Apr 12/05
Were Transformed
Nigerian “fuji” music, named after the Japanese mountain symbolizing love, has taken many forms over the years. I posted some rather hard-core fuji a while back and several of you pointed out that this wasn’t the kind that you were used to. Today we’ll check-out a better known musician, Adewale Ayuba. He plays a brand of fuji called bonsue named after his band, the Bonsue Fuji Organization.
Fuji is the Nigerian Muslim north’s answer to juju music from the south. It mixes traditional Yoruba, Were and Arabic singing styles with high-speed drumming on hand palm drums (Omele), metal percussion instruments (Agogo), tambourines (Saworo) and gourd shakers (Sekere). It’s wildly popular in Nigeria and dominates many nightclubs across the country.
Today’s selection is the opening track off Ayuba’s album, Formula. I couldn’t read the name off the photocopied jacket, so if you know it please post a comment.
I picked this CD up in Lagos during the big fuel strike of 2003. Because there were no buses or cars on the roads to get people from A to B the traffic was better, the area boys were fewer and the crowds in general disappeared. The downtown markets and neighbourhoods, normally a no-go for Oyibo (Yoruba slang for white people), were open to explore. I found a few gems at some generator-powered music stores/stands in the near-empty streets.
Tags: fuji, lagos, nigeria
tune! Don’t know the name though, sorry to be useless. Thanks for the link to the nigeria village square too – hadn’t seen that before!
Ayuba is a very great artist whom i respect so much.The album tilted formular contains alot .I love it.
It all about the best. To me Ayuba is the best musician in my life. I listen to his songs everytime of the Day. Thanks Brother, Benn…
[...] “Back in April you posted the opening track from Adewale Ayuba’s Formula and asked if anyone knew the title. Well, having now acquired the cassette version, I can pass on the complete track listing: [...]
Ayuba is the best musician in my life because i always listen to his music and is also my favourity ,i will also like to meet him one day.
Ayuba is simply the best in Nigeria today
I just wants to know the recent ADEWALE AYUBA website.
Hello uncle Wale,
Am one of your best fan that you could ever get I love your music so much to the extent dat if am in the toilet, bathroom, washing clothes inshut anywhere i sing your song especially Ijo fuji and Turn me on Ilove this two music becoz they are just too wonderful.
sorry i didnt finish my mail before sending it as i was saying i love your music more than anything. am a muslim, and am an IT student working with NIGERIAN AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT AGENCY (NAMA) Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja lagos.I will appreciate it if you can reply this mail.do have a wonderful day.
Se e n gbawe sa ejoo o adua ni ida mumini
RAHMADAN KAREEM.
MAS- SALLAM
Shakeerah Sanusi
YOU ARE THE BEST NIGERIA FUJI MUSICIAN NOW APART FROM THE TWO GOD FATHER BARRISTER AND KOLLINGTON,YPOR SYLE OF FUJI IS FAR DIFFERENT FROM THE REST.YOU ARE NOT THAT LOCAL LIKE THE USE OF PASUMA,OBESERE OR SAIDI OSUPA.AYUBA YOU ARE GRATE.KEEP IT UP AND ALWAYS RESPECT YOUR FANS AND YOUR FELLOW MUSICIAN.
l ma crazy about the music of Alao Maliaka, Pasuma and most especially that of Osupa but very disaapointed to have heard that he is going out with a woman who’s ex-husband is currently in jail in Britain. there are a lot of young promising girls here in Nigeria and even in europe. Saidi Osupa should be very careful so that all this Gold digger woman should not spoil his image.
From Marseille
France
Bobo you are too much. I just love your style,your music and your band. you people are too much. I dont listen to fuji music but I do that because of you because you play reasonable song. I love all your music. Keep it up and dont join those that behave like tout always be yourself, to keep your dignity for your fans’ sake.
Sorry I dont know if you can send your latest album to my mail or my phone number 08057681485 or janetbabayemi@yahoo.com.I will appreciate it if you can do that. Thanks.
Please send me King Saheed Osupa’s Mail
Does anyone know his phone number, like his booking office number.
[...] recommend checking out these Benn Loxo posts, complete with extraordinary comments, here, here, here and here, to see what kind of passion Matt generates in his audience. Also highly worth a read is [...]
I love the kind of music you a playing,because it queit different to the other. KEEP IT UPPPPPPPPPPP. I LOVE U,because you an ijebu man. From ODOGBOLU OGUN STATE, NIGERIA. AFRICAAAAA