In the time past,
Disc Jockeys were presenters on pirate radios with no format but belching out music after music of popular genre that would not normally be aired on regular radio. For instance, in Europe there were stations like Radio Carolina, Lux Radio (the forerunner of radio Luxembourg) Love X Radio were all unlicensed broadcast stations that got so popular with young listeners in the early 60’s. By 1965, the BBC had to bring on some boat cruise pirate record spinners to entertain at night when most listeners had tuned to the pirate stations that played all the latest music from an undisclosed location usually on a boat. This trend became the norm with a trained presenter playing music for more than three minutes. Young spinners were brought into the BBC establishment like Tony Blackburn in 66/67, Jimmy Young, John Peel, Ed Stewart, Kenny Everett and for these the BBC created a BBC Radio 1. This trend quickly caught up with Radio presenters in Nigeria and the dexterity of those who were trained became a world class phenomenon, as discussed, these spinners later transformed into Disc Jockeys.
Radio Broadcasting started in Nigeria in Lagos, Ibadan and Kano in June of 1932; when rediffusion boxes belch out News entertainment from the BBC and some local stories and musical entertainment that are local to the people. By 1944 the P&T connected wire transmission to Kaduna, Enugu, Ijebu Ode, Zaria, Calabar, Jos and Port Harcourt were joined to experience box entertainment and news from the BBC. By 1952 the Nigerian parliament had ensured the Nigerianisation of broadcasters from engineers to Newscasters, editors, musicians and various artists who added flavours to the entertainment of the box.
Many of the men and women who were the first Radio presenters started to feature their various types of music. Some were variously invited to clubs to perform for a short while. Many of the early presenters in the 60’s included Bode and Fela Sewande, Chris Oyesiku, Mike Enahoro, Victor Uwaifo followed by the upbeat generation of Soul Train enthusiast like Benson Idonije(Ben Jay), Tony Ibegbuna John Chukwu(JC), John Indisika & others.
These were the pioneers who switched from Radio to nite clubs at the turn of the 70’s. When NBC-2 AM/FM Stereo took off in 1976, these big boys were the top rates before the like of regional big boys like Tunji Marquis, Alex Conde, Stagger Lee, led the up coming generation of Party DJ’s that tasted and ventured into live radio flare. Then there was Patrick Oke, Ron Ekundayo, Sylver Oforgu, Ose Awosika, Tony Goodman, Eddy Jay, Fem Ree, Abbey Lincoln, T. Oye, Joseph Baiye, Ben Hollywood, Late Chamberlain(tower of power) Rick Manuwa(tower of power), Ben Cee , Emeka Maduegbuna( tower of power), Dee Ameyo, Ekundayo Ayodele-Susu Snr and a Gregorian, John Lai Pedro(Flex Power Station).
But of course, the in-house grown included Fred ( freaky Fred) Oshodi, Willy Egbe, Babatunde Kuola(musical madness), Seyi Martins, Bode Seriki(master genie) ever loving JAJ, and many others. Between the mid 70s & early 80s some prominent party deejays have emerged , with the likes of GrandMaster Lee, Skelly Moore, Jimmy Jatt, Eddy Fynn, Kola Baiye, Charlie( fresh waves) Chucks ( faze 2) Don Mensa, Funky Jay, Ibukun ( Ibuks mix), DJ Temple, Howie Tee(late), Kendy Paul, DJ Prince, Super star shola, Jolly Jay, Max Kendy, AJ possy, DJ Collins , Shy Shy Shylon, DJ Bola( fresh waves), Pat Eyo, DJ Aliyu,, Ekpenyong Otu( DJ Mixmaster Brown)Late DJ Abbas (new dimension), DJ Benji, DJ Mixmaster Tee, DJ Mannix, Kashif da flash, DJ Mesime(late) Francis Ntia(late)& others.
In Ibadan, the veteran radio presenters of yester years includes the late Tunji Marquis, Alex Conde(late), Femi Sowoolu, Yanju Adegbite ( music merchant), Bisi Olatilo, Funke Ogunsanya, Gbadero Ajibade, Deji Hastrup, Sade Omitola, George Joberty, Femi Mike.O, Deola Adeleke Adedoyin & many others
Following the footsteps of these veterans are the veteran party deejays with magic fingers which includes – DJ Labrador, Dickson Akingbade, Yemi Olaofe, DJ Ighodalo, Bayo Ogunsanya( Gambino) Lekan Adams, Tunde Abimbola, etc
These generation of magic fingers were followed by the likes of.. DJ Tina Kas, Kunle Job, DJ Semite, Dele Adelegan, Gbenga Crown, Incredible DJ Whiz, Dj Boyo, King Dj Rap, Dj (mc) Roy, Dj Soulmate, Fm Peacock, Bestronics, Vicky lee, John Onadeko( electrifying Johnny) & others.
