Sharon Adurokiya, Reporting
FUJI music veteran, Dr Adewale Ayuba, has described his new five-track EP, Arise, as a deliberate project aimed at taking Fuji music beyond Nigeria and making it more accessible to a global audience.
Ayuba, known for hit songs including Bubble, Mr Johnson and Koroba Koroba, said the project represents another stage in his long-standing effort to modernise and internationalise the Fuji genre without losing its identity.
Speaking, in an interview with Saturday Guardian, the Fuji star explained that Arise was inspired by his desire to move Fuji music from its traditional long-form format into shorter, radio- and streaming-friendly productions capable of reaching wider audiences.
“Arise is another level of my life; it is a project,” Ayuba said, explaining that he had experimented with different musical collaborations over the years in his bid to take Fuji to new audiences.
He cited collaborations with Jazzman Olofin, Germany-based Ade Bantu and Adekunle Gold as part of the experiments that helped shape his current approach to Fuji.
According to him, the collaboration with Ade Bantu also contributed to his receiving a KORA Award, an African music honour.
Ayuba said the decision to adopt shorter songs was deliberate because he believes the conventional 25- or 30-minute Fuji recordings can limit the genre’s ability to secure international radio airplay and compete on global music platforms.
“The long-play is part of the Arise project, to promote Fuji and make it a crossover,” he said.
‘I Want A Grammy’
The veteran musician also made no secret of his ambition to win a Grammy Award, arguing that being a Nigerian Fuji musician should not prevent him from competing on the international stage.
“By the grace of God, am I not a musician?” Ayuba asked, pointing to the Grammy success of Beninese music star Angélique Kidjo as an example of what African musicians can achieve globally.
He also paid tribute to the late Fuji pioneer, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, saying that the older generation laid the foundation while contemporary artistes have a responsibility to build on it.
“Every parent usually prays that their children will be better than them. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do with Fuji music now,” he said.
The Arise EP features five tracks, including Ileke, All Over The World, Yetunde and Kutukutu.
Ayuba defended the shorter format, arguing that short songs are not alien to the history of Nigerian music.
He referenced the late Apala maestro, Haruna Ishola, and highlife legend I.K. Dairo, noting that earlier Nigerian musicians produced shorter recordings partly because of the limitations of international radio formats at the time.
According to Ayuba, the objective is not to abandon Fuji but to adapt its presentation to contemporary audiences.
‘Fuji Is Not Dying’
Addressing concerns about the future of Fuji music amid the dominance of Afrobeats and the growing influence of younger artistes, Ayuba rejected suggestions that the genre is dying.
“Fuji music is not dying, and it will not die,” he said.
He pointed to his collaboration with younger artistes, including Adekunle Gold, as evidence that Fuji continues to attract interest from a new generation.
Ayuba maintained that his work should not necessarily be described as a fusion of Fuji and Afropop, insisting that he is simply presenting Fuji in a way that can be better understood and appreciated internationally.
He also said his use of both Yoruba and English has helped his music connect with audiences outside the South-West, particularly in the South-East and South-South.
‘Music Should Carry A Message’
The Fuji icon also expressed concern about what he described as the increasing emphasis on “vibe” over substance in contemporary Nigerian music.
Ayuba said he was fortunate to have started his career at a time when music was expected to carry meaningful messages and recordings were subject to censorship.
He argued that music should contribute positively to society by encouraging education, responsible family relationships and good conduct.
For Ayuba, music is more than entertainment.
He cited the biblical Book of Psalms as an example of the spiritual significance of music and suggested that government and industry regulators should continue to pay attention to the messages contained in songs.
Ayuba Laments Royalties
The veteran musician also raised concerns about royalties in Nigeria, claiming that the overwhelming majority of Nigerian musicians do not receive royalties for their works locally.
“99.9 musicians in Nigeria do not get royalties from Nigeria,” he said, adding that Nigerian artistes sometimes receive royalties when their works are sampled or used in foreign countries.
He also called for greater government attention to the entertainment industry, saying musicians and other creative professionals need stronger institutional support.
Beyond Arise, Ayuba said he was considering further projects, including activities that could involve younger artistes.
“I know a tree can never make a forest. We need people; we need the government to think,” he said.
For the Fuji veteran, Arise is therefore not simply another musical release but part of a broader attempt to reposition Fuji for contemporary listeners while taking the Yoruba-rooted genre to audiences around the world.
