Jujuba (jo͞o jo͞o bah) delivers a funky, danceable style of Nigerian Afrobeat and Juju music. The strength of the 11-piece revolves around its energetic cohesion between percussion, rhythm and horn sections. Renowned for their ability to engage a wide variety of audiences, the band draws a dance floor full of smiling faces at every performance.  

Jujuba features Nojeem Lasisi from Igbo Ora, Oyo State, in Nigeria. He ranks among the world’s elite talking drum players. Nojeem was given his first drum at age four by his father, also a master drummer, who handed down to Nojeem its powerful language. As a member of Nigerian superstar King Sunny Ade’s group, the African Beats, Nojeem toured the world and appeared on numerous recordings with King Sunny, including “Seven Degrees North” and “Odu.”

Since 2002, positive feedback from audiences, concert promoters, festival organizers, and the press has reinforced Jujuba’s reputation as a dependable source of joy in the Portland music scene. As Marty Hughley of The Oregonian put it, “The heat and flavor was all in the groove.”