“Elejigbo Orere” is a standout track by the Lijadu Sisters, Taiwo and Kehinde Lijadu, who were identical twin sisters from Nigeria performing as a music duet from the mid-1960s to the 1980s. The Lijadu Sisters achieved significant success in Nigeria and had modest influence in the United States and Europe. Their music, described as a West African parallel to the Pointer Sisters, mixed Afrobeat with jazz and disco, earning them a unique place in the music world.
Growing up in Ibadan, Nigeria, the twins were musically inspired by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Victor Olaiya, and Miriam Makeba. Their early successes were guided by music producer Lemmy Jackson, and they released their first album, “Iya Mi Jowo,” in 1969 after winning a record contract with Decca Records. Over their career, they blended genres including jazz, Afrobeat, reggae, and waka, singing in both English and African languages.
One of their first songs was arranged with the assistance of jazz saxophonist Orlando Julius. Their subsequent albums included “Danger” (1976), produced by Biddy Wright, “Sunshine” (1978), and “Horizon Unlimited” (1979). The sisters were top stars in Nigeria during the 1970s and 1980s, and they branched out to achieve modest success in America and Europe, performing at notable events such as the 1972 Munich Olympic Games with drummer Ginger Baker’s band Salt.
Their performances were characterized by “sisterly banter and flirtatiousness,” with The New York Times describing them as “smiling free spirits.” Their harmonies were ethereal, and their lyrics often carried positive messages and political themes. In 1984, Shanachie Records released “Double Trouble” in the U.S., a compilation of their previously recorded material. Their song “Orere Eljigbo” was included on the double CD “Nigeria 70, Africa 100,” and added to the Roots & Wings playlist in 1997.
The Lijadu Sisters moved to Brooklyn and performed in various venues, including the lower Manhattan club Wetlands and in Harlem with King Sunny Adé’s African Beats. They were featured in the music documentary “Konkombé” by English director Jeremy Marre, and their music appeared in the Nigerian installment of the 14-episode world music series “Beats of the Heart” on PBS.
On 1 April 2014, they performed live at an all-star tribute for Nigerian musician William Onyeabor at the Barbican Centre in London and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Sadly, on 9 November 2019, Taiwo suffered a stroke and passed away at the age of 71.
The Lijadu Sisters’ music has been praised by critics, with Jon Pareles of The New York Times likening them to a West African Pointer Sisters, blending Nigerian Afrobeat, reggae, South African pop, and disco with Memphis soul. Peter Watrous described their sound as “riveting,” and Myles Boisen in All Music Guide called them “a rarity in the African music scene,” highlighting their smooth close harmonies and inventive backing band.
