Lijadu Sisters
Encyclopedia
The Lijadu Sisters, Taiwo and Kehinde Lijadu, are identical twin sisters from Nigeria
who were an important music duet from the mid-1960s to the 1980s. They achieved success in Nigeria and had modest influence in the United States and Europe. They were notable for being a West African version of the Pointer Sisters who mixed Afrobeat
sounds with jazz and disco, according to one source. Since the late 1980s, they retired from the music scene.
, and were inspired musically by various artists including Aretha Franklin
, Victor Olaiya
and Miriam Makeba
. They had guidance from music producer Lemmy Jackson who is credited with helping them with their early successes. Their music was a mix of Jazz
, Afrobeat
, Reggae
and Waka
. Sometimes they sung in English
and other times in African languages. One of their first songs was arranged with assistance from jazz saxaphone player Orlando Julius. They released their first album Iya Mi Jowo in 1969 after winning a record contract with Decca Records.
They worked with the late Biddy Wright on their third album Danger (1976). They recorded Sunshine in 1978 and Horizon Unlimited in 1979.
The sisters were top stars in Nigeria during the 1970s and 1980s. During these years, they branched out to America and Europe and found modest success. They performed with drummer Ginger Baker
's band Salt at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games
in Munich at the World Music Festival. The New York Times reported that the sisters were "smiling free spirits" who mixed "sisterly banter and flirtatiousness" in their performances which featured positive messages such as the benefit of returning home. Their reggae number Reincarnation insisted that if reincarnation was a reality, then they would like to be reincarnated again into the home where they grew up. Some of their song lyrics were politically-themed. Their harmonies were described as "ethereal".
In 1984 Shanachie Records
released Double Trouble in the U.S. which was a compilation of their previously recorded material from their albums Horizon Unlimited and Danger. Their song Orere Eljigbo was included on a double CD entitled Nigeria 70 and it was added to the Roots & Wings playlist in 1997.
The sisters moved to Brooklyn. They performed in various venues including the lower Manhattan club Wetlands and in Harlem with King Sunny Adé
's African Beats as their backing band. They performed with the Philadelphia-based band Philly Gumbo. They were featured in the music documentary Konkombé by English director Jeremy Marre
, and their music was featured in the Nigerian installment of the 14-episode world music series entitled Beats of the Heart which aired on PBS
during the late 1980s.
Soon after settling in America they retired from the public eye, making details of their career in entertainment difficult to confirm, since the twins no longer gave interviews.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
who were an important music duet from the mid-1960s to the 1980s. They achieved success in Nigeria and had modest influence in the United States and Europe. They were notable for being a West African version of the Pointer Sisters who mixed Afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
sounds with jazz and disco, according to one source. Since the late 1980s, they retired from the music scene.
Career
The twins grew up in the Nigerian town of IbadanIbadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, and were inspired musically by various artists including Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Victor Olaiya
Victor Olaiya
Victor Abimbola Olaiya, or 'Dr Victor Olaiya', is a Nigerian trumpeter who plays in the Highlife style. He was possibly the biggest star in Nigeria in the 1950s and early 1960s, but received little recognition outside of Nigeria...
and Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
. They had guidance from music producer Lemmy Jackson who is credited with helping them with their early successes. Their music was a mix of Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, Afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
, Reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and Waka
Waka music
Waka music is a popular Islamic-oriented Yoruba musical genre. It was made popular by Alhaja Batile Alake from Ijebu, who took the genre into the mainstream Nigerian music by playing it at concerts and parties; also, she was the first waka singer to record an album. Later, younger singers like...
. Sometimes they sung in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and other times in African languages. One of their first songs was arranged with assistance from jazz saxaphone player Orlando Julius. They released their first album Iya Mi Jowo in 1969 after winning a record contract with Decca Records.
They worked with the late Biddy Wright on their third album Danger (1976). They recorded Sunshine in 1978 and Horizon Unlimited in 1979.
The sisters were top stars in Nigeria during the 1970s and 1980s. During these years, they branched out to America and Europe and found modest success. They performed with drummer Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
's band Salt at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich at the World Music Festival. The New York Times reported that the sisters were "smiling free spirits" who mixed "sisterly banter and flirtatiousness" in their performances which featured positive messages such as the benefit of returning home. Their reggae number Reincarnation insisted that if reincarnation was a reality, then they would like to be reincarnated again into the home where they grew up. Some of their song lyrics were politically-themed. Their harmonies were described as "ethereal".
In 1984 Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. According to Harvey Pekar , it is one of the largest independent record labels in the world, and is currently distributed by E1 Music. Starting as a label that specialized in fiddle music, they began releasing work by Celtic...
released Double Trouble in the U.S. which was a compilation of their previously recorded material from their albums Horizon Unlimited and Danger. Their song Orere Eljigbo was included on a double CD entitled Nigeria 70 and it was added to the Roots & Wings playlist in 1997.
The sisters moved to Brooklyn. They performed in various venues including the lower Manhattan club Wetlands and in Harlem with King Sunny Adé
King Sunny Adé
King Sunny Adé is a popular performer of Yoruba Nigerian Jùjú music and a pioneer of modern world music. He has been classed as one of the most influential musicians of all time.-Background:...
's African Beats as their backing band. They performed with the Philadelphia-based band Philly Gumbo. They were featured in the music documentary Konkombé by English director Jeremy Marre
Jeremy Marre
Jeremy Marre is a television director, writer and producer who founded Harcourt Films and has worked extensively around the world. Many of his films are on musical subjects....
, and their music was featured in the Nigerian installment of the 14-episode world music series entitled Beats of the Heart which aired on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
during the late 1980s.
Soon after settling in America they retired from the public eye, making details of their career in entertainment difficult to confirm, since the twins no longer gave interviews.
Reviews
- The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
music critic Jon Pareles described their music as "a West African parallel to the Pointer Sisters" with a mix of Nigerian Afro-beat, reggae, South African pop with elements of disco and "Memphis soul." Critic Peter Watrous described the sisters sound as "riveting".
- Reviewer Myles Boisen in All Music Guide wrote that they were "a rarity in the African music scene" and added that they were a "liberated twin sisters who share the spotlight on smooth close harmonies and command a sharp, inventive backing band."
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Type | Band | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iya Mi Jowo / Jikele - Maweni | 1969 | Decca | album | Lijadu Sisters | title means "Mother, please" |
| Danger | 1976 | Decca, Afrodisia | album (LP) | Lijadu Sisters | Ade Jolaoso (bass), Johny Shittu (keyboards), Biddy Wright (guitar, saxophone, drums) |
| Mother Arfica | 1977 | Afrodisia, Decca | album (LP) | Lijadu Sisters | |
| Sunshine | 1978 | Afrodisia | album (LP) | Lijadu Sisters | Biddy Wright (producer, various instruments), Candido Obajimi (drums), Gboyega Adelaja (keyboards), Jerry Ihejeto (bass) |
| Horizon Unlimited | 1979 | Afrodisia | album (LP) | Lijadu Sisters | two versions available; second source says 1983 release Musicians: Friday Jumbo on cleffs and ekwe, Buttley Moore, Nelly Uchendu on drums. |
| Double Trouble | 1984 | album | Lijadu Sisters | ||
| Orere Eligjigbo | 1997 | Shanachie Shanachie Records Shanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. According to Harvey Pekar , it is one of the largest independent record labels in the world, and is currently distributed by E1 Music. Starting as a label that specialized in fiddle music, they began releasing work by Celtic... |
single | Lijadu Sisters | |