Tunde King

Abdulrafiu Babatunde King simply known as Tunde King was born in the Sierra Leone returnees’ quarters of Olowogbowo, Lagos Island on August 24, 1910 to Ibrahim Sanni King, a member of the minority Muslim Saro community. His father was a chief Native Court clerk at Ilaro.

Tunde King Age

Tunde King would have been 114 years old, if he were alive today. May his soul rest in peace.

Tunde King Early Life

Tunde King attended a Methodist primary school and the Eko Boys High School although he was a Moslem.

Tunde King Career

Tunde King learnt how to play the guitar from a schoolmate. His music career started out at a mechanic's shop on West Balogun street where he was the leading member of a local group of 'area boys' who talked, drank beer and sang, accompanied by improvised instruments.

Over time, Tunde and his group of three slowly transitioned from playing palm wine music that was common among guitarists in Lagos at that time, to producing songs in Yoruba and converting them into a story-like song in a verse-repeating and audience responsive format with him on the guitar.

He came into the spotlight following his music being aired on Radio Lagos in 1932 and in 1933. He soon started receiving official, solicited invites from the rich and famous elite members of the Lagos community. He was was the first Juju musician to achieve upscale patronage

After Tunde King and his group performed in June 1935 at the funeral ceremony of Dr. Oguntola Odunmbaka Sapara who was famous for his spirited campaign against secret societies that were spreading Smallpox, his music became known as Jùjú music. He said that the word 'Jùjú originated from the process of throwing a tambourine into the air and catching it, which the audience called Jù-jú, duplicating the Yoruba word for 'throw' with tonal accent

In 1939, During the World war 2, Tunde King joined the Merchant Marines. He returned to Lagos in 1941, then disappeared for the next eleven years. He was rediscovered playing in Francophone ports such as Conakry and Dakar, and returned to Lagos in 1954

Some of his notable recordings were 'Eko Akete', 'Oba Oyinbo' (White King) and 'Sapara ti sajule orun' (Sapara has gone to Heaven). He had about 40 records before his demise.

His music influenced the likes of Akanbi Ege, Ayinde Bakare, Tunde Nightingale and Ojoge Daniel, King Sunny Adé and Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, who introduced electric guitars, Sir Shina Peters and Segun Adewale among others even though the sound has since been modernized.

Tunde King Personal Life

He died in the 1980s

Tunde King Net Worth

His net worth is not available.

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