Palm-wine and the invention of juju Music in Nigeria

In the beginning of the 20^th century, Yoruba music has joined brass instruments, written notation, Islamic drumming and Brazilian patterns, resulting in the Lagos-born palm-wine method. The word palm-wine is also used to explain linked genres in Sierra Leone, Ghana and Liberia. These collections are better-known than Nigerian palm-wine. Though, palm-wine mainly means to a different set of styles played with string instruments, mainly with guitars or banjos and also with shakers and hand drums accompanying. This urban method was often played in bars to accompany drinking (hence the name, which is originated from the alcoholic palm wine beverage).

source of picture: naijaex.blogspot.com

The first musicians of palm-wine had appeared by the 1920s, the greatest popular of who was Baba Tunde King. King possibly originated the word juju as a style of music he wanted to make a reference to the sound of a Brazilian tambourine; alternatively, the word may have established as an expression of scorn by the colonial leaders (any indigenous customs was right to be dismissed as mere joujou, French for nonsense). During the early 1930s, British record labels such as His Master’s Voice had begun record palm-wine and more superstars appeared including Ojoge Daniel, Speedy Arab and Tunde Nightingale. These musicians, along with Tunde King, created the core of the method which was known as juju and remained one of the greatest prominent genres in Nigeria throughout the 20^th century. Some juju artists were nomadic, including early pioneers such as Irewole Denge, Ojoge Daniel and the blind minstrel Kokokro.