Thread by @teejay1951

By this thread, I want to invoke some Nostalgia by taking us down memory lane to the late 80s and early to mid-90s when arguably the best set of indigenous songs out of Nigeria (South West mostly) were released. While I do not like the feeling that comes alongside nostalgia... /1

this should have a different feel as I hope the older generations pre2000s will enjoy this while reminiscing how they grew listening to them and hoping the newer generations will appreciate how far the music industry has come. Its a long but worthy one. Fasten your seat belts. /2

Between 1988 and 1995, in the midst of lousy government policies, political unrest, acute hunger, austerity and prevalence of the advanced fee fraud (419) guys, Nigerian indigenous musicians gave us the best set of LPs to have ever blessed our airwaves. /3

In 1988, Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister released the popular Album titled (Barry at 40) to celebrate his 40th birthday. While people were still enjoying the instant hit, little did they know the Fuji creator was coming with a masterstroke... /4

...few months afterwards, he released the monster hit titled Fuji Garbage (Series 1 and 2). This album marked the beginning of many more monster releases by indigenous artists within a 6 year period. /5

While the Fuji genre as led by the mercurial Sikiru Ayinde Barrister was burgeoning, the juju genre was on a decline in the late 80s and early 90s. However, unbeknownst to many, an Egba born musician and guitarist by the name... /6

Sir Shina Peters took the music scene by storm with the release of his multi-platinum album titled Ace as produced by the legendary Laolu Akins in December 1989. /7

The album till date is arguably one of the bestselling records ever released indigenously. While SSP was sweeping off our feet and awards alike with his up tempo, fast paced, heavy percussion and raunchy style of Juju (Afro)... /8

...other juju exponents like Micho Ade (The KSA wannabe) , Dayo Kujore (Soko Express) , Fabulous Olu Fajemirokun (E get cover) , and Dele Taiwo reeled out fantastic albums between 1990 and 1995. /9

It will be worthy to mention the name of the Late Monday John and his Wura-Fadaka band who at this period also had a very scintillating album However, SSP within 89 & 95 was high & above all else including the now turned evangelist Ebenezer Obey & KSA. /10

By 1990, SSP had turned a household name whose music was unrivaled and banged relentlessly over the stereo within and outside Nigeria. Just as we felt we’ve heard it all, ... a very young man from Ikenne in Ogun State released an album titled Ijo Bubble /11

The man is Adewale Ayuba. This album changed the perception of the educated youth towards the Fuji Genre. This album is the only other album within the years in review that had multi-platinum sales. /12

Despite Ijo Bubble’s commercial success, it still played second fiddle to SSP’s Ace Album. While these two relatively young acts were enjoying massive airplay, one of the old Fuji rearguards in the person of General Kollignton Ayinla brilliantly stormed the scene with the... /13

...release of arguably his most popular album titled Ijo Yoyo!
In the same 1990, Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister released another very successful album titled Fuji Extravaganza /14

The rivalry in the indigenous music industry at the time was stiff so much that if you refused to buckle your belts and fasteners well, you’ll be given the boot in no time. Understanding this, SSP entered the studio once again and... /15

...released another smash hit titled Shinamania (Y’all remember Ejawo l’apon ti o yo elo gb'omila kana, Shina gbode?) /16

1991 blessed our airwaves with even more hits to go alongside the ones earlier released. Within this period, Kwam 1 who had struggled to leave the shadows of Ayinde Barrsiter during the 80s also released American Tips ... /17

The album shot up K1’s influence amongst the "Yuppy boys of Lagos" as they were fondly referred to back then. He followed the release of the album with Fuji Collections and that cemented his place amongst the big boys forever. /18

At this point, there was a huge struggle between Kwam 1 and Adewale Ayuba as who the face of the new generation of Fuji Music is—even though the former has started music earlier. /19

While Kwam 1 was reeling in the massive success these two albums brought him, Queen Salawa Abeni also plotted a return to the top of the male dominated music scene with the release of her Album titled Experience .../20

The womenfolk danced to this album endlessly till today and the fabric sellers on Lagos Island at the time will not take likely to any form of slander towards the music amazon that is Salawa Abeni. As if that wasn’t enough, Alhaji Agba released two albums within the same year /21

