{"id":118047,"date":"2023-01-12T12:44:24","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T10:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/?p=118047"},"modified":"2023-04-13T17:14:47","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T15:14:47","slug":"the-birth-of-fuji-fantasia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/the-birth-of-fuji-fantasia\/","title":{"rendered":"The birth of fuji fantasia (1\/3)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the most popular indigenous genres of music in Nigeria is fuji music. Fuji music began as a socio-cultural movement in the South-West region of Nigeria in the early 60s, when Nigeria had just gained its independence, and has since travelled beyond its borders. Primarily known for its percussive and up-tempo style, fuji saw its popularity rise with Owambe parties, powering dance floors all over metropolises from Lagos to Ibadan. Fuji evolved from “were” music, an improvisational style similar to a Muezzin\u2019s call to prayer, which was performed in the \u201850s to keep Yoruba Muslims entertained in the wee hours of the morning during the holy month of Ramadan. The uptempo beat ensured they didn\u2019t fall asleep before eating Sahur (a meal consumed before dawn). For those who were asleep, were music roused them from their slumber in time for Sahur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Were” (pronounced as wayray) music, also known as “ajisari” or “ajiwere”, was invented and popularised by musicians like Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara (also recognised as the founder of awurebe music) and Ganiyu Kuti (aka Gani Irefin) in Ibadan. The music was performed in groups by ajiwere singers who paraded the streets in the middle of the night and sang with unrestrained enthusiasm. As were music became popular between the \u201850s and \u201860s, various were groups sprang up in different cities across western states of Nigeria. In the boroughs of Lagos, specifically in Isale Eko (Lagos Island), Mushin and Oyingbo, ajiwere groups were being formed such as Jibowu Barrister and Band, Sikiru Olawoyin and Band, each group having its distinct style of music and performance. These groups adopted the use of local instruments such as the sekere, agogo, sakara and bembe to invigorate their singing. One of the factors that sparked the popularity of were music in the ’50s was seasonal competitions held during the month of Ramadan as were was only performed during Ramadan. It was from these competitions that Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister emerged, gaining notoriety for his prodigious singing talent. He won many of these competitions with ease, and in no time, different were groups proposed that he join them as lead singer. Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister\u2019s new were style caught the attention of music lovers as he infused his lyrics with Quranic recitations, which appealed to the majority Islamic audience. He was also the first were performer that employed the use of the harmonica (commonly known as the mouth organ) and flute in his music. It was his idiosyncratic approach to were that led to the birth of fuji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"
Young Ayinde Barrister<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ayinde Barrister is said to have come up with the name “fuji” after he saw a poster advertising the popular Japanese tourist attraction, Mount Fuji. It was while working between a range of jobs from a typist to a clerk in the military that Sikiru Ayinde Barrister had his eureka moment. He decided to create a this new genre, fuji, so he could continue to perform music outside of the Ramadan season. His plan worked. Within a few years, Barrister\u2019s records were heavily rotated on the streets and in the homes of music listeners. He soon became a household name and gained a reputation for his brilliant use of poetic Yoruba lines to craft lyrics on life, wealth, women, death, politics, and poverty. On records like Fantasia Fuji<\/em>, he croons, \u201cBi\u2019ku se lagbara to ko so\u2019loogun to le ri ti\u2019ku se,\u201d which translates to \u201cDeath is so mysterious and powerful that no shaman can provide any charm to prevent it.\u201d He became especially famous in the \u201870s and \u201880s, releasing a handful of studio albums and recordings of live shows and toured America and Europe where fuji music had just begun to receive global attention. Towards the late \u201880s, Ayinde Barrister also began to blend early elements of hip hop with fuji – using hip hop flows and rhythm – after he returned from his international tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n