Event Details

Fuji documentary, Episode 2

Event: Fuji documentary, Episode 2
Location: Library: First Floor
Room: 150 - Woody Tanger Auditorium (WTA)
Lecturer/ Performer: Mojubaolu Okome
Political Science
Outside Speaker Professor Saheed Aderinto, Dr. Gbemisola Abiola, Dr. Amsale Alemu, Dr. Abosede George
Date: Mar 30, 2026tomorrow
Time: Prep Starts: 11:15 am
Event Time: 12:15 pm - 8:30 pm
Description:

Women of Fuji: Episode 2 of the Fuji documentary dismantles a persistent myth: that

Fuji music belongs exclusively to men. Through meticulous research and compelling

testimony, the film reveals women as architects of the genre—not peripheral figures, but

foundational forces whose influence permeates every dimension of Fuji's existence.

The documentary introduces us to women who refuse to be confined to traditional roles.

These are musicians who compose and perform at the highest level, business owners

who establish recording studios and distribution networks, and patrons whose financial

support sustains entire careers. They are innovators who introduce distinctive elements

to stagecraft, transforming how Fuji is experienced and understood. As mothers and

daughters, they transmit musical knowledge across generations, ensuring the genre's

continuity and evolution.

What emerges is not simply a corrective to male-dominated narratives, but a

fundamental reimagining of Fuji's history. These women are not adjuncts to a masculine

art form—they are co-creators whose contributions have been systematically obscured

and erased. The documentary challenges viewers to confront how deeply women are

interwoven into Fuji's fabric: as composers, performers, producers, promoters, patrons,

and cultural custodians.

Saheed Aderinto weaves together voices from scholars, artists, their family, devoted

fans, and community members to construct a comprehensive portrait of women's

multifaceted roles. The documentary's analytical rigor is matched by its emotional

resonance, offering both historical context and contemporary urgency. Its

interdisciplinary approach—drawing on musicology, gender studies, and cultural

history—enriches our understanding of how power, creativity, and exclusion operate

within artistic traditions.

The result is more than a music documentary. It is a reclamation project that insists

women be recognized not as muses or followers, but as visionaries who have shaped

Fuji music from its inception. By documenting their struggles against exclusion and their

triumphs in demanding respect, the film doesn't merely tell us that women matter to

Fuji—it proves they are indispensable to its past, present, and future.

 

About the Filmmaker:

Saheed Aderinto is a filmmaker and Professor of History and African and African Diaspora

Studies at Florida International University. He is the author of many works, including a recently

completed monograph, Fuji: The History of an African Popular Culture. “The Women of Fuji,”

the second episode of his documentary film on Fuji, premiered in Lagos on March 8 as part of

the International Women’s Day celebration.

 

Event link and Meeting/Registration link will be provided ASAP
Event Type: Public Lecture/Event