The Lijadu Sisters: Nigeria’s twin Afropop pioneers
Yeye Taiwo Lijadu, together with her twin Kehinde, formed the 1970s pop duo The Lijadu Sisters. In a dangerous time, they sang songs of protest - but their bravery came at a cost.
Yeye Taiwo Lijadu and her twin sister Kehinde were born in Nigeria in 1948 and started singing together as children. As young adults, they formed a pop duo - The Lijadu Sisters - becoming rare frontwomen in the male-dominated Nigerian Afropop music scene of the 1970s. Battling sexism and industry exploitation to make their voices heard, they sang songs of love, protest and politics which were often directly critical of the government of the day. Their fearlessness in singing truth to power would eventually force them a long way from home, languishing without proper recognition for decades. Fifty years on, Yeye Taiwo reflects on their trailblazing life and career.
Plus, your stories of romance against the odds, as well as another chance to hear how the writer Bill Hayes found unexpected love later in life when he met the renowned neurologist, Oliver Sacks. They struck up a close - if unlikely - friendship and Bill was charmed by Oliver's eccentricity and kindness. It soon became clear there was a romantic spark between them, but would Sacks, at the age of 75, finally open up to the infinite possibilities of love?
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Kehinde, left, and Yeye Taiwo Lijadu in 1970. Credit: Pale Aladi)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Thu 7 Nov 2024 12:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Thu 7 Nov 2024 18:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Thu 7 Nov 2024 23:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Fri 8 Nov 2024 03:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service