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Yusufu Olatunji

SakaraNigeria

A pioneering figure in Sakara music, Yusufu Olatunji shaped the genre's evolution in mid-20th century Nigeria through his innovative guitar techniques and lyrical storytelling that blended traditional Yoruba themes with contemporary social commentary. His recordings in the 1950s and 1960s helped establish Sakara as a vital urban sound in Lagos, influencing generations of musicians who followed and earning him recognition as one of the genre's most distinctive vocalists. Olatunji's legacy demonstrates how African musicians synthesized local traditions with modern instrumentation to create sounds that resonated across Nigeria and beyond.

Discography

Albums

Vol. 1

1969

1[A] Surakaty Eki / Jioh Gbensola / Raufu Adegbite / Egbe Ifenirepo

2[B] Bolowo Bate / Ganiyu Ladeyinde / Yekini Akintoye / Egbe Iwajowa Ijebu-Ode

Plays Sakara Volume 2

1969

Plays Sakara Volume 3

1969

1[A] Tijani Akinyele / Alimi Okerayi / Yusufu Olatunji / Sule Apena / Alhaja Raliatu Adeyemi

No. 1

1969

1[A] Sunmora Folarin / Yekinni Ajala / Tijani Aiyelokun / Orokeloni / Surakatu Amodu / Joseph Balogun

2[B] A. K. Yusufu / Salu Ojelade / Lasisi Abiola / Raufu Adisa / Ayisatu Agbeke / Egbe Ajisafe

No. 2

1969

Vol. 3

1969

1[A] Tijani Akinyele / Alimi Okerayi / Yusufu Olatunji / Sule Apena / Alhaja Raliatu Adeyemi

Play Sakara: Vol. 4

1969

1[A] Kuye Dada / Alhaji Rasaki Sanusi / Busura Babaosa / Alhaji Ramoni Salami / Lamidi Durowoju

Vol. 5 Beriwa Ekiwa

1969

1Alhaji Raufu Salawu / Alhaji Ayinde Adenekan / Beriwa Ekiwa / Boti Sefun Mi / Late Shittu Olasimbo /

2Late J.F. Olasimbo / Abimbola Gbolade / Alhaji Adeleke Dada / Idayatu Sowami / Egbe Oredegbe (Agege)

Play Sakara: Vol. 6

1970

1[A] Nofiu Lashoju / Datemi Lare / O Ye Kani Fura / Egbe Fourteen Members / Egbe Ifelodun Kenta

2[B] Itoko Area / Chief Waidi Awoleshu / Adegoke Ajao / Egba Boys Society / R. Ayandeyi Akangbe

Kasumu Sanni

1970

Vol. 7

1970

Vol. 8 Toba Oluwa Ni Yio Se

1970

Vol. 9

Zareco1971

1[A] T. Ayinde Shonibare / Shittu Olafuyi / Busari Akiyo / Buraimoh Ogunmefun / Soredegbe(Iffo)

2[B] Lamide Adedibu / Buraimoh Oyedele / Comfort Seriki / Alhaji Raufu Akiode / Egbe Oredegbe (Saro)

Play Sakara: Vol. 10

1971

1[A] Mudasiru Otegbola / Titilayo Ejire / Raimi Balogun / Sikiru Balogun / Alafia Boys

2[B] Wahabi Shekoni / Nurudeen Adedeji / Abudu Okedara / Late Ramoni Sanni / Egbe Ifelodun Ikereku

Vol. 11

1971

1[A] Garuba Amodu / Raimi Alabi Shomorin / Gurudi Ayinde Adesanya / Olu Shodeinde /Egbe Irawo Ife Tan

2[B] Alhaji Raimi Baiyewunmi / Captain Jolaosho / Karimu Rabiti / Salawu Atu / Egbe Asiribo (Egba)

Vol. 12 Iranse Lowo Je

1971

1Amidu Ojedara / Alhaji Lamidi Shoge / Ilupeju Adatan / Alhaji Raji Akanji / Oredegbe Mushin

Vol. 13 Asiko Wa Ni

1971

1Alimi Sanusi / Chief Olorun Tele / Alhaji Sufianu Akande / Egbe Yusuf Olatunji / Bakare Shonde /

2Alade Okewole / Wosilatu Ologundudu / Alhaji Mustafa Bakare / Tijani Lemomu / Egbe Fowosere

Vol. 14

1971

1[A] Late Badejo Okusanya / Lasisi Karaole

2[B] Oba Alake of Egba Land / Yusufu Olatunji / Amuda Obelawo / Egbe Onifaji Eko

Vol. 15

1973

Vol. 16

1973

Vol. 17

1973

1[A] Orin Yusufu Olatunji / Kuburatu Adebisi Edioseri / Egba Ilupeju (Kemta)

2[B] Sule Esinlokun / Awon Oba Eko / Sherifatu Asake / Basiratu Salawe Akanni / Late Sidi Ereko

Vol. 18

1974

1[A] Alhaji Akanbi Awolesu / S. A. Sunmonu / Late Suara (Abusi Ibadan) / Oti Oyinbo

Vol. 19

1974

Vol. 20

1974

Vol. 21

1974

1[A] Lamidi Akinola / Asani Komolafe / Falilatu Shoga / Alhaja Nofisatu Agbeke / Egbe Ifelodun (Egba)

2[B] Sogigun / Jimoh Oni / Alhaji Raufu Adisa / Egbe Owoseni (Imo)

Vol. 22

1975

1[A] IWA / Shewu Bakare / Alhaja Musili Ashake / Egbe Ajisafe Oshogbo

Vol. 23 Olowo Lagba

Premier Music1975

1Olowo Lagba / Fasasi Olowobuso / Alhaji Salimonu Lawal / Egbe Osupa Egba /

Vol. 24

1976

1[B] S. Abeni / Ambali Akanni Salawu / Egbe Oredegbe (Isale Offin)

