Afrobeats Meets Juju: King Whalay Breaks the Mold

By Yinka Olatunbosun

Why Juju?

What is King Whalay trying to do by playing in the juju music genre? Known for his work in Afrobeats as both an artist and a producer, and with a history of singing in church, he could have stayed within familiar territory. Yet he chose juju, a genre that many of his contemporaries shy away from. The question is not just why he ventured into it, but how he managed to make it feel both authentic and innovative.

Crossing Musical Boundaries

In 2022, Whalay executive produced the juju album Experience by Dfamous featuring Alh Taiye Currency. Juju is a genre steeped in intricate rhythms, call-and-response patterns, and melodic textures, and it requires a producer with both technical skill and cultural intuition. Whalay’s lifelong immersion in juju music, combined with his experience arranging Christian music, allowed him to navigate the genre’s nuances with precision. The result is an album that honours tradition while reflecting his own creative vision.

“I wanted to respect the roots of juju while bringing something new to the table,” says Whalay. The album is proof that crossing genres is not merely a stylistic experiment—it can be a statement.

A Track Record of Versatility

Whalay’s production and songwriting history speak volumes. He is credited on tracks such as Do! (2020), Packaging (2020), Slavery in Freedom (2019), Why? (2019), Iya Ni Wura (2019), and Monica (2019). In 2021, he partnered with Calidad Studios and Opeyemi Music to produce the Crime Free Christmas project. Across these works, he balances narrative depth with rhythmic appeal, blending performance, production, and creative direction seamlessly.

Redefining Possibility

Stepping into juju is more than a genre experiment. It is a declaration of artistic vision. Whalay challenges expectations, bridging musical traditions that few dare to merge. He proves that an Afrobeats artist can also be a curator of sound, shaping projects with both strategy and imagination.
What’s Next?

As 2022 comes to a close, King Whalay emerges as a figure who refuses to be boxed in. On stage, behind the mic, or in the producer’s chair, he continues to expand the boundaries of what an Afrobeats artist can accomplish. The question now is whether there is a limit to his ambition. Could Apala and Fuji be the next chapters in his musical exploration? If this year is any indication, Whalay will continue to push, experiment, and redefine versatility in ways that keep audiences and peers watching closely.