Afrobeats, as a genre, is like that cousin who borrows everybody’s style and somehow makes it look fresh and fly. From highlife to reggae, jazz to amapiano, it’s a melting pot of influences.
But if there’s one genre it owes a heavy debt to, it’s Fuji—a genre with roots that run deep in Nigerian musical tradition, springing from Were music, also known as Ajisari. This was the sound that once stirred Muslims before dawn during Ramadan fasting, evolving into a cultural force that became distinctly Nigerian.
Fuji music is a genre that captures the grit and soul of the streets, mixing percussion-heavy rhythms with chants that echo ancestral energy. This marriage of sounds isn’t new. Fuji artists like Pasuma have long embraced the cross-pollination, teaming up with Afrobeats icons.
Remember “Ati Jelo“, that electric collaboration with 9ice? Or Pasuma’s unforgettable duet with Tiwa Savage on “Ife” that hit the mainstream? The truth is, Afrobeats has been borrowing from Fuji in ways both overt and subtle—whether it’s true sampling, interpolation, or just absorbing its streetwise swagger.
Here’s our curated list of Afrobeats songs that tap from Fuji influence. Whether they’re lifting drum patterns, vocal phrasing, or that unmistakable call-and-response style, these tracks prove that Fuji is the heartbeat of modern Afrobeats.
Orobo by Olamide
In 2016, Olamide dropped “Orobo”, a track that is unarguably Fuji music. The raw, percussion-heavy rhythm and unfiltered streetwise lyrics are straight out of Fuji’s playbook. Even the phrase “Orobo kiboro ki” is a nod to Obesere, one of Fuji’s most colourful icons, who made it his signature chant.
The song’s unapologetically street vibe and rhythmic grit are proof that Fuji’s DNA continues to pulse through the veins of Afrobeats, and Olamide is one of the few artists unafraid to lean into that heritage.
Fuji Interlude by Seyi Vibez
When Seyi Vibez released “Vibe Till Thy Kingdom Come” in 2023, the sixth track, “Fuji Interlude,” was a full-on tribute to Fuji.
What makes “Fuji Interlude” truly remarkable is the way Seyi mirrors the performance style of Fuji icons. He name-drops people, showers praise on them in a way that feels spontaneous yet intentional—a hallmark of Fuji stagecraft.
His voice dances over the beat with the same fervour you’d expect from a live Fuji concert, complete with the rhythm-heavy instrumentation that makes the genre so electrifying.
Fargin by Teni
Teni’s 2017 breakout single “Fargin” is as much a nostalgic ode as it is a fresh, forward-thinking pop song. Built on a foundation of relatable storytelling and a melody that sticks with you long after the first listen, “Fargin” also carries the unmistakable influence of Adewale Ayuba’s Fuji classic, “Omoge Cinderella”.
The borrowed line—“Teni, Olomoge Cinderella, ohun to fisaya yi po” is a bridge between generations which makes the song “Fargin” proof that Fuji’s lyrical richness and melodic depth continue to find relevance in Afrobeats, even as the genre evolves.
Joha by Asake
Asake has built a reputation as one of Afrobeats’ most innovative voices, and nowhere is this more evident than on “Joha”, a standout track from his debut album “Mr. Money With the Vibe”.
The song is a rich fusion, blending the log-drum-heavy essence of amapiano with the raw, unfiltered energy of Fuji. The instrumental arrangement—layered with chanted vocals, traditional Yoruba phrases, and rhythmic patterns—shows Fuji signature. Even the cadence of his delivery and his use of repetition draw from the call-and-response style that defines Fuji music
Tomorrow by Barry Jhay
Barry Jhay’s “Tomorrow” is a song drenched in legacy and emotion, a perfect example of how Afropop artists continue to draw from the well of Fuji music. The track opens with a guitar strum that immediately commands attention, a deliberate nod to Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’s 1988 classic “Fuji Garbage Medley.”
Barry’s connection to Fuji can be said to be deeply personal. As the son of one of Fuji’s most revered pioneers, Barry’s music carries the weight of history and the responsibility of bridging generations.
