Women of Fuji Documentary Celebrates Hidden Music Heroes

For the first time, the powerful women behind one of Nigeria's most beloved music genres are getting their moment in the spotlight.

"Women of Fuji," a documentary by Nigerian filmmaker and professor Saheed Aderinto, premiered in Lagos on International Women's Day at the J. Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History. The film traveled across six countries to capture the untold stories of female Fuji musicians who have been making waves since the 1970s.

The documentary reveals how women transformed Fuji music from behind the scenes and on stage. Mutiat Amope broke barriers as the first female Fuji musician to establish her own record label, Iganmode, blending traditional instruments with innovation that would shape the genre's future.

Many pioneering women transitioned from Waka and Awurebe music styles to Fuji during the 1970s and 1980s, creating their own space in a male-dominated industry. Their journeys weren't easy, facing social stigma and stereotypes, but their passion for the music kept them pushing forward.

The film also celebrates women who powered Fuji's success in unexpected ways. Female patrons like Bolajoko Kadiri and Asake Cotonou financially supported male Fuji artists during shows, while Nigerian women in the diaspora opened lounges, restaurants, and bars that became essential venues for Fuji performances.

Yoruba chanter Apeke Ajobata, who received a Distinguished Entertainer Award at the premiere, said the documentary proves what women have always known about their abilities. "They would be excited to know their work is still acknowledged, that their paths are still being explored, and that women are still active in Fuji," she shared.

Bukola Amoke, known as Bukola Omo Daddy, has performed Fuji music for over 20 years. She believes the film will inspire a new generation of women to pick up the microphone while honoring those who paved the way.

The Ripple Effect

The documentary does more than preserve history. It reveals how women serve as custodians of oríkì, traditional Yoruba praise poetry that Fuji artists weave into performances to celebrate their patrons.

This cultural knowledge, passed down through generations of women, forms the backbone of what makes Fuji music resonate so deeply with audiences. Without these female keepers of tradition, the genre wouldn't have the rich lyrical tapestry that defines it today.

Professor Aderinto used archival materials from Nigeria's leading radio stations and libraries to ensure these voices wouldn't be forgotten. The project follows his first Fuji documentary episode in February 2024, which honored the late legend Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.

By connecting modern audiences with Fuji's origins, the film creates space for scholars, artists, and students to understand how this music shaped Nigerian culture and continues evolving today.

The women of Fuji have always been there, their contributions woven into every beat and lyric, and now their stories are finally taking center stage where they belong.