Top 10 Afro (Juju) and Highlife Musicians in Nigeria


Before the advent of Hip pop which has presently taken over the whole country, Afro-juju and highlife were widely celebrated throughout Nigeria from early 1950’s until late 1990’s. In recent times, hip hop music appears to be holding sway with the electronic media in Nigeria with massive airplay. The origin of this style of music was largely attributed to Ghana which later spread to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia and Nigeria via Ghanaian workers, among other West African countries, by the 1930’s. The music is often performed live with groups of singers and instrumentalists called a band. Nonetheless, Sunny Adé's musical output has continued to inspire a vast generation of other Nigerian and African musicians and music lovers who believe in the big band musical set up—which the likes of Osita Osadebe, Sunny Adé and late Fela Kuti were noted for.

So in no particular order here is the list of these musicians:

Fela Kuti
With his original name as Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, he became known widely as Fela. He was born on 15th October 1938 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Western Nigeria. He was born into well connected Yoruba family as his father, Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, was a Protestant minister and school principal and his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was a feminist activist in the anti-colonial movement. He is also the first cousin to the Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. He played for some time with Victor Olaiya and his All Stars after which he formed his own music group called Afrika’ 70.

With his well-connected background, there is no doubt Fela became more famous and popular with his style of music as he was the pioneer of the Afrobeat music in Nigeria and Africa. He was also a human right activist and used his music to publicly criticize the (then) corrupt military government and also to fight European cultural imperialism as he supported traditional African religions and lifestyles. His famous music single was Water E No Get Enemy. His famous albums include: Shakara (1972), Confusion (1975), Zombie (1977), The Best Best of Fela Kuti (1999) with major concerts like Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense & Berliner Jazztage '78 (Double Feature), 1984. He has been nominated for Grammy awards on three separate occasions.

In 1960, Fela married his first wife, Remilekun (Remi) Taylor, with whom he would have three children (Femi, Yeni, and Sola) and divorced all his 12 wives and concubines after release from prison in 1986.

Fela was a chronic chain smoker and died on 2 August 1997 from Kaposi's sarcoma, an AIDS-related disease.

King Sunny Adé
His original name was Sunday Adeniyi and he was born on 22nd September 1946 in Oshogbo, Ondo State of Western Nigeria to a royal Yoruba family. His father was Church organist and his mother was a market trader. Sunny is well known to be one of the most influential Afro-juju musicians as he was also a song-writer and multi-instrumentalist. He formed the group called African Beats which he later changed the name to Golden Mercury whose music was characterized with the use of Yoruba talking drum

With his Afro genre of music, King Sunny became the first African to be nominated twice for a Grammy. Notable amongst his music albums are Odu (1998). In 2009 King Sunny Adé was inducted into the Afropop Hall of Fame, at the Brooklyn African Festival in the United States and he humbly dedicated the award to the Late Michael Jackson.

Currently, King Sunny Ade runs his non-profit organisation called the King Sunny Adé Foundation, and is also working with the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria.


Osita Osadebe
His full name was Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, and he was born on March 1936 in Atani, Anambra located in Southeastern Nigeria. Chief Osadebe as he was popularly (because he is a titled high chief in Igboland) called is a singer-songwriter, and record producer and was also known as the father of Igbo highlife music. His music was influenced by his personal life experience, trials, and tribulations.

Chief Osadebe released his first album of his career in 1958 and later established his record label called "Polygram Records Nigeria." He went on to write over 500 songs; half of these songs were released commercially. Notable amongst his music albums are Kedu America

On 11 May 2007, Chief Osadebe passed away in St. Mary's Hospital Waterbury, Connecticut, USA after suffering from severe respiratory difficulties.

Dan Maraya Jos
His full original name was Adamu Wayya Maraya, and he was born in 1946 in Bukur, near Jos, Plateau State, located in North-central Nigeria. Dan Maraya whose name literally means “The Little Orphan of Jos” was widely known for his use of trademark Kuntigi (a small, single-stringed traditional lute normally oval-shaped sardine covered with goatskin) while performing his famous praise songs.

His songs were very famous in throughout the Hausa part of the country, as he was invited to sing in traditional gatherings, marriages and different other local and national ceremonies. His first and perhaps the most popular of his music is Wak'ar Karen Mota (meaning "Song of the Driver's Mate). Others include Jawabin Aure (meaning Discourse on Marriage), Auren Dole (meaning Forced Marriage), and Gulma-Wuya (The Busybody). Dan Maraya died on 20 June 2015.

