Fuji is a Nigerian genre that arose as a popular manifestation of the improvised “Were music” Muslims play in Nigeria’s Yoruba areas to wake neighbors for fasting during Ramadan. Fuji started in the 1960s when “ajiwere” bands started to add elements of many Nigerian genres to their up-all-night musical performances. Today the most popular fuji music, like that of Adewale Ayuba, is upbeat, danceable and uses electronic instruments.
A multi-rhythmic West African drum song that originated in Nigeria. The original is “Bubble,” by Adewale Ayuba and his Bonsue Fuji Band. “Bubble” is a rollicking example of “fuji,” the Yoruban genre that grew up as a popular offshoot of “were music,” which itself a genre of improvisational music performed by Muslim youth to rouse other Muslims in the mornings before fasting begins on the days of Ramadan. In music class we bring out the drums on this song and explore the concept of African polyrhythms.
COUNTRY: Nigeria
LANGUAGE: Yoruba
GENRE: Fuji
LYRICS OF ALL AROUND THIS WORLD VERSION:
Bale ile yi eweso o
Iyale ile yi eweso o
There is a flower and she lives in your house
I love a flower and she lives in your house
I will pick the flower if you let her be mine
I will pick the flower if you let her be mine.
Engineering: Amon, Studio Brooklyn, New York
Musicians:
– Kofo “The Wonderman” (Nigeria, Percussion/Vocals)
Original “Bubble.” (c) Adewale Ayuba. Translation and arrangement by Jay Sand with peromission.
