With less than a week left in our accordion advent calendar, we turn to a country not typically known for its accordion players: Nigeria. I.K. Dairo was a pioneer of juju, a popular Nigerian music that evolved from Yoruba percussion. Dairo introduced new sounds to juju, adding Latin rhythms, electric guitar, and his ten-button accordion to the mix. He toured the world, was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth in 1963, and extended juju’s appeal while deepening its connections to its Yoruba roots.
25 Songs: I.K. Dairo
Posted December 20th, 2008 in 25 Songs, MP3s · 2 Comments
Previous: 25 Songs: Very Be Careful
Next: 25 Songs: Motion Trio
Leave a Comment:
Let’s Polka is devoted to all things accordion.
Send us your accordion news, events, and links!
On Twitter
- Help our friend Jacob Haller raise money to record his next album! Check out his Kickstarter project here. Thanks! http://t.co/t9Xe6wP 2011-08-30
- Only 10 days until the Cotati Accordion Festival! Are you going? http://fb.me/11sKe86c8 2011-08-10
- Just a silly video for your lazy Sunday, from our pal Big Lou the Accordion Princess. http://fb.me/ugeHqcKa 2011-08-07
- More updates...
Copyright © 2012 · Let’s Polka

2 Comments:
His Wikipedia entry is very interesting. I’d like to get more of his stuff. And he taught near us in Seattle! We’re doing our show too late. Sad.
When first I saw this I thought he was a Deiro, from the US/Italian vaudeville family. Ha! The world is very big.
by Bruce Triggs on December 20th, 2008
“Dairos and Deiros of the World” sounds like a great subject for one of your shows, Bruce. :-)
by Chris on December 20th, 2008