Late Juju and Highlife star Saint Janet switched from gospel music to sexually explicit songs after realising the new style brought bigger crowds, more bookings and far more money, her longtime backup singer has revealed.
Sunkanmi, popularly known as Suko, who worked with the singer for over 25 years, shared the details in a recent interview. He said Iyun Ajilore, better known as Saint Janet, started her solo career with a gospel-Juju mix after years as a backup singer for Nurse Kenge. The band even rehearsed inside a Celestial Church. Their first studio recording, however, failed to connect with listeners.
“She started with gospel Juju. 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,” Suko recalled.
When they performed at bars and social events, the gospel songs also failed to excite the audience.
Faced with poor reception, Saint Janet experimented with a bold new approach. She began weaving sexually charged themes and real-life happenings at events into her performances. Suko described it as “a pastor style, by using people at the event to preach in her song but romantically since it was a worldly setting.”
She would point out couples or individuals and turn their actions into lyrics, such as referencing how a man and woman were kissing.
The change worked almost immediately.
“When she experimented with it, we got more money on stage. Then she started getting bookings as a result of that from the clubs or bars,” Suko said.
At one wedding, the family insisted she drop the gospel numbers and perform the explicit style even though children were present. The band raised concerns, but the hosts overruled them. Once she switched, guests sprayed money and the band earned more than they had with the earlier gospel set.
Despite the commercial success of the lewd material, Suko insisted Saint Janet never fully abandoned gospel music. She continued to receive inspiration for gospel songs and performed them when the occasion called for it. Surprisingly, some churches even requested her explicit-rated tracks.
Saint Janet built a controversial career blending traditional Juju and Highlife with highly sexual lyrics that often drew bans and public debate. Her longtime collaborator remained loyal throughout, describing their bond as family.
The revelation about her stylistic switch has reignited conversations about the pressures of the music industry and the choices artists make for survival and success.