Nigerian juju and highlife singer Iyun Janet Ayilore, popularly known as Saint Janet, has died.
Gatekeepers News reports that her manager, Jide Bass, confirmed her death on Sunday but did not disclose the cause.
Saint Janet was renowned for her unconventional style, blending traditional juju music with sexually explicit lyrics, street slang and satirical storytelling.
She also courted controversy by producing provocative versions of Christian gospel songs, a style that earned her widespread attention and repeated censorship from radio and television stations.
One of her best-known projects, Faaji Plus, was reportedly banned from broadcast platforms on three occasions because of its explicit content. Despite the restrictions, the album became popular in bars, hotels and clubs across Lagos during the early and mid-2010s, helping to cement her reputation as a vibrant live performer.
Often referred to as the General Overseer of the Sinners’ Chapel and St Bottle’s Cathedral, the singer released several notable works, including Olori Ebi, Ore Tuntun, Bottle Cathedral, Value Bar Osogbo and American Swagger.
Saint Janet studied Mass Communication at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta. She began singing in her church choir at the age of four before joining the Los Kenge highlife/juju band as a backup vocalist at 18, where she met her husband, Kayode Iyun. The couple had a son, Orinayo Michael.