—Fuji Waves and Fantasia Fuji. Fantasia Fuji being one of the most popular albums ever released by the Musical Legend of Commonwealth. The album was an instant hit and a chartbuster with a popularity that never waned. /22

In 1992, a Lagos based Ibadan boy stormed the scene with an onslaught of slang and sexual nuances. Abass Akande Obesere released his maiden album titled Introduction . /23

His entrant into the scene was unprecedented, fearless and tactical. Even with the popularity of Ayuba and K1 at the time, “The Original African Fuji Michael Jackson” held his own and wasn’t intimidated. The asakasa crooner made others re-strategize. /24

While Obesere was licking his lips at his impending success, Adewale Ayuba released another chartbuster titled Play For Me . This time around, Ayuba mesmerized his growing fanbase with his unique dancing styles and... /25

he easily became a force to be reckoned with.
At the same period, Aare Shina Akanni (Fuji Scorpido) released his most popular album titled “Fuji Merit” . The Egba-born musician despite his less popularity, enjoyed massive airplay and... /26

became a force to be reckoned with. Older folks watched him from the sides and were prepared for his onslaught. However, for some reasons, he never achieved his full potential. /27

Another brilliant Fuji act from Ibadan that released a massive hit in 1992 was Rashidi Ayinde. Fuji Merenge was a popular album unfortunately, he lived in the shadows of Kwam 1 for a long time while battling a terrible cough that almost took his voice. /29

While the Fuji musicians were “Running thing”, the juju musicians aside SSP were struggling for relevance. SSP went on to consolidate on his highly successful Ace and Shinamania albums by releasing another one titled Experience This album in my... /30

...opinion was peak SSP. He outdid himself and the gradual decline began. Noticing SSP’s grown influence, KSA who at the time was busy touring the world trying to cement his global relevance returned home to release a smashing hit titled Surprise... /31

In this same year, Ayinde Barrister and Kwam 1 also released Fuji Explosion and Reflections respectively. They were massive hits! /32

By 1993, some newer acts like Pasuma emerged with his first album titled Recognition. It wasn’t as successful as Obesere’s introduction Album. However, he was resolute and with time, he became a household name in Fuji. 1993 did not record much musical growth as the... /33

years preceding it. This was largely due to the elections and political tension in the country.
Despite that, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister released New Fuji Dimension and as usual, was a success. Kwam 1 also released The Ultimate album... /34

and till date remains a legendary piece of work
In 1994, Adewale Ayuba released another hit titled Buggle D. The album was epic as usual and ensured Ayuba wasn’t just a flash in the pan. By this period, the struggle for dominance and... /35

relevance was strictly between Ayuba and Kwam1. However, Kwam 1’s release of consolidation in the year marked the beginning of his continued relevance in the fuji space.
SSP also released My Child but wasn’t near as successful as his previous albums. /36

By 1995, while Ayuba had left the shores for international popularity, Kwam 1 latched upon this to effectively cement his place amongst the “happening guys” in town. The release of Legacy at this point was about the peak of his career. /37

Infact, when the Legacy album was released and Kwam 1 was scooping awards over and about, the decline of indigenous music began as majority of the musicians were seeking greener pastures overseas.
Within this period also... /38

Orobokibo, computer and The man were albums released by Pasuma. They were monster hits that shot him into limelight till today. /39

Conclusively, in my opinion, I think we don’t know history as much as we should and these legendary achievements by the artists are not documented well enough. This thread is a minuscule effort at relaying how those years re-framed the music industry in Nigeria. /40

Let’s retweet, educate and engage ourselves accordingly. The reports where inaccurate in the thread maybe corrected with proven evidence. Having the knowledge of the above wouldn’t have been possible without the radio presenters of yesteryears like...

Toba Opaleye, Ambrose Somide, Baba Gboin, Gboyega Lawal, Wale Lawal, Laolu Olatubosun, Olalomi Amole, Akomolafe Olaiya, Yemi Shonde, Akinkunmi Alabi, Akolade Alabi that religiously stood by indigenous musicians that ensured they are who they are today.

@adenekanmoruff @sagaysagay @MrPenfold_ @dupekilla @Mr_JAGs @MrAfobaje @Iyabadan @AyoJaguda this may interest y’all.