Monkey Shoulder and Worldwide FM hosted a celebration of music and culture at Waterside, Lekki, on Sunday, October 6, honouring Jazzhole, one of the five global winners of the Studio Monkey Shoulder initiative.
Jazzhole, a revered cultural institution in Lagos with over 30 years of history, was recognised for its immense contributions to preserving Nigerian music and its role in connecting local talent to the global cultural scene.
As part of the Studio Monkey Shoulder initiative, Jazzhole received a £10,000 fund and support from both Monkey Shoulder and Worldwide FM. The collaboration enabled the production and digitisation of two compilation LPs featuring previously unreleased recordings by prolific indigenous artists, covering iconic genres like Afro-Funk, Afrobeat, Palm Wine, JuJu, and Highlife.
The event was not just a celebration of Jazzhole but also of the broader global grassroots music culture that Studio Monkey Shoulder champions. It brought together music lovers, performers, and members of the music community in an electric atmosphere that blended traditional and contemporary sounds. Attendees also included finalists from the Studio Monkey Shoulder competition, highlighting the solidarity of the music communities.
The night was brought to life by live performances from some of the artistes featured on the compilation, alongside vibrant DJ sets from Nigerian talents such as Icey of Element House, DJ Tigran of Ekolektro, DJ Cam of Kevwe and Cam, Ayofawo of H Factor, Tobi Peter, Maze x Mxtreme, Y Pick, and DJ Baggio. A silent disco and thrilling dance-off added further excitement to the evening, emphasising the fusion of past and present, tradition and innovation, in Nigerian music culture.
Speaking on behalf of the Jazzhole team, Olakunle Tejuoso, founder of Jazzhole, expressed his gratitude: “We are immensely grateful to Monkey Shoulder for their incredible support through the Studio Monkey Shoulder initiative. This partnership has allowed us to breathe new life into rare and unreleased recordings that showcase Nigeria’s rich musical history, preserving the essence of African music for future generations and sharing this cultural treasure with the world.”
The event was also graced by some of the finest names in the Nigerian culture scene, including VJ Adams, Ike Onyema, Bizzle Osikoya, Joey Akan, Lord Sky, Chigozie Obi, Yetunde Kuti, Crowd Kontroller, Dope Caesar, and more.
Speaking to his experience, media personality and music enthusiast, VJ Adams, said, “The energy at the event was incredible. It wasn’t just about the music – it was about celebrating the underground music community that’s been shaping our culture for years. To see platforms like Jazzhole, supported by Studio Monkey Shoulder, championing these artists and preserving the essence of our sounds was inspiring. It’s events like this that remind us why our music scene is so unique – it’s raw, it’s real, and it’s deeply rooted in our cultural identity.”
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