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Tag: Fuji

  • Fuji: A house of commotion?

    Fuji: A house of commotion?

    Barely two years into what seemed to be relative peace in the house of Fuji, one of Nigeria’s most popular music genres, the familiar ruckus among the practitioners has returned and in full blast.

    Despite appeals and moves to ensure the Fuji genre of music is devoid of beef, an unending ruckus seems to be rearing its head at every given opportunity.

    It is believed that cracks in Fuji artists’ relationship fanned by lyrics spewed in mischief or anger have consistently been the ruckus among Fuji practitioners.

    Another reason for consistent ruckus in Fujidom has been researched to be the battle for supremacy. For Fuji music practitioners, battle for supremacy could stem from age differences to musical titles – which are mostly self appointed.

    From the early days of the late Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Fuji legend and the widely acclaimed progenitor of the Fuji genre, the ruckus has always been there. In his days before he passed on, Barrister was constantly at loggerheads with his friend turned arch-rival, Alhaji Kolawole Ayinla aka Kollignton. Both legendary singers would engage each other in battle of songs and waxed several albums with full backing of their numerous fans that spread across the South Western part of Nigeria.

    Until the passing of Barrister, he was either engaging in a public or musical feud with Kollignton at one time or the other.

    While the late Barrister was alive, he had a protege, who began his career under his tutelage. The protege, Wasiu Ayinde Omogbolahan aka K1, pledged his allegiance and found his feet in the industry under the supervision of the late Barrister.

    K1, who began his career with the full awareness of the ruckus in the industry also had other contemporaries, who were jealous of his relationship with Barrister. Hence, he was quickly drawn into the Fuji House of Commotion, even before he could make his major hit album, ‘Talazo 84.’

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    In the mid 90s, a group of journalists in Ibadan, Oyo state awarded K1 with the title of King of Fuji, while Barrister and Kollignton were alive. This move spited Barrister, who began acting cold towards K1. Seeing this, K1, unknown to many, decided to mend ways with Kollington, who was known and perceived as his mentor’s rival, and this led to issues between Barrister, who in turn awarded Saheed Osupa the king of Music for his lyrical dexterity and composition.

    Fuji musicians, like other music stars in different genres, have contemporaries. While Barrister and Kollington were contemporaries, K1 was contemporaries with some other less popular singers until Shina Akanni aka Scorpido, Abass Akande Obesere hugged fame with their respective hit albums.

    Then came the years of Sulaimon Atawewe, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Sule Alao Malaika, Saheed Osupa, Sandoka, and Sunny T, who made waves, hit albums and inherited the ruckus as they all seemed to be battling for superiority and getting self-acclaimed titles to back them up.

    For many years until four years ago, the battle for supremacy in Fujidom has remained a common knowledge but after many appeals, K1 led the move to ensure peace in the genre.

    The instituted peace saw to the berth of corporate patronage of the Fujidom with the inauguration of ‘Fuji: A Opera,’ and Sikiru Ayinde Barrister Colloquium in honour of the late progenitor of the genre.

    However, hostilities have since resumed to the genre with Taye Adebisi aka Taye Currency blazing the trail by hitting at Wasiu Alabi Pasuma over who is superior.

    Just when the dust of Currency and Pasuma was clearing off, Saheed Osupa hit K1 with another brewing feud.

    However, some followers of Fujidom claim that beef in the industry should be a constant one as it allows for stiff competition and increases sales of musical works by the Fuji stars engaged in the beef. While both artists gain from it, fans have something to talk about with each supporter defending their preferred Fuji star.

    Those who are keen watchers claim it will be easier for a camel to pass through the needle’s eye than controversies and beef to leave the Fujidom.

  • ‘Fuji will soon be toast of the world’

    ‘Fuji will soon be toast of the world’

    CEO, Huntarz Lifestyle Ltd, King Jubal Dati (aka JahBi) has called on federal and state governments to create policies that will facilitate creative entrepreneurs’ access to soft loans instead of doling out money as last minute intervention. He said such policies should among others include protection of intellectual property and health insurance for artistes. The health insurance policy, he said, will redress the shameful trend of legendary artistes who turn to begging when ill at old age. It is disgraceful, he added.

