Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

JUJU

An African genre from Yoruba-speaking Western Nigeria, a guitar-based music which developed in '30s from older 'palm-wine' styles: Gombe, Ashiko, Konkoma. The term itself originated then and is usually associated with Tunde King. Further development occurred '40s as leaders like Ojoge Daniel and Ayinde Bakare played at major ceremonies and other functions, often honouring notable people in their songs. Added instrumentation varied from accordion and mandolin to percussion. I. K. Dairo added elements of highlife '50s--60s but gradually electric guitars took over; from mid-'60s 'Miliki system' of Ebenezer Obey, the pioneer of modern juju, grew in popularity. Nigerian Civil War boosted the style, causing the return to Eastern Nigeria of leading highlife musicians, so that by the early '70s juju had completely eclipsed highlife in the West. Leading exponents in the '70s--80s were King Sunny Ade, Segun Adewale, Dele Abiodun and Idowu Animahsaun. Later juju groups ranged in style from traditional to modern, always with two or three guitars in harmony, bass, percussion, and the omnipresent talking drum, a steady dance beat allowing improvisation on all instruments; juju always absorbed new ideas and keyboards, Hawaiian guitars and synthesizers have been used. Juju also had a strong religious and moral bias. Following the successful showcasing of Sunny Ade in the early '80s, the light and spacey feel of juju became the first African style to acquire an international following; with an endless capacity to adapt and a talented new generation waiting in the wings, its influence continued.