At Waterside, Lekki, an unforgettable night of music and culture unfolded as Monkey Shoulder and Worldwide FM came together to celebrate Jazzhole and its contribution to Nigeria’s rich music scene.
The event, part of the global Studio Monkey Shoulder initiative, paid tribute to Jazzhole’s 30-year legacy and its role in preserving Nigeria’s vibrant music traditions. Jazzhole, an iconic Lagos cultural hub, was one of five winners chosen from around the world for its tireless work in promoting grassroots music.
As part of its recognition, Jazzhole received a £10,000 grant and continued support from Monkey Shoulder and Worldwide FM, helping it digitise and release two compilation albums of previously unreleased recordings.
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These albums showcase a collection of Nigeria’s most authentic sounds, with genres like Afro-Funk, Afrobeat, Palm Wine, Juju, and Highlife.
The event was more than just a nod to Jazzhole. It was a celebration of grassroots music culture – the artists, the communities, and the stories behind the music. The atmosphere at Waterside was electric, as musicians, DJs, and passionate music lovers gathered to share in the experience.
Meanwhile, Founder of Jazzhole Records, Kunle Tejuosho and some living members of the Faaji Agba Collective are set to release two music albums this September.
Tejuosho disclosed this at the rescreening of his and British-Nigerian filmmaker, Remi Vaughan-Richards 2015 documentary titled, ‘Faaji Agba’.
The first album will feature music from members of the collective who appeared in the ‘Faaji Agba’ documentary, and the later album will feature tracks of a Jazzhole Records younger artiste. The project was made possible via a grant from Monkey Shoulder and London-based Worldwide FM. Both albums will be available online and in vinyl record format.
Highlighting the importance of the ‘Faaji Agba’ documentary in relation to the upcoming projects, Tejuosho said Faaji Agba represents the golden age of Lagos society and music scenery of the 60s, 70s and 80s, where good and authentic music devoid of vulgarity reigned.
Established in 2009, when Tejuosho met the erstwhile musician Fatai Rolling Dollars, Faaji Agba Collective, had as its members largely forgotten Nigerian musicians of the 60s, 70s and 80s whose music impacted the society and beyond. They include, Fatai Rolling Dollars, Prince Eji Oyewole, Y.S Olowookere, Alaba Pedro and Tejuosho. The records store and studio founder would later team up with filmmaker Remi Vaughan-Richards to produce the documentary ‘Faaji Agba’ in 2015, which is a narrative on the experience of the collective’s members during their American music tour.