    JahBi who spoke on his new12-tracker entitled Fuji No.1, his first and last album as a recording artiste, said that in no distant time, Fuji music will become the favourite music across the globe, dwarfing Pop, R&B and Afrobeat.  JahBi who runs an entertainment outfit that repackages Fuji, Juju and Highlife music for better acceptance, especially among younger generation said: “I am sure in no time the whole world will dance to Fuji music like never before. Europeans, Blacks, Asians, Arabs etc will all choose Fuji music as their favourite dance music. I know Sikiru will be happy in heaven!” 

    He stated that he created a sub-genre called Urban Fuji, a high-tech, free flow, and urban cut out of Fuji music, which is what dancehall is to root reggae. “I like to do what no one is doing, and I also saw a need for my services in Fuji music, and I decided to step in and fill the void. Fuji music is a way of life for the Yoruba people. It’s like the entertainment arm of their tradition, an expression of the faaji culture. We can’t just let it be at the mercy of a floating trend. So, I created Urban Fuji to serve the purpose and target the youthful army called Gen Z. I created an urban, high-tech, jazzy kind of Fuji music. Something similar to what Dancehall is to Reggae music,” he explained.

    In his desire to make the album berth well and globally accepted, he worked with great producers like Cobhams and Keyz. Already, two tracks are enjoying air play on the radio with first track Tosibe Again, featuring his record label artistes, G-Nxt (Generation Next), a group comprising three young performers between ages 20 and 21. According to him, second track Ijo Fuji (Fiesta), features late Fada U-Turn, Jupiter, and G-Nxt.

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    He disclosed that his ongoing pet project is meant to serve as an entertainment city for artistes and executives in creative industry. “It will be a place where they can be at home with themselves and focus on their creative works; a city for entertainers and entertainment executives,” he said.

    Recalling what influenced his love of fuji music, he said he got attached from the first day he listened to the late Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’s Fuji Extravaganza, who almost became his idol. “I was just a boy with so much innocence but I fell for the music and musician. The musical creativity, depth of lyrics, composition and personality of Dr. Sikiru arrested me. I even accepted to be converted to Islam just because of his creative use of Islamic verses in his songs and his depth of wisdom.

    “My Muslim name was Malik. Sikiru had so much resemblance with my late father, who I lost when I was 12. So, then I always told people I was his musical last born, and K1 is our first born. That was my initiation into Fuji music. Later, I got exposed to K1 songs, and he took my love for Fuji to another level,” he said.

    Though he acknowledged the duo of Bob Marley and Notorious BIG as the greatest lyricists of the time, JahBi described the late Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, K1 and Alhaji Obesere as his greatest influencers in music. “So, when I decided to do music, these three great musicians were my great influences,” he declared unequivocally,” he noted.

  • ‘Best Fuji Blast’ dazzles Ibadan residents

    Tanamont Nigeria, on Friday, November 24 thrilled thousands of Fuji music lovers and crooners to the maiden edition of its Fuji concert, ‘Best Fuji Blast’.

    The live concert featured collaborations from Fuji crooner, Taye Akande, aka Currency and four other talented upcoming Fuji artistes; Nurudeen Atanda aka Antenna, Idriss Akanbi aka Aloma, Mufutau Alabi aka Snr. Prefect and Ishola Ade aka Erikky.

    Packaged by foremost showbiz outfit, Kingsize Entertainment, the crowd-pulling events was a thriller, in which all four upcoming Fuji crooners gave a good account of themselves one after the other.

    The event also featured side attractions like dancing competition, drinking competition and mimic competition among Fuji music fans coupled with a raffle draw where people won household items such as standing fans, blenders, electric kettles and pressing irons.

    “I’m delighted to win Standing fan, courtesy Best Gin because I just bought 75cl bottle and won standing Fan worth thousands of naira, I really appreciate Tanamont Nig. Ltd, who brought this event to Ibadan”, said Mr. Jubril Oladele a trader.

