Tunde King

Nigerian musician

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July 19, 2026

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Tunde King was a pivotal Nigerian musician who played a key role in the development of juju music. Juju music emerged in Nigeria from a blend of Christian singing, Yoruba vocal and percussion traditions, and various African and Western popular genres. King is credited with coining the term "juju" and made the first juju music recording in 1936. His work laid the foundation for a genre that gained international acclaim, particularly in the 1980s, through artists like King Sunny Ade.

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juju
…did its celebrities, most notably Tunde King and Ayinde Bakare. King is credited not only with coining the term juju—in reference to the sound of a small, Brazilian tambourine-like drum that was used in his ensemble—but also with making the first recording of juju music in 1936. A year later…
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…did its celebrities, most notably Tunde King and Ayinde Bakare. King is credited not only with coining the term juju—in reference to the sound of a small, Brazilian tambourine-like drum that was used in his ensemble—but also with making the first recording of juju music in 1936. A year later…
Read More