Meet Pajuji, the modernised rhythm exponent
By Wale Emosu
Adeyemi Nasiru Alabede
(aka MR PAJUJI)
HIS stage name - MR
PAJUJI is a
derivative of the brand of music he plays. The ‘MR’ means Modernised Rhythm, while ‘PAJUJI’ was coined from Apala, Juju and Fuji, all of which he says make up his own type of music that also has an infusion of hip-hop and R&B.
With this, Republic of Ireland-based Adeyemi Nasiru Alabede has been making waves in the foreign land since he made an incursion into the music world a few years ago.
“My music is well received over there because I use the European pattern of music like pop rhythms, rock rhythms and it also includes the R&B rhythms. I also lace it with African melody…modernised rhythm takes care of the interest of all fans who love different brands of music, so the Europeans dance to my music,” said Mr. PAJUJI in an interview with Rhythms and Vibes.
One notable testimony of the general acceptance of MR PAJUJI’s music which he says will remain memorable to him was when he played in honour of Nigerian actor, Olu Jacobs, on November 25, 2007. The show, put together by another Nigerian actor, Deji Adenuga, according to MR PAJUJI, saw Irish and Nigerians in their hundreds, including Nigeria’s Mayor dancing to his music at the Royal Dublin Hotel.
But what is gradually turning out to be a success story for the up-and-coming musician had a rough beginning to it as the idea of taking to music never crossed his mind when he left Nigeria in January 2000 to, according to him, “search for better life.”
Born in Lagos on November 8, 1977 into the Alabede family of Olomi area of Ibadan, Yemi Alabede attended Jimoh Ojora Primary School, Lagos and from there proceeded to Olodi Secondary School, Apapa, where he graduated in 1996. Frustrated by his inability to gain admission into a tertiary institution, Alabede left Nigeria eight years ago for the Republic of Ireland, where he discovered his music talent.
Despite his new found love, Alabede’s yearnings to further his education could not be quelled and this took him to Galway Mayor Institute of Technology where he studied practical electronics. He is at present seeking admission into a university in Dublin.
Being promoted by Dublin-based Kash Flo Productions, headed by Ola Iginla, Alabede’s second album entitled The Updated will be released on February 20 in Lagos, ahead of the official launching in Ireland on March 6. His first effort was entitled MR PAJUJI Loves U All.
When asked to comment on Nigerian musicians and their music by what he has seen of them since his arrival in Nigeria last month, MR PAJUJI highlights what he believes is a negative trend in some of the music and this, he says, should be done away with.
According to him, the lyrics of some Nigerian musicians centres on enemies, some gospel music inclusive. This is unbecoming, in the view of MR PAJUJI.
He says: “Music shouldn’t focus on enemies. Even some gospel songs focus on enemies. They shut people down.
Music should be about entertainment, about how you feel, not about how you have been destroyed. It happens only in Nigeria. You can’t tell a whiteman somebone is trying to ‘destroy your life’ and you expect him to believe. “A musician should be like a priest who tells people what is next,” MR PAJUJI further submits.
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