St. Janet, the Nigerian juju and highlife singer whose explicit lyrics led to multiple bans, has died at the age of 60. She passed away on August 1 after a brief illness, according to publisher Femi Davies.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Born Omotoyosi Kayode Iyun Ajilore in Abeokuta, Ogun State, St. Janet began singing in her local Cherubim and Seraphim church choir as a child. In her teens, she joined the Los Kenge highlife and juju band as a backup vocalist, where she met fellow musician Kayode Iyun, whom she later married.
She earned a diploma in Mass Communication from a polytechnic in Abeokuta before pursuing music full-time. Her stage name, "Saint," was given by her early bandleader during her time as a backup vocalist.
Rise to Fame and Controversy
St. Janet's exact age was never publicly confirmed, remaining private even as her music made her a widely recognized figure. In a 2013 interview, she said she began incorporating explicit lyrics into her performances after a listener requested a more explicit, unrecorded version of one of her songs. Audience response led her to include such material regularly in her sets.
She believed some criticism was tied to her being a woman performing that style of music. Her 2013 album Faaji Plus drew sanctions from the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and the Music Advertising Association of Nigeria (MAAN) over its explicit content. The Lagos State House of Assembly subsequently banned the album from broadcast and public play, citing obscenity.
Impact of the Ban
In a later interview, St. Janet said the ban increased her public recognition and that some officials who had restricted her music privately booked her for events. "The banning of my CD made me popular," she said. "Now, virtually everybody knows Saint Janet."
Over her career, she released more than 20 albums, including Olori Ebi, Ore Tuntun, Bottle Cathedral, Value Bar Osogbo, American Swagger, and 5G Plus. Known as "Mama Yabis," she performed regularly at private events across Lagos.
Later Years and Legacy
Reports from 2023 indicated her music had begun attracting attention outside Nigeria, with at least one entertainment outfit considering a US tour for her. In 2010, a house fire at her residence in Alagbado killed her adopted brother and destroyed property.
St. Janet's death was announced on Sunday, August 2, by publisher and socialite Otunba Femi Davies, who said she died the previous day after a brief illness. Her legacy as a controversial yet influential figure in Nigerian music remains.
