Back in the Nigeria of the colonial era, Muslim youths used to go from door to door in the wee wee hours during Ramadan, waking up the faithful and reminding them to pray. Each posse had a lead singer and up to twenty chorus singers who also played percussion. The joyous rhythmic music of these youths or ‘Ajiwere’ became known as Were music. In the 1960s were evolved through various hybrids into Fuji music, so called either after the Yoruba word ‘faaji’ meaning ‘enjoyment’ or because the speakers that generally delivered the music were made by the Japanese electronics giant, Fuji. Wasiu Ayinde Adewale Omogbolahan Anifowoshe arrived on the scene in the late 1970s and blended wads of street slang and youth culture with the traditional koranic chants of the genre. He also cranked up the tempo and added western instruments like keyboards, saxophone and guitar to the typical Fuji line up. In 1984 he released his classic album ‘Talazo 84’ and his new sharper, feistier take on Fuji was dubbed the Talazo System. Talazo/Fuji is hi-energy dance music, propelled by orchestral amounts of percussion and crowned with swooping chants and guitar or keyboard riffs. In 1994 Wasiu was crowned King of Fuji Music and regally renamed King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, or KWAM 1 for short, by the King of Oyo in Ibadan, western Nigeria. Last year, the King of Lagos, Adeyinka Oyekan II, conferred the royal title ‘Olu Omo’ or ‘Golden Child’ on Wasiu. You’re in for a right royal Fuji boogie in the company of King Wasiu and his Ultimate Band.Info from www.kwam1music.comJune 2002Kwam 1 is one of Nigeria's, and indeed Africa's, greatest musicians. He has recorded over 53 albums over a career spanning 28 years and has been a great ambassador of Nigerian music for over 20 years.Born Wasiu Ayinde Adewale Omogbolahan Anifowoshe on the 3rd of March 1957 in Agarawu, Lagos Island in the south west of Nigeria, the young Wasiu began his career in music soon after his father died when he was just 13 years old. He released his first album in 1980.In 1984 he released the classic album "Talazo 84", featuring a new up-tempo and dynamic beat that was instantly dubbed the "Talazo System". The album became an instant hit and fuji music has never been the same again. The impact of that album transformed Wasiu into a national icon, and within a few years, he had incorporated western elements into the music such as the keyboard, saxophone and guitar (and even rap!).Among his many awards are FAME musician of the year, best Fuji artist at the NMA (Nigerian Music Awards) and best African artist at the WOMAD Festival in Reading 1996. In 1994, Wasiu was crowned the King of Fuji music, andofficially re-named King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal the First (KWAM 1) by the King of Oyo in the historical city of Ibadan in the western region of Nigeria. On the 17th of May 2001, Kwam 1 was officially bestowed with the royal title of 'Olu Omo' (golden child) of Lagos by His Royal Majesty, the King of Lagos, King Adeyinka Oyekan II. Kwam 1 is the golden voice of Nigerian music and one of the finest exponents of African music in the world. On stage, fronting the Ultimate Band, he presents one of the most thrilling and charged experiences in world music today with his majestic vocals soaring over hypnotic multi-layered dance rhythms. WOMAD SELECT INFORMATIONTalazo fuji music is big music, made by many drummers. Big messages. Big confidence. Dense, throbbing rhythms that carry the pulse of West Africa. This is Nigeria's most popular style of modern music and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal is its brightest star. Taking the dynamic dance floor sakara rhythm, he simplified the music, brought in more drums, like the conga and sakara, and created the talazo beat. In the process he reinvented fuji music. Dispensing with the philosophical tales and proverbs of his competitors' music, Wasiu Ayinde concentrates on a street-oriented youth beat, dominated by drums, drums, and more drums.

• published: 25 Jan 2013
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