Before the rise of Juju music legends like King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey, there was one man who laid the foundation for the entire genre—Tunde King, the true pioneer of Juju music in Nigeria.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Lagos was a melting pot of cultures—Yoruba locals mixed with returnees from Brazil and Cuba, giving birth to a new musical style known as Palm Wine music. This fusion of Yoruba rhythms with Latin and Western influences would evolve into what we now call Juju music. And at the heart of it all was Tunde King, strumming his guitar and singing in the back of a mechanic’s workshop in the Olowogbowo area of Lagos Island.
Who Was Tunde King?
Born Abdulrafiu Babatunde King on August 24, 1910, in Olowogbowo, Lagos, Tunde was part of a vibrant Saro (returnee African) community. His father, Ibrahim Sanni King, was a prominent court clerk with roots in Sierra Leone. Though raised Muslim, Tunde attended a Christian primary school and later Eko Boys’ High School, where he learned to play the guitar from a classmate.
Tunde’s musical journey began casually among friends who gathered at a mechanic’s shop to chat, drink palm wine, and make music with whatever instruments they could find. By 1929, he was working as a clerk and performing part-time. His unique sound began attracting attention, and by the mid-1930s, he was recording music, appearing on radio, and performing at live events across Lagos.
One of his notable performances was at the wake-keeping of the esteemed physician Dr. Oguntola Sapara in June 1935. Tunde typically charged around eight shillings for performances, but fans often rewarded him with gifts and cash. On some nights, he earned more than £15—an impressive sum at the time. On one occasion, a woman tossed him a gold bracelet worth £50 in appreciation of his praise-singing.
Tunde King’s music was known for its emotional depth and lyrical wisdom. One of his most memorable songs was a heartfelt tribute to Dr. Macaulay, composed after the tragic death of the doctor’s daughter.
Although Tunde King passed away in the 1980s, his legacy lives on. He pioneered a genre that would later define Nigerian music, laying the groundwork for the icons who followed. Today, as Juju music continues to thrive, it’s only fitting that we remember and honor its true originator—Tunde King.