Victor Olaiya
Victor Abimbola Olaiya was born on 31st December 1930 in Calabar, Cross River State located in Southern Nigeria. His Yoruba parents were Alfred Omolona Olaiya and Bathsheba Owolabi Motajo, who hailed from Ijesha-Ishu in Ekiti State. He was regarded as one of the pioneers of Highlife music in Nigeria as Alhaji Alade Odunewu of the Daily Times described him as "The Evil Genius of Highlife” has collaborated with the likes of Ghanaian highlife musicians including E. T. Mensah. Victor is also a trumpeter and group leader

Sir Victor is highly educated and formed his own band called the Cool Cats in 1954 and renamed the group to All Stars Band in 1963, which once had and trained some popular music icons like the drummer Tony Allen and vocalist Fela Kuti in his group. Popular of his music albums include Odale Ore b/w Mofe Muyon (1958), Olaiya's Victories (1961), Highlife Reincarnation(1981), Baby Jowo(Baby Mi Da)with 2face (2013).

Olaiya married many wives. He has children and grand children. One of his daughters, Moji Olaiya is an actress and his son Bayode Olaiya currently sings with him.

Fatai Rolling Dollar
Prince Olayiwola Fatai Olagunju was born on 22 July 1927 in Ede, Oyo State of Western Nigeria. He is a foremost Nigeria Juju and highlife musician whose trademark music was characterized by the use of guitar. He formed his eight-man band group called African Rhythm Band in 1957 and together they produced one of his greatest hit tracks called "Won Kere Si Number Wa." He once had the famous Ebenezer Obey in his band group and mentored him.

Rolling Dollar was married to three wives and had 16 children. He died at the age of 86 on 12 June 2103 after he was diagnosed with a lung cancer and was buried in his home at Ikorodu, Lagos.

Ebenezer Obey
Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi was born on April 3, 1942, in Idogo L.G.A of Ogun State located in Western part of Nigeria. He is also amongst the pioneer Juju musicians in Nigeria as he was popularly nicknamed the "Chief Commander". Ebenezer formed his own band called International Brothers in 1964 whose playing style is characterized by Yoruba percussion style and use of more drum kits, guitars, and Yoruba talking drums. However, Ebenezer somehow got converted and switched to full gospel music in the early 1980’s.

His popular songs include Ewa Wo Ohun Ojuri (1964), Ija Pari I (1971), Joy of Salvation (What God Has Joined Together) 1981, Count Your Blessing (On the Rock) 1990, Good News (1993) and others.

Ebenezer got married to his wife Lady Evangelist Juliana Obey-Fabiyi in 1963, who later died at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on 23 August 2011 at 67years and together they have several children and grand children.

Oliver De Coque
The man who people normally say he resembles the great Ikemba, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu (who lead the Biafran Army during the Nigeria Civil War), was born on April 14, 1947, in Ezinifite, Anambra State in Eastern Nigeria to Igbo parents. He is one of the most famous Nigeria’s Igbo Highlife singers, songwriters, musicians or guitarists whose songs are praise songs for individuals and social clubs. He formed his band group called Ogene sound super of Africa, which blended modern high life and traditional Igbo music. His famous songs include a song dedicated to a powerful and popular club called People’s Club of Nigeria which consists of the richest men in Igboland, Apprecitaion, Egwu anyi Si Na Mmiri, Baby Don’t Cry, Odiri (2002), Nwa bu Nwa (1976) and others.

Oliver De Coque married many wives with many children and his 32-year-old son, Darlington nicknamed Safin De Coque is also a musician but unlike his father, he does Hip Pop. Oliver died on June 21, 2008, at the age of 61.

I.K Dairo
Isaiah Kehinde Dairo was born in 1930 in Offa, Kwara State in Western Nigeria. Dairo rose to fame shortly after he formed his musical group called the Morning Star Orchestra in 1957. His band made use of unique musical instruments like the double toy, akuba, ogido, clips, maracas, agogo(bell), samba (a square shaped drum) and an amplified accordion, which was played by Dairo making him the first high-profile musician to play the accordion.

His popular music includes Mo ti yege, Yoruba Solidarity, Erora Feso Jaiye, Salome 92, Ashiko (1994). Dairo died in the year 1996 at a tender age of 39.



