Admiral Dele Abiodun

                                                                                           The career of ‘Admiral’ Dele Abiodun – born 1948 in Bendel StateNigeria - stratches back to the late sixties. Resisting his parents’ plans for a career in medicine, Dele Abiodun used his school fees to enrol at the Young Pioneers School of Music in Accra, Ghana. Here he immersed himself in highlife music, playing bass in several bands, before returning to Nigeria in 1969 and basing himself in Lagos. 

There he founded his own band, Sweet Abby And The Tophitters, who played Ghanaian-style highlife.  Gradually Abiodun developed his music by incorporating juju and afrobeat elements into an entirely unique ' modern juju sound', which he called Adawa (translated as ‘independent being’). The new style immediately attracted a large audience throughout Nigeria, and Abiodun has adhered to it, with occasional modifications, throughout his career. It was very special that as a non-Yoruba, he managed to become one of the most successful Juju band leaders. Eschewing the established juju practice of releasing four or five albums a year, Abiodun chose to release just one album a year, free of the sponsorship of local dignitaries and politicians. As a result, he has never achieved the superstardom of his peers King Sunny Ade or Ebenezer Obey, but has built up a loyal following and maintained substantial record sales throughout the ensuing decades. During the 1970s he released three singles, two EP’s and over 20 LPs on the Olumo label. Abiodun made use of ‘Hawaiian steel guitar and claims to have been the first to introduce the instrument to juju music. A tour of the UK in 1974 helped establish his international reputation. 

♫ Audio 1975: Dele Abiodun (ORPS 21 Side A) - Adwawa Super Sound 19:30

                      

                                                                                                                                                  Around 1980 his career hit a dead end after a large part of his band abandoned him. Challenged by this setback, Abiodun formed an almost entirely new band and decided on a radical overhaul of his sound. He included more western elements such as electroclaps and drum machines, while also deepening the African base of his music with an expanded drum and percussion section. The new approach was introduced with 1984’s It’s Time For Juju Music and came to maturity with the following year’s Confrontation, which was released internationally on the British Shanachie label. 

♫ Audio 1984: Dele Abiodun (ASLP 05 Side A) – It’s time for juju music 10:43

♫ Audio 1985: Dele Abiodun (ASLP 006) – Oro Ayo / Oloju (Come & Do) 9:35

Abiodun continued to release an album annually until the early 1990s, but then his production stopped. However, he has always continued to perform and even today, in his seventies, he is not afraid of live shows lasting several hours. And.... in 2020, to many a surprise, he released a new album after many years, titled 'God's grace'. Hopefully, this will not be the only album and more will follow in the years to come.

♫ Docu 2020: Launching of the album ‘God’s Grace’ 22:04

DISCOGRAPHY 

Justino Delgado

 

Justino Gomes Delgado, known as 'Juju' to close family and friends, was born on November 03, 1963, in Onhocomo, Ilha dos Bijagós. He was firmly connected to his roots and was raised on the island of Bijagós by his parents, both stemming from typical tribes from the island. His father Tomas Gomes, from the tribe of Mancanha and his mother Basiliana Gomes, from the tribe of Papel. It is said that he received his vocal talent from his mother, who possessed a natural beautiful singing voice and his energetic dancing moves from his father, who was well known in the region as a talented dancer. His talent for singing was discovered at a young age and under the watchful eye of his parents he began his artistic career and studies at the Bubaqye Center of the Bijagós Archipelago. In 1973 he moved to the city of Bissau where he started to make his mark on the musical scene of Guinean music.

In 1978 he founded and lead the student-youth musical group called: "Flower of Africa". In 1979 he was invited to join the group "Africa Livre", one of the most popular youth bands in Bissau at that time. This group was composed of musicians of great notoriety: his brother Nélson, renowed Manecas Costa, Beto Afanche, Jorge Mino and Djanuno Dabó.

