Juju Jubilee

Juju Jubilee
Compilation album by
Ebenezer Obey
Released1985
GenreJùjú
LabelShanachie
Ebenezer Obey chronology
Miliki Plus
(1983) 		Juju Jubilee
(1985) 		Get Yer Jujus Out
(1989)

Juju Jubilee is an album by the Nigerian musician Ebenezer Obey, released in 1985.[1][2] A compilation of songs that he recorded in Africa, it was his first album to be released in the United States.[3] He supported it with his first North American tour, backed by a 20-piece band.[4]

Production

Obey had expanded the traditional jùjú sound by adding a trap set and more guitarists to a base of talking drums and call and response vocals.[5][6] Many of the songs' lyrics reflected Obey's Christian beliefs.[7] He referred to his music as the "miliki sound", which he claimed meant happiness or joy.[7] Obey used steel guitar on several of the tracks; he used an organ on "Oro Alafia".[8][9] The songs were edited down from the original Nigerian album versions.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All Music Guide[11]
The Boston Phoenix[9]
Robert ChristgauB+[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[13]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[14]

The Los Angeles Times remarked on the similarities between Obey and King Sunny Adé but noted that "Obey's music occasionally acquires a stinging bite that vaguely recalls southern soul outfits like Booker T & the MGs and the Meters."[3] The Daily Times-Advocate called the album "a danceable, electrified music built around traditional Yoruba rhythms and African hymns."[15] The Province said that, unlike Adé's "crossover" music, Obey "stays more firmly rooted in traditional folk melodies, which are unspeakably gentle yet propulsively rhythmic."[16] Robert Christgau criticized the decision to shorten the tracks but praised the "spectacular sounds throughout".[12]

In 2003, Guitar Player included Juju Jubilee on its list of "essential" Nigerian jùjú albums.[17] The Trouser Press Record Guide stated that Juju Jubilee "displays Obey's progression from grassroots juju to ever-more-sophisticated compositions... Unfortunately, it suffers from a severe case of enjoyment interruptus."[10]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Awa Ewe Iwoyi" 
2."E Ma Se Lo" 
3."A Fi Eni Oluwa Koyo (He Who God Delivers)" 
4."Ohun Oju Ri Laiye" 
5."Asiko Mi Ti To" 
6."Ko Easy Lati Je Omo Okunrin" 
7."Oro Alafia" 
8."Oro Mi Ti Davo" 

References

  1. ^ McNeese, Don (25 October 1985). "African beat goes on with Obey". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 3.
  2. ^ Nastos, Michael G. (9 October 1985). "Commander eyes his place in pantheon of juju music". The Ann Arbor News. p. C8.
  3. ^ a b Snowden, Don (20 October 1985). "Juju Music from the Chief". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 53.
  4. ^ Varga, George (20 October 1985). "'JuJu Jubilee' displays Obey's blend of upbeat, melodic styles". The San Diego Union. p. E3.
  5. ^ Barlow, Sean (1995). Afropop!: An Illustrated Guide to Contemporary African Music. Chartwell Books. p. 48.
  6. ^ Blumenthal, Howard J. (1997). The World Music CD Listener's Guide. Billboard Books. p. 122.
  7. ^ a b Kelp, Larry (23 October 1985). "Nigerian pop star brings Miliki sound of joy to Bay area". Oakland Tribune. p. C3.
  8. ^ Spencer, Peter (1992). World Beat: A Listener's Guide to Contemporary World Music on CD. A Cappella Books. p. 31.
  9. ^ a b Moses, Mark (29 October 1985). "Off the Record". The Boston Phoenix. Vol. 14, no. 44. p. 3.31.
  10. ^ a b Gehr, Richard (1991). "Ebenezer Obey". The Trouser Press Record Guide (4th ed.). Collier Books. p. 477.
  11. ^ All Music Guide (4th ed.). Backbeat Books. 2001. p. 884.
  12. ^ a b "Ebenezer Obey". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 264.
  14. ^ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 565.
  15. ^ Leighton, Ken (24 October 1985). "Live Sounds". Daily Times-Advocate. p. NC31.
  16. ^ Harrison, Tom (18 May 1986). "Rare few days of African music". The Province. p. 68.
  17. ^ Cleveland, Barry (June 2003). "One-Minute Tutorial". Guitar Player. Vol. 37, no. 6. p. 27.
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