The history of fújì music

Music holds as much history as any written record or document in an archive. That’s especially true of fújì — a popular genre hailing from Saheed Aderinto’s native Nigeria. More than the danceable drumbeats distinguishing its unique sound, fújì carries the memories of millions of Yoruba people. It is the way they see the world, a way of life.

As a leading social and cultural historian of modern Nigeria, Aderinto brings this important musical tradition to those who may have never even heard the word “fújì.” He’s traveled to Lagos, Ibadan and other cities, visiting libraries, museums and universities to interview different fújì artists. Everything he learned, Aderinto shared in real- time with his deeply engaged audience on social media — part of his commitment to make research accessible to all people. It also went into his forthcoming book Fúji: An African Popular Culture. But he’s not stopping there.

The 2023 Dan David Prize winner, recognized for his outstanding contributions to history, continues to bridge the knowledge gap by venturing into what he calls a totally “different world” of visual storytelling. Aderinto directed and produced a multi-part documentary. It explores fújì’s emergence in the 1970s during Nigeria’s cultural and artistic revolution, the artists who defined its sound and performances that influenced other genres from hip-hip to gospel.

“I am doing this research for a community of artists whose stories have been historically neglected and want their experiences to be communicated in a sophisticated and respectful form.”