Sir Shina Peters
Oluwashina Akanbi Peter was born on May 30, 1958, in Ogun State, western Nigeria. Sir Shina Peters as he was commonly known is an afro-juju musician whose style of play is described as a rhythmic collaboration of both Afrobeat and juju with the use of guitars and other local musical instruments which pierced Ethnic, Cultural and language barriers in Nigeria. He was said to have changed and revolutionized the Juju Music scene in Africa with his band group called International Stars which he formed in the late 1980’s. He has over 16 music albums which have led him to tour the shores of South Africa, Europe, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy and United States. Notable among them are Ace, an Afro-Juju Series 1 (1989), Shinamania (1990), Dancing Time (1991), Kilode (1995), Pay Back Time (2005).

Sir Peters is currently signed to Orbit Entertainment, a USA agency in New York that he co-owns.

https://spinditty.com/genres/Top-10-Afro-Juju-and-Highlife-Musicians-in-Nigeria

Also in the class



Sir Victor Efosa Uwaifo:


Prof. (Sir) Victor Efosa Uwaifo (M.O.N) was born on 1st of March 1941 in Benin City, Nigeria. He attended Western Boys High School in Benin City and St. Gregory’s College, Lagos between 1957 and 1961. He started playing the guitar at the age of 12 and his earliest popular music influences came from listening to gramophone records of Spanish and Latin American music.

While in school, Victor Uwaifo led a number of school bands, he played for Victor Olaiya’s all stars band in Lagos on contract. He won a scholarship as the best student at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos where he studied Graphics between; 1961 – 1963. On graduation, Victor Uwaifo worked with what is now Nigerian Television Authority before forming his own band, the Melody Maestros in 1965. It was the band that stormed Japan Expo 70 and FESTAC 77.

He recorded many songs as a solo artiste between 1960 and 1965. These include “Oko no mu me”, “Police and Akugbe” and many others. His major break however came when he signed onto Philips (West Africa) label in 1965. Victor Uwaifo and his Melody Maestros had great hits like Siwo-Siwo, Guitar Boy and Joromi which were very popular in Nigeria and the West African sub-region in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Due to their popularity, a Ghanaian fabric was nicknamed Joromi , while Guitar Boy was used as a code name for a military coup in Ghana in the 1970s. Joromi; a song based on the story of a legendary hero in Benin history, won a gold disc award, the first in Africa in 1966. Of equal significance also is the song Guitar Boy which narrates his encounter with a mermaid one night at the Lagos bar beach in 1967. He immortalized the experience not only in song, but also with a sculptural representation of the mermaid and his guitar, constructed in a water pool at his Revelation Tourist Palazzo in Benin City.Victor Uwaifo also invented the double neck “magic guitar” with 18 strings which he can rotate 360 degrees at the speed of sound.

Victor Uwaifo and the Melody Maestros had several national and international performance tours. He represented Nigeria at the Black Art Festival in Algiers in 1969 and at the African Common Wealth Festival, London in 1973. Victor Uwaifo also toured Ghana, Abidjan, the United States of America, Japan, Europe and the former United Soviet Socialist Republic.

In 1971, Uwaifo opened Joromi Hotel in Benin City and also established a television and recording studio where he produced the famous Victor Uwaifo shows in the late ‘70s and ‘80s.
In 2007, the Nigerian Television Authority celebrated his 50 years on stage. Victor Uwaifo is still very active in the performing circuit. He is currently experimenting with a fusion of hip hop and Highlife music in an album titled Colabo 2012 featuring younger Nigerian musicians like Tuface Idibia, Dare Art Alade, Henry Sax, Tobi Adegoke, Kunle Ayo and Ekhator Osas. Other of his latest albums include mixed grill (Ala Carte), Titibiti Expo, Yo-Yo-Yo, Old Wine in New Bottle, Musical Memories ‘60s and ‘70s and Lost and Found. Victor Uwaifo remains a versatile artiste and a living legend getting better with time and age.

He is a trustee of the Performing Musicians Associations of Nigeria (PMAN) and President of the Superstars and Elders Forum of Edo State and Justice of the Peace (JP). He has inspired a whole generation of Nigerian musicians. The legendary Sonny Oksouns had his apprenticeship under him.
To give life and works an enduring legacy, Victor Uwaifo has a rich presence on the internet as well as a museum of “sight and sound” at his Revelation Tourist Palazzo, Benin City.

His extra-ordinary talents as a sportsman, fine artist, sculptor, technologist, innovator, multi-instrumentalist, musician and more recently an academician sets him apart as a rare breed, whose ingenuity has sustained his musical practice since the 1960s.