From 1982 to 1986 he invested energy in his solo career, where he made many appearances as a special guest artist in concerts with groups: Africa Livre, Super Mama Djombo and Nkassa Cobra. As his fame increased, so did his popularity and the renowned artist had a big following not only as a vocalist and composer but also as a political figure. He started using his voice and talent as a vehicle to express the political climate in Guinea Bissau which was very hostile and heated. It was during this time that Juju was forbidden to leave the country, in fact he was only permitted to reside within the territory of Guinea Bissau. Feeling the weight of political tensions, the Guinean artist attempted to leave Guinea Bissau for Portugal, but between 1985 and 1986 he was arrested which resulted in an imprisonment that would last for over one year.

Soon afterwards Delgado fled Guinnea Bissau in 1987 and went to Dakar, Senegal with renowned guitarist, composer and cousin, Tony Delgado. They stayed in Senegal for a period of six months. In this same year, he was invited to participate in the Festival of Journalists Lusófonos that took place in Portugal. In 1989 he released his first LP "Casamenti D'Haós" which Guinnean criol means: Wedding of Today. This album launched him in Portugal and made him known in Europe and in the rest of the world. At that time artists from Guinea Bissau never really made it outside the country and he was the only one that did. Highlights and hit songs included Bubaque Tchom di Budjugo which involved a collaboration with the great Cabo Verdean musician Paulino Vieira, it was recorded in Lisbon. The album was a tribute to the Island of Bijagós, Justino’s birth place. 

♫ Audio: 1989 – Justino Delgado – Casamenti D’haös

At the end of the 80’s/early 90’s, the artist participated in several concerts and tours in Portugal, Guinea Bissau, Angola, Cape Verde, Senegal, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, United Kingdom Etc. In 1991 he released his second album Lola. Amongst many songs was the hit tune Montpellier written in homage to the city of Montpellier, France which he sang with the famous Angolan artist Eduardo Paim, and Guinean friend and colleague Fernando da Gôia (Bidinte). Lola received the golden album award in Portugal. In 1992 he released his third album Gabiana with the participation of great Guinean musician Manecas Costas on rhythm and bass guitars.

In 1995 he released one of his more well known albums Tetété in which he participated with Manecas Costa, Tony Dúdu, and the Portuguese Fado singer: Mariza. In 1996 he was invited to perform a mega concert at the National Stadium in Bissau to15 thousand people. After returning from enormous success to Portugal the musician continued with tours in Angola, Cape Verde, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Holland, Switzerland and the US.

♫ Audio: 1995 – Justino Delgado – Tétété

In 1997 he released his fourth album “Geraçon Nobo”, which had a different influence as a big portion of it had been recorded in Brazil.The Album had the participation of renowned vocalists: Liana Tina, Maurício J Barbosa and Clóvis Lardo. Among many songs featured was the hit song Telefone which was a personal homage to his father who had been very ill.

In 1998, Guinea Bissau suffered another political, military conflict in Bissau when the artist decided to release his fifth album called “Toroco”. This album was followed in 2000 by the album Farol. In 2004 he released the album Ley di Byda. From  this album the song Marcas do Tempo became a great hit in Guinea Bissau. In 2007 he released his album entitled Dum D'tchom where Juju pays homage to several of his deceased great colleagues from the Guinean music scene. In 2014 he released the album Estátua with the hit songs Maria Augusta, Maria Amelia and Cobardo cata puntadu Cuma de curpo.

♫ Video Clip: 1998 – Justino Delgado – Balimba tentem

♫ Video Clip: 2004 – Justino Delgado – Markas do tempo

Justino Delgado released his most recent album “Rubane” in July 2020. The album contains 12 songs in various styles. With this album the musician celebrates the 40th birthday [in 2019] of his enormous musical career. For several decades now, Juju has been one of Guinea Bissau's most popular singers with 12 albums to his name, including a "Best of".

He was distinguished many times at home and abroad. He is also the Ambassador of modern Guinean music and leads the band Dokolma, an old band of which he was a part, but which he restored in recent years and who sometimes accompanies him in his concerts.

DISCOGRAPHY