In Benin City, the veteran radio presenters who were rocking the airwaves includes the likes of
Teddy Seki
Monday Midnite
Emma Dirty Boogie
Murphy Okojie
Sylver Oforgu(who later moved to Lagos)
These veterans were closely followed in the late 70s by wonderful party Deejays such as…
DJ Cy – Base link
DJ A2 – Studio A2
DJ Godson Richard
(Music Workshop)
DJ Amsterdam Buhari
DJ Abbey Brown (late)
DJ Richie Udensi (late)
In Abeokuta, we had the veteran radio presenters who made the airwaves thick in the mid 70s and early 80s, the likes of ……
Olusesan Ekisola
Deji Osibogun
Willy Thomas
Femi Fashina
John Momoh & many others.
Likewise, we had veteran deejays in the city who were turning up parties, clubs & events.
… …..
The Adeogun Trio
Dj K C (Kunle coker)
Dj Ayodeji Ayodele (Susu)
Dj Kunle Akintayo Stewart
Dj Kaka
Dele Okusaga (G M D)
& many Others
In Enugu , we had wonderful veteran radio presenters in the 70s with the likes of:
Chuzy Iboko – Enugu
Rosemary Obodozie –
(Enugu)
Tony Mmuo ( Enugu)
these great veterans were later followed by some fantastic mobile deejays such as…
DJ Chizzy Gbokwe
Dj Kay Cee
Dj Tony ( T.West Music) –
Dj Rap City & others
In Owerri , we had veteran deejays like
Prof Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe ( DJ Vital Behs)
DJ Allen B. Onyemaechi
DJ Teddy Oscar Uju
& many others.
In Aba, the veterans deejays of yester years includes ….
DJ Okotie
DJ Blackplate ( Fidelis)
& Others.
In Porthacourt (Garden city)we had veterans like,
Mablas Obloma Macaulay
Dj Ofori William( Dr Scratch),
Dj Gerere Fiberesima
(Grand Master Greg)
DJ Larry Allison
DJ Kachi
DJ Belema Jamma
(Beejay) & many more
Last but not the least, across the Northern region, comprising (North West; East and Central Geopolitical Zone), the top veteran radio presenters in Kano in the late 80s were ..
Brother Joe &
Patricia Imodu ((lady p), while we had Pat Cooke & DJ Black in Jos.
Many of the party deejays who took the North by storm actually migrated from Lagos.
In Kano city where nite clubs & event centers had sprung up, we had the likes of…..
Dj Aj ( Ademola Joseph)
Dj Rockmaster Deen
(Mixcotec)
Dj Monski Miller(change)
Dj Master B (Change)
Dj Master G-Gideon whyte. &
many others
In Maiduguri, we had veterans deejays like
DJ Mac Pee
Yusuf Buba
DJ Mad Mike ( Michael Onu)
Awami Mohammed ( DJ Max)
DJ Sadiq
In Kaduna, the Veteran presenters of yester years who were rocking the Radio includes …
Isaac Brew
Timmy Nebuwa
Saidu Adamu ( Candy Man)
These men were closely followed by veteran party deejays like
DJ Chris(disc theatre)
DJ Jerry Lazzari
DJ Jide Salako
DJ Raymond
DJ Ceekk
DJ Fred
DJ Keith Winnie B.
DJ Desmondlee
DJ Jimmy Jay
DJ Austin Records
In Abuja, though, the city did not open to entertainment until towards the mid 80s, however, some of the party deejays who took over the entertainment terrain in the city were veterans who migrated from the city of Lagos, we had the likes of …..
Dj Prince
Dj Kool
Dj Donalee
Dj Magic fingaz
DJ Syl Dee (late)
Dj Big Do etc
While In Ilorin, we had a fantastic veteran deejay called
Akin Arowolo (Dj Akin Jats)
This is so far the Nigerian Deejay history in perspective and how it evolved in a period where only few people had access to electronic modules or Deejay gadgets.
However, as the entertainment industry and technology are evolving, so are the people increasingly developing, becoming more exposed and with better income derivable, deejays are able to acquire more electronic gadgets and embracing deejaying, so more new entrants to the deejay profession continued to be envisaged in later years and continues to this present time.
Contributing Veterans:
Seyi Martins, Mac Pee, Kola Baiye, Sylva Oforgu, Mc Deen, Yanju Adegbite, DJ A2, DJ (Dr) Donalee, Ofori Williams, DJ Semite, DJ Funky Jay, DJ Tina Kas, Dickson Akingbade, Ose Awosika,, Vicky Lee, DJ A Jay, DJ Ceekk, DJ Chris & G. Master Laz
Validation Consultants:
Deejay Association of Nigeria (DJAN)
Compiled and Written by DJ Kool
The President Emeritus Deejays Association of Nigeria(DJAN).
