NET SPECIAL: Meet Nigeria's leading Fuji musicians

By Gbenga Bada

Gbenga Bada writes on the top 10 Fuji stars in Nigeria. Music giants who are currently nabbing shows and churning out albums for fans from far and near.

Pasuma (Wasiu Ajibola Alabi )

Wasiu Ajibola Alabi has been able to remain the most relevant after K1 owing to the obvious fact that his voice and talent shone him like a bright star after he gained prominence from his Mushin origin.

Unlike many Fuji musicians, who kicked off from Lagos Island or Ibadan, Pasuma, attracted several fans from his Mushin base after his first LP, which sold like wildfire in the first three months.

As if he was destined to be different, Pasuma who seem to be the most nicknamed Fuji musician, collaborated with the popular pop acts, Remedies, and his fame sky rocketed, leaving behind his peers in the industry.

Currently, he holds sway as one of the leading Fuji musicians, who has been able to etch his name on the Fuji scroll of time.

Kwam 1 (Wasiu Ayinde Marshal)

Oldest and the most experienced, Wasiu Ayinde Omogbolahan Anifowoshe ranks top in the list of leading Fuji artistes in the country.

From hits to hits, he has been there and done that having horned his skills under the tutelage of late Fuji legend, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. One of the features that had consistently worked for K1, as he now loves to be called, is his ability to serenade each decade with at least, 2 hits and a local parlance that sticks with followers, lovers & Fuji music industry.

From the ‘Talazo’ series to ‘Ultimate’ and recently ‘Sempe,’ K1 blazed the trail among Fuji stars that first starred in a movie and has quite a number of films to his credit with Eko been the most recent.

The singer wields such an unimaginable influence across different social strata thereby appealing to a wide number of audience all around the world, which include London, Holland, France and United States of America.

KS1 (Sule Alao Malaika)

Unknown to many music Sule Alao Malaika’s hits have been severally adopted by Hip Hop acts that include Wande Coal.

His strong point remains his ability to always connect the upwardly mobile with grassroots- a feat he learnt from K1.

KS1 kicked off his career from Lagos Island, a place peculiar with several Fuji artiste and has over the years created a large fan base and listeners that are scattered all over the world.

Saheed Osupa

Known as the most controversial Fuji musician, Saheed Osupa won the hearts of music lovers after his sophomore and third album respectively. He would for long be remembered for his Shuffle Solo and Master

Blaster albums as he not only got himself several shows but also etched his name on the Fuji scroll of time.

After his pronouncement as the king of music by late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister following his uncanny ability to deliver spoken words during performances, this HND holder became the most controversial leveraging on his unique ability.

Though, he began his career while in Ibadan, where he hails from, his controversies alongside his talent have worked for and against him but remains one of the leading Fuji acts in recent time.

Taiye Currency

Currently, the most successful & popular Fuji act in Oyo State with an impressive followership in Ibadan, Taiye  Currency joins the list as one of the leading & popular Fuji artistes in recent time.

For over a decade, Taiye has remained unshakable, holding forth to his Ibadan base.

Taiye’s tunes aren’t anything spectacular but his ability to keep up with the time and remain committed to giving the large Fuji followership in Ibadan and Oyo state have continued to work in his favour.

Remi Aluko

He’s one man, who as a Christian made a name for himself as one of the current leading Fuji stars around.

His songs aren’t the best you can get around, yet his followership is interestingly amazing. He’s well known as Ajela.

He’s fond of giving a Fuji touch to several Hip Hop tunes but he appeals to a large audience that are mostly transporters or conductors.

Abass Akande Obesere

Call him the wittiest of them all & you won’t be far from the truth.

His input & rise in the industry has always been coloured with not only his daring acts but also his controversial status.

Obesere have gone from wearing female attires to starring Cossy Orjiakor in one of his musical videos.

Tagged ‘Oba Asakasa’ meaning the king of lewd and vulgar jibes, Obesere’s kind of Fuji is not only different from the rest but has left him in a world of his own-which interestingly has earned him fame and fortune.

Shefiu Alao

Just as Taiye Currency holds sway in Ibadan, Shefiu Alao is the undoubtedly the king of Ogun State with his ‘musical palace’ situated in the heart of Abeokuta.

Shefiu clearly refers to himself as Omo Oko meaning a local boy but his singing ability has made him prominent in the league of Fuji musicians in recent time, thereby elevating him musically and financially.

Love or it or hate it, this list can’t be complete without the inclusion of the Fuji singer.

Muri Thunder

Just like Pasuma and few others, Muri Thunder broke away from the Ajegunle/Okokomaiko slums to become a respected Fuji artiste.

At a young age, Muri appealed too much older audience as he consistently maintained that he took cues from the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, whom several Fuji artistes see as the Lord of the genre of music.

He has remained consistent in his game doing as much as he can to remain relevant and just like few others on this list, he shares a considerable number of followership with other Fuji acts.

Sulaimon Atawewe

Sulaimon Atawewe is another is another leading Fuji musician, who is currently on top of his game.

From the shows he get and numbers of album been churned out yearly, Sulaimon has remained consistent in the Fuji music industry.