Ferdinand Ekechukwu
CEO, Huntarz Lifestyle Ltd, King Jubal Dati (aka JahBi) has spoken on his new body of work titled Fuji No.1. The 12 track album, he said was his first and last album as a recording artiste. JahBi who is of the opinion that in no distant time, Fuji music will become the favourite music across the globe, dwarfing Pop, R&B and Afrobeat, further disclosed his plans for the year.
In his desire to make the album berth well and globally accepted, JahBi who lays claim to a sub-genre called Urban Fuji, an offshoot of Fuji music, like what dancehall is to root reggae, said he worked with great producers like Cobhams and Keyz. Already, two tracks are getting air play on the radio with first track Tosibe Again, featuring his record label artistes, G-Nxt (Generation Next), a group comprising three young performers between ages 20 and 21.
According to him, second track Ijo Fuji (Fiesta), recorded years ago, features late Fada U-Turn, Jupiter, and G-Nxt. He disclosed that his ongoing pet project was meant to serve as an entertainment city for artistes and executives in the creative industry.
“It will be a place where they can be at home with themselves and focus on their creative works; a city for entertainers and entertainment executives,” he said.
Narrating his journey, influence and love of fuji music, he said he got attached from the first day he listened to the late Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’s Fuji Extravaganza, who almost became his idol.
“I was just a boy with so much innocence but I fell for the music and musician. The musical creativity, depth of lyrics, composition and personality of Dr. Sikiru arrested me.”
Continuing, he said “I even accepted to be converted to Islam just because of his creative use of Islamic verses in his songs and his depth of wisdom. My Muslim name was Malik.
“Sikiru had so much resemblance with my late father, who I lost when I was 12 years. So, then I always told people I was his musical last born, and K1 is our first born. That was my initiation into Fuji music.
“Later, I got exposed to K1’s songs, and he took my love for Fuji to another level.”
Though he acknowledged the duo of Bob Marley and Notorious BIG as the greatest lyricists of the time, JahBi described the late Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, K1 and Alhaji Obesere as his greatest influencers in music. “So, when I decided to do music, these three great musicians were my great influences.”
JahBi who runs an entertainment outfit that promotes Fuji, Juju and Highlife music for better acceptance, especially among younger generation said: “I am sure in no time the whole world will dance to Fuji music like never before. Europeans, Blacks, Asians, Arabs etc will all choose Fuji music as their favourite dance music. I know Sikiru will be happy in heaven!”