Prof. (Sir) Victor Uwaifo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine and Applied Arts (First Class Honors and Valectdictorian, 1995) and a Master of Fine and Applied Arts University of Benin in 1997; an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the same University in 2009. He was appointed a visiting professor to the American Heritage University, California, U.S.A. in 2009. He is also a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters.

At over 70 years of age, Sir Victor Uwaifo has continued to contribute to professionalism and scholarship as a lecturer at the University of Benin. He also runs the Victor Uwaifo music Academy.

For his contributions to the development of the creative arts in Nigeria, Victor Uwaifo was awarded the Nigerian National honor of Member of the Order of the Niger (M.O.N) by President Shehu Shagari in 1983. He has over 500 songs and 100 records to his credit, with 6 Gold and 4 Silver awards.








Rex Lawson:

Nicknamed “Cardinal Rex,” the Nigerian bandleader and trumpet player Rex Lawson died tragically at the height of his career as the country’s most popular highlife musician. Born in 1935, Lawson became afflicted with smallpox at a young age and was neglected by his father, who thought he would die like his three siblings. Having survived the disease, Lawson went, at age twelve, to Port Harcourt, where he worked as a bandboy (roadie-cum-personal assistant) for Lord Eddyson’s Starlight Melody Orchestra. He played with myriad bands until forming his own, Mayor’s Dance Band, later known as the Rivers Men. By 1965, Lawson had written over 100 songs and his group dominated the Nigerian highlife scene. During this period, Lawson became known for his enthusiastic performances and for featuring the saxophone (as opposed to his own instrument, the trumpet) in long solo phrases. From July to September 1970, Lawson traveled with his band to England and had a series of successful concerts. Recorded on Rex Lawson in London, this period was marked by a shift toward socially and politically charged material. The next year, Lawson died in a car accident, after which his group continued to perform as the Professional Seagulls. Posthumously, Lawson’s songs were regularly covered by a wide range of artists and his home city, Port Harcourt, honored him with a Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFilIFOlZe8

https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/person?docid=person_rexLawson&st=

Dan Maraya Jos , I dey enjoy his music , Ebeneezer too ,

Prince Nick Mbarga


better known as Prince Nico Mbarga, was a highlife musician, renowned for his hit song “Sweet Mother”, recorded with his band Rocafil Jazz.

Sung in Pidgin English, “Sweet Mother” became one of the top sellers in the history of Nigerian music. The statue is sited on the border road of Ikom and overlooks the road heading towards the Nigeria/Cameroon border, a symbolic message to the music legend’s dual nationality of the two countries.

The late singer’s son, Nico Mbarga jnr., who made this known in a statement said the statue in Ikom reiterates






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mecNrIaWOA

1. Fela Kuti


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbLAIz-LjM4



2. King Sunny Ade



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fIzasVGSck




3 Chief Osita Osadebe



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiZozFgBoVw

4.
Sir Victor Uwaifo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6wsGVUdwgk


5. Fatai Rolling Dollar



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqGHVt_Cd7w



6. Oliver De Coque


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2y2bTWg-Ko

Men wey sabi

Quote me anywhere.....Dx men's songs are evergreen.

Any old chune from any of them sounds fresh when played ...They know what music is all about

No lagbaja??


call for our 444Wh lithium-ion solar generator that could power your TV, laptop, standing fan and up to 4 lighting points for up to 13 hours daily

Airforce1

They are all legends...

k

Its advisable to always read through an article before you make any comment but make I no lie, I no read am because e too long

When we still had musicians and prophets....


All we got now are lousy yeyebrities and simps

Gb

King sunny Ade owns a radio station in Ondo, it's called M&C radio house

To me shina peters is still the best

You people forgot to mentioned Dino Melaye

nawao

Baba Fela is always on top of the list!!!

Hmm

Great Men of the Old religion

Where's Sir warrior, bright Chimezie, Oriental brothers and even Chimuanya Ayakata Bongo?

Where Lagbaja na... robosky02 no do gra gra for me oh!

Fela Kuti the GOAT...

If Afro(Juju) is piano, Fela is the key... He ruled Afro juju without using juju.. But his weed...

king Sunny Ade
Ebenezer obey
Segun Adewale
Oliver Dr coque
Osadebe

Inkosl:
Terry G

Lol,

V

Fatai Rolling Dollar remains my favourite