"Ja Funmi" is a Yoruba Phrase which means fight for me. Sunny Ade is saying that God his creator will fight for him. This was one of his most popular hits of the 1980's. It's a rhythm, folk, cultural, melody, upbeat song. My parents played a lot of his songs when I was growing up in London, UK in the 1970's. "Maa Jo" is another great song too.
I love Juju music. So rhythmic and danceable. The amazing thing is how a steel guitar works into it all. It plays a huge part with the tribal beats and rhythms. It was back in the 80s when I first heard it. I continue to love hearing Sunny. I still follow him on IG.
I saw King Sunny Ade at Glastonbury in 1983. My introduction to World Music...and how! The multitudes on stage - singers, musicians and dancers - were having their own party, and we were invited. At least, that's how it felt. Such a wonderful, joyous experience!
I've seen King Sunny Ade play several times. One practice you see at his shows is audience members going up on stage to plaster $10's and $20's and even $100's on the sweaty band members bodies. This is a custom in the part of Africa he hails from and perhaps elsewhere. With such a large band and with what I imagine to be big management cuts, hefty transportation costs and not great fees in the first place, I think it's perfectly example of a free market economy in action. To bypass the middle-men and pay/tip/acknowledge these incredibly gifted musicians directly just seems so respectful, fun and gracious. Add this, as the night went on and more and more money was getting plastered (and so was i!) on the group, the more they played their hearts out. Best performance I ever seen bar none and I've taken in hundreds of live shows in small venues.
you are correct,thats how we do it in nigeria,you plaster money on their faces,it shows that you enjoyed their performances.not suprisingly it has been recorded that some generate millions on that alone! but sunny doesnt come cheap either in performance fees!
Damn, that cat's pedal steel solo sounded to my ears like a Carlos Santana or David Gilmour solo. So... concise. So few notes to "lead" us. You know what? (I'm kinda high.) It's Miles Davis. It's John Coltrane. It's Bob Marley. It's Burning Spear. It's Culture. It's Weather Report. It's ALL of the above... IT'S AFRICAN MUSIC!!
Prefer this track played on the album than live; he seemed more confidential To me it is one of the purest African sounds.I invented the word Atabessi to describe an ancient radiation of primal happiness. Africa carries that.Australian abos too. It is often in their accents. Ja funmi seems full of it
![King Sunny Ade - Ja Funmi + Merciful God [7-16-92]](/img/n.gif)
"Ja Funmi" is a Yoruba Phrase which means fight for me. Sunny Ade is saying that God his creator will fight for him. This was one of his most popular hits of the 1980's. It's a rhythm, folk, cultural, melody, upbeat song. My parents played a lot of his songs when I was growing up in London, UK in the 1970's. "Maa Jo" is another great song too.
All his songs are EVERGREEN
went through the same thing
Interesting, how yorubas never forget our culture.
I love Juju music. So rhythmic and danceable. The amazing thing is how a steel guitar works into it all. It plays a huge part with the tribal beats and rhythms. It was back in the 80s when I first heard it. I continue to love hearing Sunny. I still follow him on IG.
I saw King Sunny Ade at Glastonbury in 1983. My introduction to World Music...and how! The multitudes on stage - singers, musicians and dancers - were having their own party, and we were invited. At least, that's how it felt. Such a wonderful, joyous experience!
Saw him in New York at Roseland in the 80s. Blew my mind.
I've seen King Sunny Ade play several times. One practice you see at his shows is audience members going up on stage to plaster $10's and $20's and even $100's on the sweaty band members bodies. This is a custom in the part of Africa he hails from and perhaps elsewhere. With such a large band and with what I imagine to be big management cuts, hefty transportation costs and not great fees in the first place, I think it's perfectly example of a free market economy in action. To bypass the middle-men and pay/tip/acknowledge these incredibly gifted musicians directly just seems so respectful, fun and gracious. Add this, as the night went on and more and more money was getting plastered (and so was i!) on the group, the more they played their hearts out. Best performance I ever seen bar none and I've taken in hundreds of live shows in small venues.
thats how we do it mannnn!
you are correct,thats how we do it in nigeria,you plaster money on their faces,it shows that you enjoyed their performances.not suprisingly it has been recorded that some generate millions on that alone! but sunny doesnt come cheap either in performance fees!
olagoke abodunde Very cool!
The Best Guitarist of all times in the World is King Sunny Ade. . .
2019 and beyond anyone? Timeless music
This is from The Tube. I’m old enough to remember this.
2020ers, are you here?
Sunny is the King
Nigeria 🇳🇬 has been to the World a Long time ago...
love this to bits.
Damn, that cat's pedal steel solo sounded to my ears like a Carlos Santana or David Gilmour solo. So... concise. So few notes to "lead" us.
You know what? (I'm kinda high.)
It's Miles Davis. It's John Coltrane. It's Bob Marley. It's Burning Spear. It's Culture. It's Weather Report.
It's ALL of the above...
IT'S AFRICAN MUSIC!!
music of the heart and spirit, same fire wherever you get it, Africa is just closest to the hearth
perfection!
Great! Memories from the Roskilde!Thanks for posting it!
wow what a genius
Sublime African King !!!
who else is watching in 1994?
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Who's here in 2020??
Great music
Prefer this track played on the album than live; he seemed more confidential To me it is one of the purest African sounds.I invented the word Atabessi to describe an ancient radiation of primal happiness. Africa carries that.Australian abos too. It is often in their accents. Ja funmi seems full of it
Seriously no one says abos
90% of today's musicians can not play 1 single instrument 😢
💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛
Awesome
Superb
too good !!!
amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steel sound is great on this take, different guitar.........emmons man!
My kiñg please the thriumph 1989
Bola Abimbola featuring King Sunny Ade: th-cam.com/video/runfA83AiCY/w-d-xo.html
's sds