    Present at the event are, Tayo Ogundun, Area Sales Manager for West South Ibadan, Bode Ogunkanmi, ASM for West North, Akure, Ojora Taiwo, (ASM) Abeokuta, Uche Madueke, (ASM) Lagos North and Yemisi Folayomi, Promotion and Media Manager as well as Managers, Sales Reps and Key Distributors from the South West regions.

    The National Sales Manager of Tanamont Nig. Ltd, Mr. Dele Akinloye said; “This is just the beginning of better things to come from Best Gin brands for southwest consumers and our esteemed customers. Come 2018, we are coming bigger and better for the West, with Fuji Vibes and lots of fantastic prizes!”

    Tanamont Nig. Ltd is the makers of drinks such as Best London Dry Gin, Best Cream, Best Whisky, Cruz, Voldka, Best Inferno and Magnum.

  • Fuji music, a force to reckon with – Love Idris

    Fuji music, a force to reckon with – Love Idris

    Just back from a South Africa music tour, Fuji musician Idris Adisa, popularly known as Love Idris, has said plans are ongoing to propagate Fuji music in other African regions.

    Adisa who was in the country to launch his new album, ‘Advise’ and also to mark his 50th birthday, said that during his stay, South Africans showed enthusiasm and embraced Fuji music. He also said that contrary to some claims that love for the genre of music was ebbing, Fuji music was growing out of the confines of Nigeria.

    “I must say it (Fuji) is a force to reckon with,” the musician, whose album, ‘Penicure,’ shot him into limelight in the 90s said.

    “It is no more a Nigerian affairs but a global brand.

    “My experience in South Africa showed the extent of the acceptability which I have equally promised to entrench by training those who are willing to play the brand of music.

    “Just like I embraced Fuji when I saw people like Ayinde Barrister of blessed memory on television, the South Africans were marveled at what we gave them during the tour.”

    Adisa however reiterated the need for government to tackle piracy as musicians can no longer meet basic needs because of the activities of pirates.

  • I featured Mike Abdul because of his Fuji feel – Shodyreeks

    I featured Mike Abdul because of his Fuji feel – Shodyreeks

    Just out with a new single, Modupe, which dropped on January 1, 2017, up and coming singer, Shodyreeks, has said she opted for a duet with gospel musician, Mike Abdul because of his ‘Fuji feel.’

    The 24-year old Political Science and International Relations graduate from Osun State University whose real name is Shodiya Rukayat, said the song is about “being thankful for my family, for my health, things that I have not seen but I’m going to see, things that I’ve not gotten but I’m still going to get.

    “And I said, the best person to help me put this thing together is going to be Mike Abdul, not because he’s a gospel artiste but because the kind of genre he does. He has this Fuji feel and again, lots of his songs are talking about Korede, being happy, being joyful, thankful and all. So, I felt Mike would be a very good person for my song. So, then, I met up with Mike, we did the song together.”

    Shodyreeks who started music in 2014 has recorded songs like You and I which featured a rapper, MVP, Fingerlickin, a club song, Good Morning, and You Garrit featuring Koker of Chocolate City.

     

  • ERIKI, BULL FUJI TALENT WINNER, DROPS ALBUM

    AS part of the demands of his victory, winner of the fourth edition of Bull Fuji Talent Hunt, 28 years old Ishola Ade, a.k.a Eriki, has dropped audio CD album, titled Bull Fuji Varieties. The twelve-track album was released as part of promise made by Intercontinental Distillers Ltd., (IDL) the company that powered the Fuji music competition, across southwest part of Nigeria.

    The album boasts of songs like Oriki Oti which pays tribute to origin of Gin. Eriki, gave good account of his talent via singing about other quality drinks from IDL, e.g Veleta, Chelsea London Dry Gin, Action Bitters, DeRok and Eagle Aromatic Schnapps.

    The artiste also advocates for peace in Nigeria, as well as recommending Bull brands to first time consumers and Fuji music lovers.

    Ishola Ade , a Mass Communication student from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State, it would be recalled, won the Bull Fuji Talent Season 4 competition in Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday, June 3, after a keenly contested competition among seven Fuji acts.

