The Legacy of the Lijadu Sisters: Nigeria’s Pioneering Female Pop Stars

The Legacy of the Lijadu Sisters: A Journey Through Music and Tradition

High above the vibrant streets of Harlem in early August, Yeye Taiwo Lijadu found herself enveloped by a captivating collection of sacred artifacts. The shelves in her apartment, stretching nearly to the ceiling, were adorned with statues and icons representing some of the 401 deities from the Yoruba traditional religion of Ifá, a faith in which she is an esteemed ordained priestess. Lijadu, pronounced Lee-JAH-doo, who is now 75, affectionately refers to this room as “a museum of the ancestors.”

However, less prominently displayed are the cherished mementos from her remarkable past as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated pop stars during the 1970s. Alongside her identical twin sister, Kehinde, Lijadu formed the vocal duo known as the Lijadu Sisters. Their journey began in 1963 when they captivated audiences as schoolgirls in a talent competition. The sisters quickly became household names, gracing Nigerian television screens and releasing their first records in 1968. By the mid-1970s, they had reached an iconic status; the cover of their 1976 album “Danger” illustrated them as superhero figures, adorned in striking red outfits and knee-high boots.

In a music scene historically dominated by men, the Lijadu Sisters emerged as pioneering female artists, breaking barriers not only through their eclectic blend of sounds—from folky apala and funky Afrobeat to sultry disco—but also by championing feminism. Their influence is captured in Jeremy Marre’s 1979 documentary “Konkombe: The Nigerian Pop Music Scene,” where the sisters are seen balancing their artistic ambitions with motherhood, taking turns feeding Taiwo’s infant daughter while navigating a studio filled with male musicians and technicians. “Women suffered at the hands of men in Nigeria,” Lijadu reflected, recalling an era marked by disrespect and sexual harassment.

Today, the struggles of the past have transformed into a profound admiration for their contributions, as the Lijadu Sisters are finally receiving the recognition they have long deserved. After years of being overlooked, all five of their albums from the 1970s are set to be remastered and reissued by the esteemed Numero Group, starting with the release next week of their perhaps most fully realized work, “Horizon Unlimited” (1979). Yet, amidst this moment of celebration, the air is tinged with grief: Kehinde passed away in 2019 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. “She was my life,” Lijadu expressed poignantly, “she was my everything.”

The Lijadu Sisters made their debut with the album “Urede” in 1974, released under EMI Nigeria, before signing a significant four-album deal with the Decca imprint Afrodisia.

Their music was remarkable not just for its sound but for the deep, sisterly bond that resonated through every note. Singing primarily in English and Yoruba, the duo showcased an uncanny ability to harmonize, creating a sonic experience reminiscent of a choir of two. Their songs have transcended generations, sampled—often without proper clearance—by contemporary artists like Nas and Ayra Starr, and have served as a wellspring of inspiration for a new wave of female musicians, including Tems and Hayley Williams.