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My friend Joe Baju, who has died aged 94, was the last of a group of redoubtable West African adventurers who travelled to Europe during the second world war and developed an engagement with modernism. Chroniclers of the Windrush generation have overlooked the communities these men established, despite some interesting links with prominent figures; in Baju’s case, with the painters Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon. My friend Joe Baju, who has died aged 94, was the last of a group of redoubtable West African adventurers who travelled to Europe during the second world war and developed an engagement with modernism. Chroniclers of the Windrush generation have overlooked the communities these men established, despite some interesting links with prominent figures; in Joe’s case, with the painters Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon.
The eldest of six children of farmers, he was born Joseph Olabaju Akintibubo in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, the region believed by the Yoruba to be the birthplace of their people. He arrived at Liverpool in 1942 as a seaman and was employed at a knitting factory in Manchester before heading for London.The eldest of six children of farmers, he was born Joseph Olabaju Akintibubo in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, the region believed by the Yoruba to be the birthplace of their people. He arrived at Liverpool in 1942 as a seaman and was employed at a knitting factory in Manchester before heading for London.
He did war work at De Havilland in west London, where the Mosquito light bomber aircraft was built, then set about discovering nightlife. At the Paramount dance hall in Tottenham Court Road, white American servicemen provoked fights with men of colour on a nightly basis. A more secure atmosphere prevailed among the jazz crowd at the Feldman Swing Club in Oxford Street, and especially the Jamaican-owned Caribbean, near Piccadilly Circus, which became his daily base. He did war work at De Havilland in west London, where the Mosquito light bomber aircraft was built, then set about discovering nightlife. At the Paramount dance hall in Tottenham Court Road, white American servicemen provoked fights with men of colour on a nightly basis. A more secure atmosphere prevailed among the jazz crowd at the Feldman Swing Club in Oxford Street, and especially the Jamaican-owned Caribbean, near Piccadilly Circus, which became Joe’s daily base.
There he met the young Freud, selling his student paintings, as well as leading jazz musicians including the drummer Ray Ellington, the double bassist Coleridge Goode, and Lauderic Caton, pioneer of the amplified guitar. Baju became a popular figure, sought after as a dance partner by, among others, Beryl Bryden, a young jazz singer from Norwich and, as soon as cloth rationing permitted, showing off the long jacket and padded shoulders of his zoot suit on the dance floor. There he met the young Freud, selling his student paintings, as well as leading jazz musicians including the drummer Ray Ellington, the double bassist Coleridge Goode, and Lauderic Caton, pioneer of the amplified guitar. Joe became a popular figure, sought after as a dance partner by, among others, Beryl Bryden, a young jazz singer from Norwich and, as soon as cloth rationing permitted, showing off the long jacket and padded shoulders of his zoot suit on the dance floor.
In 1944 he met Esther Singleton, from Blackpool, who had just left the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the British Army. Four years later, when he began managing a Nigerian spieler (gambling club) in Soho, she helped him by making sandwiches and cakes to sell to the punters. Here Trinidadian musicians played cards with refugee servicemen from the British Honduras Forestry Unit in Scotland, and Nigerian seamen and students drank with the female associates of criminals.In 1944 he met Esther Singleton, from Blackpool, who had just left the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the British Army. Four years later, when he began managing a Nigerian spieler (gambling club) in Soho, she helped him by making sandwiches and cakes to sell to the punters. Here Trinidadian musicians played cards with refugee servicemen from the British Honduras Forestry Unit in Scotland, and Nigerian seamen and students drank with the female associates of criminals.
When Esther died from tuberculosis in 1949, shortly after their marriage, Baju was charged with gambling offences and was forced to abandon the game. With his friend and fellow countryman Olu Oguntala he continued to socialise in Soho, most notably at Dean Street’s Colony Room, where Bacon befriended them and took them to parties, and where Baju’s cheerful disposition helped him weather the caustic barbs of the owner, Muriel Belcher. When Esther died from tuberculosis in 1949, shortly after their marriage, Joe was charged with gambling offences and was forced to abandon the game. With his friend and fellow countryman Olu Oguntala he continued to socialise in Soho, most notably at Dean Street’s Colony Room, where Bacon befriended them and took them to parties, and where Joe’s cheerful disposition helped him weather the caustic barbs of the owner, Muriel Belcher.
Away from the nightlife Baju worked for British Rail, while simultaneously exploring the world of Turkish baths and therapeutic massage. He became a well-known figure at Abbey Wood and Woolwich stations, collecting tickets into the 1990s, and worked as a masseur for an ever-growing clientele. He continued to help elderly patients into his late 80s while holidaying regularly in Tenerife, where he had many friends. Away from the nightlife Joe worked for British Rail, while simultaneously exploring the world of Turkish baths and therapeutic massage. He became a well-known figure at Abbey Wood and Woolwich stations, collecting tickets into the 1990s, and worked as a masseur for an ever-growing clientele. He continued to help elderly patients into his late 80s while holidaying regularly in Tenerife, where he had many friends.
He is survived by his son Stephen, from his marriage to Esther, and by Andrew, Albert and Rebecca from a relationship with Janet Glendenning in the 50s. He is survived by his son Stephen, from his marriage to Esther, and by Andrew, Albert and Rebecca, his children from a relationship with Janet Glendenning in the 50s.