|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZABENI, Queen Salawa(b 1965, Nigeria) Singer-composer in the Waka style (see Fuji); a prodigy, establishing her local reputation by age eight, her first album The Late Murtala Mohammed '77. She gained fame singing in Yoruban, her hard-edged vocals against typical backing (by the New Waka Group) of talking drums and percussion; 12 albums followed on Leader including Ikilo and Challenge Cup '82, Adieu Alhaji Haruna Ishola was widely available outside Nigeria. Her backing group then called the Waka Modernisers left her for her rival Kubarat Alagagbo '84; she bounced back the same year with hit Indian Waka. |