Popular Nigerian Juju and Highlife musician, Iyun Janet Ajilore, widely known as St. Janet, has died after a brief illness, bringing an end to a remarkable music career that spanned several decades.
The veteran entertainer reportedly passed away on Saturday. News of her death was made public in the early hours of Sunday by publisher and socialite Otunba Femi Davies through a post on his social media pages.
Announcing the sad development, Davies wrote: “St. Janet (Iyun Janet Ajilore), a popular Nigerian Juju and Highlife musician known for her vibrant live performances, energetic stage presence, and socially unfiltered party tracks, is dead. She died after a brief illness on Saturday.”
Although her family and management have yet to issue an official statement confirming the cause of death or announcing funeral arrangements, news of her passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans, colleagues and lovers of indigenous Nigerian music.
St. Janet was celebrated for her energetic performances, bold stage presence and unique Yoruba sound, which earned her a loyal following across the South-West and other parts of Nigeria. She began her musical journey in a church choir before transitioning into Juju music, where she built a reputation for blending traditional Yoruba rhythms with socially themed and thought-provoking lyrics rooted in Yoruba oral traditions.
Over the years, she became one of the most recognised female voices in Nigeria’s Juju music scene, performing at countless parties, concerts and cultural events while making significant contributions to the growth and preservation of indigenous Yoruba music.
As tributes continue to pour in, many have described St. Janet as a fearless performer whose influence helped shape the evolution of Juju music in Nigeria.
Her family is expected to announce details of her burial arrangements in the coming days.
