Juju

Juju is a Nigerian music style born in Lagos in the 1920s. Stemming from traditional Yoruba songs and the rhythms of asiko drums (or sekere), it is characterized by an engaging guitar performance, multiple percussion instruments (sekere drums, Conga), and poetic recitation in the Yoruba language. The name juju comes from the sound of the tambourines (asiko).

The undisputed master of juju is King Sunny Adé, who achieved worldwide fame in the 1980s with albums like Juju Music (Island Records). Other pioneers include Tunde King and Ibrahim Sunsun Suleiman. Juju is very close to Nigerian highlife, with which it shares common roots.

References

• Wikipedia — Juju music
• Wikipedia — King Sunny Adé
• Guide Stern, Ch. 2 (Nigeria)