Waka Music of Nigeria: History, Pioneer Artists, Rise to Popularity; Music Genres Nigeria
11 November 2020
Photo of Batili Alake who popularized Waka music. Source: Saavn
By Khisa CJ
Waka music is a popular genre among the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria which is Islamic-oriented.
The Waka music is one of the oldest musical genres in Nigeria – even older than Juju and Fuji. It is among the many traditional Yoruba music styles.
This musical style was popularized by Ogun State-born Alhaja Batile Alake when she started playing it in concerts and parties throughout Yorubaland and it would later find its way into the mainstream Nigerian music.
Alhaja Batile Alake, who died in 2013, aged about 78 years, was the first Waka Music singer to record an album. She was most active during the 1950s and 1960s.
Some of the songs that Batile Alake released during her reign include; Iwa, Leke Leke, Oju Mi Ti Mo, and Mo Eun Bge Are Mide.
After Waka Music gained popularity, younger singers like Salawa Abeni and Kuburatu Alaragbo also started doing the same genre.
Salawa Abeni would later taste success with the Waka music when her debut album titled, 'Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed' that was released in 1976 became the first recording by a female artist in Yoruba songs to sell over a million copies in Nigeria.
In 1992, Salawa Abeni was crowned "Queen of Waka" by the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamid Adeyem.
salawa-abeni photo by The Express News
She continued releasing albums up to as late as 1999 where she dropped ‘Good Morning In America’ album under the Sony Music.
Leave your comment