Why Saint Janet Changed from Gospel to Explicit Songs, Backup Singer

A backup singer for the late Nigerian musician, Iyun Ajilore, known as Saint Janet, has shared why the singer switched from gospel Juju music to songs with explicit themes.

The backup singer, Sunkanmi, also called Suko, said Saint Janet made this change after finding out that it brought in more fans, bookings, and money at events.

Suko, who has known Saint Janet for over 25 years, shared this during an interview with Alejo TV on Tuesday.

He first met her when she was a backup singer for Nurse Kenge, while he played as a freelance drummer.

“I have known Saint Janet before she started singing. She used to be a backup singer for Nurse Kenge. I was a drummer then, so I worked with different people. When she decided to stand alone and create her own band, I decided to follow her.

‘She started with gospel Juju,” he said.

Suko mentioned that Saint Janet began by mixing Juju with gospel music. They rehearsed at a Celestial Church.

“We used to do our rehearsal in a Celestial Church. She started as a Juju and gospel mixture. Our first studio recording was interesting, but people did not really listen to it. She spent money on that particular project and the cassette became dusty under her bed,” he said.

He explained that Saint Janet was hardworking and performed at different events like weddings and bars, but her gospel songs did not attract the audience she wanted.

“She is someone who is hardworking a lot. Whether we were at a beer parlour performing or at a wedding, she was always working. When we went to bars, we did not really get the reception from the audience,” he said.

This motivated the singer to try a different style that included sexual themes and real-life events.

“So, she started and founded this explicit sexual style, like a pastor style, by using people at the event to preach in her song but romantically since it was a worldly setting,” he said.

He explained that Saint Janet would include people and situations from events in her shows.

“Look at this woman, Aunty Adunni, and her husband, Mr Lagbaja, look at how they are kissing. She used happenings in her song to create a form of entertainment. When she experimented with it, we got more money on stage,” he said.

According to him, this new style soon led to more bookings from clubs and bars.

“Then she started getting bookings as a result of that from the clubs or bars,” he added.

Suko made it clear that despite the success of her new style, Saint Janet did not fully give up on gospel music.

“Still, she did not backslide from gospel music. She still got inspiration to sing gospel songs,” he said.

He remembered a time at a wedding when Saint Janet was performing gospel songs, but the bride’s family wanted her to sing her new style.

“We once got to a wedding where she was singing gospel, but the bride’s family insisted that she sing the newly founded sound that resonated with people,” he said.

Suko said the band was worried because children were present at the event.

“We complained that kids were around, but they disagreed and said it was not a problem,” he said.

He noted that the audience's response showed Saint Janet why her new style was gaining popularity.

“When she started singing the song, people started spraying and we made more money than when she was singing gospel songs at the wedding,” he said.

He added that even some churches asked for the explicit songs.

“We have gotten to some churches where they said we should sing those explicit-rated 18 songs,” Suko said.

Suko remained with Saint Janet’s band because of their close relationship, which felt like family.

“I could not leave her band because we are close. We are now family,” he said.

He also remembered Saint Janet’s last performance and noted she appreciated his support over the years.

During the performance, she turned to him and said: “Help me greet Suko, he has been with me for the longest, he has supported me.”

Suko said she even gave him her wristwatch and sprayed him with money.

“She so appreciated me, but not publicly on stage. Assuming I knew it was a goodbye, I would have just returned it and told her that it seemed you were going,” he said.