    “In all, the audio CD is a good effort from Eriki, which has made him follow footsteps of his predecessors; Nurudeen Atanda a.k.a Antenna who did BullFujimania, Idriss Akanbi a.k.a Aloma who did Bull Fuji Vibration, and Muftau Alabi a.k.a. Senior Prefect who did Bull Fuji Flavour ,”  says Lanre Alabi, Chief Operating Officer of Kingsize Entertainment, organisers of the competition.

  • Six for Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam final

    The battle for this year’s Wura 1 crown of Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam took a more dramatic and entertaining turn in the city of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, last Friday — six of the 20 semi-finalists emerged for the final scheduled for Ibadan today.

    The finalists are Shina Akanni; Saheed Ishola; Temitope Ajanni; Kuteyi Sikiru; Alausa Olalekan and Muftau Alabi. They displayed creativity, stage craft, vocalisation, appearance and originality, which are the criteria for assessing all contestants from the audition stages of the competition.

    The night was a gathering of the best of Fuji celebrities and respected Yoruba movie actors such as Odunlade Adekola, who acted as compare for the show; SK Sensation leading the judges in company of Adebayo Faleke (aka Kakaki Olodumare) and Baby Barrister, who made powerful appearances which gave the guests and fans the best that Fuji music had to offer.

    The event started with performances from a troupe of Traditional Ekiti-State dancers who entertained the audience and then Antenna, the winner of the first edition in the Fuji t’o Bam competition ‘watered the ground’ with a scintillating performance ahead of the contestants who later came on stage in succession.

    Meanwhile, the Goldberg team was given warm reception to the city of Ado-Ekiti by Oba (Dr.) Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, who threw its gates open to welcome them.

    The Public Affairs Manager, West and Mid-West, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Tayo Adelaja, expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the monarch’s display of affection and hospitality accorded them in the palace.

    Senior Brand Manager, Mainstream brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Funso Ayeni, said Goldberg is a brand that respects the culture and tradition of Yorubas.

  • Repositioning Fuji music

    Repositioning Fuji music

    Once a fad among the Yoruba, Fuji music has lost its appeal in the last decade. However, at a roundtable organised by Nigerian Breweries’ Goldberg in Lagos, stakeholders in the music industry pushed for a revival of this brand of music through creativity, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    Is Fuji music dying? Stakeholders and lovers of this brand of Yoruba music said the music genre, which ruled the airwaves and at parties in the good old days, is almost going into extinction. They claimed that one hardly hears of its many exponents nowadays. One of the second generation Fuji musicians, Mr. Adewale Ayuba,  attested to the near-extinction of this brand of music.

    Ayuba is one of the younger generations, who promoted Fuji as a special brand of music, making it appeal to the youth, especially when the industry was almost plagued by violence, drugs and rivalry, among other vices.

    He identified the inability to market Fuji music to the global audience as a result of poor production and the dwindling allure of Fuji music. The allure, Ayuba said, seems to have simmered. This, it was gathered, was after the death of a Fuji maestro, Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, and the un-confirmed retirment of his ageing arch rival, Kolawole Ayinla, popularly known as Kollington.

    “And if this is the case, we cannot complain that our brand of music is not being aired. Fuji is not digitalised so, it cannot be played in disco halls. The second issue is that it is too long. In this era, you cannot have a piece of music playing for 17 minutes. We need to get back to tracking,” said Ayuba.

    Saddened, a Fuji artist, Alabi Pasuma, just veered into Hip Hop music to promote Fuji and take it to the next level in a market where Hip Hop sensationals – D’Banj, Davido, Olamide and others – seem to have knocked out Fuji music because of lack of appeal to new generation of music lovers.

    “Diversity is very important to one’s life. That you are a Fuji musician does not mean you can’t do something else. People still see me as a Fuji artiste but they see it that this guy really knows what he is doing and that he can do something nice. That is why we diversified,” Pasuma said.

    Against this backdrop, stakeholders at a recent Goldberg roundtable on Fuji said there was a need to reposition the genre to appeal to global and local audience.

