Without fuji there would be no Afrobeats
From August 18 to 28, The Africa Centre will present FUJI: A Opera, a multi-dimensional exhibition which tells the story of the fuji music genre – one of the most important in Nigeria’s history, writes Claudia Lee.
Without fuji music, the Afrobeats artists who top the charts today such as Burna Boy and Wizkid would not be selling out stadiums across the world.
FUJI: A Opera will include never seen before archive footage and artifacts, explore the past of Fuji music, highlight its founding footprints, and celebrate its rich subculture from the early 1960s to the present day.
Fuji arose from the improvisational wéré music, a genre of music performed to wake Muslims before dawn during the Ramadan fasting season.
The story will be told through archival footage of past performances, audio installations and memorabilia across the 60-year history of Fuji music.
The exhibition, in Great Suffolk Street, Southwark, looks at the origins in the Yoruba-Muslim communities of Nigeria’s South-West and the vision of Ayinde Barrister.
Mr Barrister pioneered the fuji genre and named it after seeing an airport ad for the famous Japanese mountain.
The exhibition begins with a soundscape homage to Ajiwere, folk music for Islamic worshippers at Ramadan and the roots of fuji music on Lagos Island.
On show will be rare instruments from Nigeria that have been played since the beginning of fuji music over 50 years ago.
These have been donated by fuji artists, including musical pioneer Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall.
The energy of fuji music will be brought to life with a listening gallery of archive recordings, a photography wall of album covers and live performances, and a collection of fashion pieces worn by fuji artists.
Founder of FUJI: A Opera, Bobo Omotayo, said: “Now feels like the perfect time to celebrate the phenomenal influence of Fuji music, how it began and its lasting impact.
“Without fuji there would be no Afrobeats.
“Artists such as King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall have given so much to music – it’s time we celebrate their legacy.”
FUJI: A Opera will make its premiere in the UK at the Africa Centre, which has been the home of African heritage and culture since 1964.
With Nigerian artists Rema, Asake and Davido creating the UK songs of the summer, Burna Boy becoming the first African artist to headline a stadium show in the UK this year and Wizkid set to follow, this exhibition explores the evolution of their music from its very beginning.
www.africacentre.org.uk/Event/international-premiere-of-nigerias-fuji-music
Picture: Images of prominent figures in Fuji music Picture: Bisi Emeruwa
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