Saint Janet (Iyun Janet Ajilore) Dies After Brief Illness: Veteran Nigerian Juju and Highlife Singer Passes Away
Iyun “Saint Janet” Ayilore, the controversial Juju and Highlife singer who fuses lewd lyrics with gospel sound, is dead,Jide Bass, the singer’s manager, confirmed the death to TheCable Lifestyle on Sunday,However, the manager did not give additional information on the cause of her death.
Veteran Nigerian Juju and Highlife musician, Iyun Janet Oluwatoyosi Ajilore, popularly known as Saint Janet, has died after a brief illness.
The entertainer reportedly passed away on Saturday, bringing to an end a career that earned her widespread recognition for her energetic stage performances and distinctive style of engaging audiences.
Her death was announced on Sunday by publisher and socialite Otunba Femi Davies in a post on his Facebook page.
Confirming the 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.”
Over the years, St. Janet became known for her ability to connect with audiences through performances that combined music with wit and social commentary, helping to distinguish her from many of her contemporaries.
Her contributions to the Juju and Highlife genres also cemented her place as one of the notable entertainers associated with the vibrant Nigerian live music culture.
Funeral arrangements had not been announced as of the time of filing this report.
Saint Janet was often referred to as the general overseer of the Sinners’ Chapel and St Bottle’s Cathedral. She built a controversial reputation for her sexually explicit lyrics, blending street slang and erotic storytelling with traditional Juju music. She was also notorious for offering risque covers of Christian gospel songs.
Her lewd lyrics made her a prime target for TV bans and radio censorship. Faaji Plus, one of her albums, was reportedly banned thrice from traditional media airplay due to the raunchy lyricism it contained.
However, the album became an underground hit across local bars, hotels and clubs in Lagos in the early to mid 2010s. She was also prominent for long live performances.
Some of her notable projects include ‘Olori Ebi’, ‘Ore Tuntun’, ‘Bottle Cathedral’, ‘Value Bar Osogbo’, and ‘American Swagger’.
Saint Janet had a diploma in Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) in Abeokuta. She started singing in her local church choir at age four. At 18, she joined Los Kenge highlife/juju band as a backup vocalist in Abeokuta, Ogun.
Saint Janet met Kayode Iyun, her husband, in the local band, and together they had a son named Orinayo Michael.