    At the event sponsored by Goldberg Lager Beer from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, participants described Fuji as the only Nigerian music brand devoid of foreign contamination.

    The Chairman, National Project Committee, Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria, Sikiru Ayinde Agboola; Akogun Gani Balogun; the Genaral Manager, K1 De Ultimate Band, Olasoju Adebayo and Olawale Obadeyi, a Fuji analyst, said despite the challenges, Fuji music has contributed to the socio-cultural development of the Yoruba.

    Obadeyi traced the origin of the music to when Were, the local brand of music, was in vogue among Muslim faithful. He said the music has grown, featuring various artistes who have contributed to its development.

    He said the innovations brought into Fuji by those artistes have deepened.

    “Each Fuji artiste, evidently, is pushing the limits of creativity. The horizon of Fuji music has been astoundingly widened,” he said.

    Obadeyi noted that Goldberg appropriated Fuji music as a platform through which cultural values could be used to validate the essence of the Yoruba.

    Agboola advised Fuji musicians and other stakeholders to take the music to the next level. According to him, it is the only surviving genre of music that has its origin in Nigeria and deserves concerted efforts from stakeholders to proffer possible ways through which it would be more developed. His words: “It is the duty of all stakeholders to take the music to the next level.”

    Agboola, therefore, commended Goldberg Lager Beer for the support it gives to the music. He said this was second to none and should be emulated by other firms.

    Meanwhile, Balogun said the late Barrister invested heavily in Fuji music, took it to international market and provided a platform for Fuji musicians and other stakeholders to prosper.

    Balogun advised every beneficiary to ensure the music is given due support every time.

     

    Why Goldberg supports Fuji

    In an era where the Federal Government is driving local content as the key to sustainable growth in the economy, most brands have continued to support various local ideas to achieve that goal as against dependence on foreign contents. While various local contents are dying as a result of lack of support from corporate organisations, the Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Agu said the importance of music to any country cannot be over-emphasised. According to him, the role of music in nation building is monumental as it fuels the mind and the creativity of listeners.

    His words: “Music transcends all boundaries of communication. Music and its rhythm define our humanity considering the universality and essentiality beyond language barrier. I believe it is important for one to have an open mind in order to be in touch with that sense of understanding. Music cannot be separated from our socio-cultural life and as such it is a social connector which has the power to suggest circumstances, moods, and moments. It has general appeal to human senses.”

    Agu said Fuji music exerts a strong influence on the social life of the Yoruba. He stated that through the music foreigners can easily feel and connect with the culture of the Yoruba people. The influence that Fuji music exerts on the social life of the Yorubas is therefore very strong irrespective of their locations.

    Agu said the company strives to champion, promote and associate with the culture of its host communities. His words: “This is what Goldberg has been doing with its initiative of Fuji t’o Bam since 2012 when it inaugurated the concept. We respect people’s cultures and values.”

    He said the Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam initiative has brought to life the twin socio-cultural tradition of companionship and celebration. “The initiative readily identifies and celebrates the rich musical tradition of sustaining the cultural values of the people in the region. The indigenous musical platform, which is currently in its fourth edition, had in the last three editions led to the discovery of budding Fuji talents and artists. I have strong conviction that our gathering here today would in no small way help in contributing ideas to the development of the Fuji music and the culture of the Yoruba people,” he stated.

    Recently, the brand also signed Flavour, an Hip Hop artists as brand ambassador for its Life Beer brand to support contents from the East using exploits in the use of Igbo languages to convey his message.

     

    Background

    Fuji is a popular Nigerian musical genre. It arose from the improvisational Ajisari/Were music tradition, which is performed to wake up Muslims before dawn during the Ramadan season. Were music/Ajisari was made popular by the late Barrister

  • BULL FUJI TALENT HUNT ENTERS FOURTH SEASON

    BULL FUJI TALENT HUNT ENTERS FOURTH SEASON

    CASHING in on the success of the first three editions of the Bull Fuji Talent Hunt, Intercontinental Distillers Limited (IDL) has announced a fourth edition of the competition.