Vol. 25

1976

1[A] Adeleke Ashata / Mukadasi Aregbe / Salamotu Abiosoye Oliyide

2[B] Alhaji Isiaka Kaka / Rafiu Adigun / Alhaji Bakare Adenle / Egbe Ifelodun Oatunji (Egba)

Vol. 26

1977

1[A] Ogun State / Late Murtala Muhammed / Alhaji Oloruntele Olukoya / Egbe Irepolodun (Ibadan)

2[B] Igba Ta Ba Fi Winka / Akanju Wowo / Fasasi Kasumu / Raufu Arogundade / Egbe Oredegbe (Eko)

Vol. 27

1977

1[A] Alhaji Adetunji Adenekan / Alhaja Lati Ladejobi / Sinotu Abeke / Egbe Egba Parapo (Oshodi)

2[B] Orin Tokotaya / Orin Asiko / Rasaki Adelakun / Egbe Faripo (Egba) / Egbe Irepolodun (Egba)

Vol. 28

1977

1[A] Alhaji Rasidi Shoyoye / Alhaji Lasisi Akinshola / Ramoni Shanusi / Wosilatu Ologundudu

2[B] Alhaji Yinusa Akanbi (Otta) / Kilani - Babanla / Alhaja - Wosilatu - Oguntade

Vol. 29

1978

1[A] Surakatu Akinbola / Alhaji Yekini Ajala / Egbe Owo Otta

2[B] Lawrence Aina / Aileru Sodimu / Rasy Musitafa / Egbe Obanibashiri Kemta

Vol. 30

1978

1[A] Alhaji Samusi Ayorinde / Alhaji Musitafa Oyeleke / Sufianu Ogunwolu / Raufu Ajani Raji

2[B] Alhaji Muraina Ajadi / Jimo Ishola Amodu / Nofisatu Iya Iebeji / Egbe Irepudun Ibadan

Vol. 32

1979

1[A] Iba Abibu - Oluwa / Alhaji Akinpelu / Alhaji Salabiu Ladejobi / Egbe Binukonu Iwo

2[B] Ibi Agbagbe Fowo - Tisi / Sidikatu - Sogbamu / Alhaji Sule - Shittu / Egbe Alafia Boys Egba

Vol. 33

1980

1[A] Late Akhaji Adegbenro / Bakare Ajani Olagunju / Egbe Fesojaiye (Adatani)

2[B] Kasunmu Isola Sanni / Sabitiyu Adunni / Egbe Anjuwon (Itoko)

Vol. 35

1981

1[B] Lasisi Ishola Fajebe / Mutalubi Dami / Alhaji Onilegbale / Egbe Ifelodun Odi - Olowo

Vol.36 Ore Marun

1981

Vol. 37

1981

1[A] Chief Adeniyi Idowu / Jinadu Ogunbayo / Awon Omo Lefude / Egbe Osupa Egba Obinrin

2[B] Mapada Lehin Mi Oluwa / Alhaji Ashiru Olona / Alhaji R. P. Salami / Egbe Ajisafe (Eko) Mushin

Vol. 4: Baba O

Zareco1985

Baba O

1987

1[A] Waidi Orelope / Larimu Seriki / Rabiu Shodunke / Shitu Dokunmu

2[B] K. Dawodu / Jimoh Asuni / Jimo Subulade / Alhaji Lemboye / James Kodaolu / Oredegbe Kaduna

Agbalagba To'nta Roba F'eye

1987

1Waidi Orelope / Karimu Seriki / Rabiu Shodunke / Shitu Dokunmu / Egbe Unity /

2K. Dawodu / Jimoh Asuni / Jimoh Subulade / Alhaji Lemboye / James kodaolu / Oredegbe Kaduna

Legend Vol. 2

1993

The Living Songs Of The Legend Series 1

2001

1Asa Mba Eiyele Sere / Ajagbe Ejo / Orin Toko Taya / Baba In The 60's

The Living Songs Of The Legend Series 3

2001

1Orin Yusuf Olatunji / Awon Oba Eko / Alhaji Adetunji Adenekan

Premier Legend

2001

The Evergreen Sakara Hit Collections Series 1

Premier Music no number2001

1Fasasi Bakare / Egbe Unity/ Adeniran Adegboyega / Mojisola Ologunebi / Rabiu Sodunke /

2Shittu Dokunmi / Surukatu Fadipe / Oredegbe Kaduna / Yusufu Oyekun / Sikiratu Shobayo /

3Asani Oloriebi / Alhaji Tijani Ariledesi / Waidi Orelope / Karimu Seriki /

4Raji Mustafa / Ramoni Ogunyomi / Lasisi Abiola / Jimoh Seriki

5Late Pa Yusufu Olatunji (Baba L'egba)

The Evergreen Sakara Hit Collections Series 2

Premier Music no number2001

1Bolowo Bate / Ganiyu Ladeyinde / Yekini Akintoye / Egbe Iwajowa (Ijebu Ode) / Surukatu Eki /

2Jimoh Gbensola / Raufu Adegbite / Ajagbe Imenirepo / Nofiu Lashoju / Da Temi Lare /

3O Ye Kani Fura / Egbe Fourteen Members / Egbe Ifelodun Kenta / Ijoko Area /

4Chief Waidi Awoleshu / Adegoke Ajao / Egbe Boys Society / R. Ayandeji Akangbe /

5Alhaja Muniratu Abeo / Samsudeen Bankole / Abraham Idowu

Orin Faaji

2001

1Last updated on June 17, 2013

Special thanks to Kazuya Ogiwara

2001

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