1976
The debut, at fifteen
"Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed" is released on Leader Records — the first recording by a female Yoruba artist to sell over a million copies in Nigeria.
Queen Salawa Abeni
50 Years on Stage
18 October · Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, LagosOriental Hotel, VI Lagos
Ìtàn · The Story
She began singing at thirteen. At fifteen she released a debut album that became the first record by a female Yoruba artist to sell over a million copies in Nigeria. In the fifty years since, she has turned waka — a community women's form — into national canon, and carried it onto stages her generation was told were not theirs.
Walk the fifty years →50
Years on stage
1976 — today
40+
Albums
released
1m
Copies sold
a female first
1992
Crowned Queen
of Waka Music
The decades
1980s
A decade at Leader Records
Islamic praise, social commentary and Yoruba rhythm in one form. Gentle Lady. Indian Waka. The records that made waka a national sound.
1986
A new label, a new chapter
She leaves Leader Records and records with Kollington Ayinla, whom she later marries, staying with his label until 1994.
1992
Crowned Queen of Waka
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo, confers the title Queen of Waka Music — a genre and a woman named in the same breath ever since.
2000s
Beyond the record sleeve
Over forty albums, screen appearances, and a catalogue that keeps finding new listeners through loss, illness and return.
Today
Still on stage
Fifty years in, she is still performing — and still cited by the women who came after her as the reason the stage was open at all.
TO VERIFY — dates researched from public sources, pending family sign-off
Orin · Music
Living Gallery
The night
- 17:00Doors open · Red carpet and archive exhibition
- 18:30Opening tributes and royal welcome
- 20:00Queen Salawa Abeni live in concert
- 22:30Special guest performances and finale
PLACEHOLDER — running order to be supplied
Tables
Table of ten
Front-of-house table · Dedicated host · Photograph with the Queen
Unveiling soon
Secure checkout · Card, transfer and USSD