Nigerian reggae

Nigerian reggae is a style of raggae-fusion that evolved in the late 1960s,^[1] and later became a major part of the music of Nigeria, especially after the rise of singer Majek Fashek.^[2] Fashek was a member of the long-running band Jah Stix, along with Ras Kimono and Amos McRoy.^[3]

One of the notable musicians from this genre is Daniel Wilson^[4] (AKA Mr. Ragamuffinwik) who introduced his brand of ragamuffin music to Nigeria. Daniel Wilson^[5] dazzled the Nigerian music scene with hits like "Mr.Ragamuffin" and "Original Bad Boy". Other musicians include Jerri Jheto,^[6] Daddy Showkey, Ras Kimono, Rymzo, De king, the high school band of Victor Essiet and Peggy Umanna, The Mandators, and the London-based MC Afrikan Simba. These pioneers of reggae music include big names like Orits Williki, Peterside Ottong, Andy Shoreman, Alex Zitto, Evelyn Ogoli, Wale Man, and Isaac Black, among others, who paved the way for the new generation of homegrown reggae artists.

Reggae music was propelled into the mainstream Nigerians in the mid-eighties. During this period, radio stations were a viable medium for many recording artists and record label executives. In print and electronic media, the artists promoted a different kind of music to Nigerian demography. Some of these stations included Radio Nigeria 1 Ikoyi, Lagos, Radio Nigeria 2 Lagos on Martin Street, Lagos Island, and Radio Nigeria 3 Ikoyi, Lagos, in 1987. They began and frequently hit the airwaves with this new music genre that took Nigerians by storm.^[7]

Jah Stix disbanded in 1987, Fashek, rebranded from Raji Canal to Majek Fashek and was signed to Tabansi Records, where he began a solo career with the release of his debut album, Prisoner of Conscience^[8] and quickly became Nigeria’s top reggae artiste after the song "Send Down The Rain" became the most popular song of the year, and in 1989 he won six Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria awards for Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Reggae Artist of the Year among others.^[9]