1976, when he fully discharged from the Nigeria Army - launching himself into full-time studio recordings and party performances at the advice of Ebenezer Obey - he was already the sole star in the forefront of the pack, churning out hits after hits. His success undoubtedly made Fuji music as a mainstream genre in the mould of other Yoruba popular music such as Apala, Sakara and Juju in particular. The popularity blossomed particularly amongst party-goers, socialites and business tycoons.

After Barrister, other Fuji musicians started emerging. Some of them former "WERE" performers and others purely joining the Fuji trend. Around the turn of the decade, Alhaji Ayinla Kollington, himself a discharged soldier-turned-singer and hitherto somewhat lesser-known, also started gaining ground - having broken into the local dancing charts, aided by introduction of traditional Yoruba bàtá drum in part, and particularly open feuds followed by challenges in some of the lyrics launched in his regular abusive and vulgar recordings particularly against Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. Kollingnton Ayinla's craving and struggle for equality with Sikiru Ayinde barrister still rages on till today.

Between 1970 and throughout 1980s, many talented FUJI singers, joining Sikiru Ayinde on the Fuji scene made some noticeable impacts in the party scenes. These included Kollington Ayinla, 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 (before he changed his name to "Marshall,") and also the Ibadan quatro of Suleiman Adigun, Sakaniyau Ejire, Rasheed Ayinde, and Wasiu Ayinla.

Fuji music grew steadily popular throughout the ensuing two decades, especially internationally thanks to the original exploits of the FUJI Creator , Dr Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister himself -- who performed it to foreign audiences first (UK, 1978 and USA, 1985/6). It got to the extent that it almost edged out Juju music locally in terms of popularity were it not for the unrelenting efforts of Nigerian superstar King Sunny Ade, as Juju music declined dramatically with the exception of grand old names like King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey.

At a point, there was a rumour of a brief professional "beef" between Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and King Sunny Ade. It is on record that throughout the late 1970s and until late 1980s, its creator and trademarked flagbearer, Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, was the musician to beat, as many other popular musicians/singers in the country (Late Ayinla Omowura, Dr. Orlando Owoh, Alhaji Ayinla Kollington, etc.) took turns to take a swipe at him. Fuji music as a distinct Nigerian genre was synonymous to the sole name of Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister for the most part of these decades, thus earning him – doubtless and appropriately – “MR FUJI”

Since the early 1980's, 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 parker and notably as his road manager- He served under Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister for 15 years). Marshall's style evolved through the early 1990's 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.

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, Female alike, Muslims, Christians alike 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 has a Fuji Music ambassador could not be left out in Fuji genre.

Popular modern Fuji musicians in Nigeria include (Sir) Shina Akanni, Adewale Ayuba, King Saheed Osupa, “Otunba” Wasiu Alabi, (Pasuma Wonder); Alhaji Abass Akande Obesere; Konkolo, Shefiu Alao (Omo Oko) Wasiu Ajani, Mr. Pure Water, Bola Abimbola, 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, has been the most recognizable name in the genre since the mid - to late 1990s.

ALL FUJI MUSICIANS are indebted to the Fuji creator; Dr Sikiru Ayinde barrister, the debt of gratitude, honour and respect. After all, as the saying goes; honour must be given to whom it is due. Long live Fuji Music!!!

[edit] References

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