    During a press conference held in Ibadan recently, IDL’s Head of Marketing, MobolajiAlalade said that the activation has become a property of the brand and so far so good, it has achieved its aim.

    “The initiative has brought out very huge and massive talents from the hinterlands and the rural communities and even the city of Ibadan. Talents that otherwise would have been supplanted because they did not have opportunities to manifest their potentials. The winner of the maiden edition NurudeenAkanda, aka Antenna has produced four CDs since then. The other winners are also doing well in their own rights, turning out album after album. This initiative has also gotten a very huge commendation from the Fuji Musician Association of Nigeria, FUMAN,” he said.

    Speaking further, Alalade said that on account of its successes over the year, the initiative will now go beyond its reach as it extends to Lagos.

    “The brand will also discover talents in Oshodi and Ikorodu during the course of the competition. It is very obvious that Fuji music will be reinvented using the vehicle of Bull Fuji Talent Hunt,” he added.

    Revealing the timeline of this year’s competition, LanreAlabi, Chief Operating Officer, Kingsize Entertainment disclosed that the zonal competition of Bull Fuji Talent Hunt which kicked off on Friday, April 1 at KS Motel in Ibadan will run weekly, touching all the major South West cities; Ijebu Ode, Ikorodu, Oshodi, Osogbo, Akure and Illorin.

    “After a three weeks break, all the winners of the seven zones will converge in Ibadan for a final battle from which the winner of the fourth edition of the Bull Fuji Talent Hunt will emerge. To add glamour to the finale and the various activations will be Fuji icons like Tiri Leather, as well as past winners of the competition,” Alabi stated.

  • School fee angers Fuji musician, K-1

    School fee angers Fuji musician, K-1

    As schools across the country resume for the second term, and parents make effort to pay their children’s fees, one person who is vexed by the exorbitant levies is Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, aka K-1 de Ultimate.

    Infuriated with the demand of N1million by an unnamed school for his three-year-old child, the musician described the situation as a ‘rape’ and denial of the child’s fundamental right to quality education.

    “How can a three year old be given a school fee of N1million, just because you want the child to have an early foundation? If this is applicable in other countries, then there is problem in the world, because nobody will have access to good education,” he said.

    Brandishing the document which described the fee as Development Levy, the musician expressed his anger in the presence of his manager, Bayo Olasoju and a few guests at the R&A, Lamex, Ikeja, Lagos last week, saying: “Honestly, the Nigerian leaders have failed in their social responsibility. What kind of development levy do you ask for a child that will be three years old in February – such outrageous fee. I have informed her (his wife) that we are going to court. I will fight that case; I have also informed her that I will sponsor and champion that cause in the press and internet.”

    When told that he has a choice to public schools, the musician said irrespective of choices, education should be affordable by all. “We will take this up with the federal government. This is total denial to good education for citizens. No public school is functioning; the National Assembly should be called to order to make pronouncements that says all private schools should be banned. They are talking about corruption but corruption starts from the grassroots and if you do not stop this nonsense then corruption will continue. How can somebody being paid N2 million per annum afford to send children to school? That’s nonsense, you are earning N2 million per annum and you have two kids, how do you get them to good school? How do you pay for your living? I’m going to take it up, I am going to make a serious touch on education and the leadership.

    “It is a rape. We want to raise a better society. If President Muhammadu Buhari must score points, then he needs to go into the educational sector and handle it.”

    Asked why he has not considered an elective position despite his long involvement in partisan politics, he said: “Must everybody come out to serve? Must everybody come out to take elective office? Very many people you see today in politics are there for different reasons. Some are there because of their self benefits, some are there simply because they want to register their names in the book as a member of House of Representatives or House of Assembly or as Commissioner. But what about millions of others who add great values to the political party they choose by serving their constituencies in personal capacity and making sure that people around them benefit good services from the government.”

    K-1 said of his type of person in politics: “There are many people there who are mobilisers whom people seeking political offices can’t afford to joke with because of their good standing in the community. I prefer to be one who has a good standing in the community and constituency that will be of great value for anybody coming around.”