Àsìkò

Jùjú is a style of Yoruba popular music, originated in Lagos, Nigeria. It first began developing in the 1920s with Tunde King. Early styles of jùjú music consisted of banjo or acoustic guitar, drums, gourd rattle, tambourine, and vocals. Call-and-response singing is common in jùjú music along with harmonies, repetitive refrains, and polyrhythmic percussion. Other musical elements like improvisation and expressive vocal styles are often found. Although jùjú music was developing in the 1920s, a recognizable genre did not emerge until the mid-1930s. Jùjú music emerged in Lagos in 1932, and was influenced by palm wine guitar music. Jùjú was also strongly influenced by Asikò dance drumming, which is tied to Yoruba Christian communities. Lyrics include praise and storytelling, reflecting themes such as identity, community, life, spiritual beliefs and social commentary. Jùjú performances often lasted hours without any breaks. Bands often had a repertoire that they could play from memory. The bandleader had the responsibility of assessing the crowd at the social event and adjusting their performance according to the audience's preferences.