I posted this, 5 years ago...
1. I was shocked when I saw Wasiu Ayinde on video claiming that Sikiru Ayinde Barrister of blessed memory did not create Fuji music!
2. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister (SAB) started his music career in 1958 by playing 'were' in an area known as Masewele in Mushin, Lagos under Muraina Ajao. He was there for 8 years. SAB did not create 'were' and he paid homage to those who played 'were' before him (see number 10 below).
3. ‘Barrister and His AJISAARI Group’, released his first Were music album in 1966 and he was the first to release a Fuji album in 1967 under ‘Barrister and his FUJI group’. Barrister created Fuji in 1966 from 'were', 'sakara' and others. Monsuru Akande started in 1963/64 and released his WERE (not Fuji) album a week before Barrister’s WERE album in 1966. Kollington Ayinla also started in 1963 but released his Fuji album in 1973/74.
4. After creating Fuji from 'were' and sakara, SAB defined Fuji music in his Fuji Raggae Series 2 album (1979) as being the "Combination of music consisting of Sakara, Apala, Juju, Afro, Gudugudu, Aro…possibly Highlife." He continued by saying he could mould the music as he liked.
Nobody contradicted him on this authoritative definition. SAB also sang that, "Fuji sound is a new system for you." No one disagreed with him. Barry Wonder was a maestro "primus inter pares."
5. Wasiu Ayinde joined Barrister Organization in 1974 (as a 'packer') and left around 1979. He released his first album in 1981. Wasiu accepted that Barrister created Fuji music when he sang: "Sikiru mi Ayinde Commander, FUJI CREATOR mi SK erin", in that his 1981 album. By that 1981, SAB had released 38 records.
6. When Wasiu Ayinde Gbolahan became strong, after using and name-dropped Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’s name and songs as a steppingstone to stardom, he dumped his earlier adopted name of Wasiu Ayinde Barrister and now started running down Barrister by saying he did not create Fuji music!
What a garrulous absurdity of deepest dye?
7. Kollington Ayinla, aka "Kebe n Kwara" or "Baba Alatika", is another great Fuji musician of note, embedded with integrity, maturity and moral rectitude, and Wasiu’s senior by far and large. Without being immodest, Kollington Ayinla is the next in hierarchy and a contemporary to Sikiru Ayindee in Fuji music.
Great as he is, he has never denied that Barrister created Fuji music. Kollington only advised that they should focus on other serious issues apart from who created Fuji. Both Sikiru and Kollington were more concerned about current affairs and the betterment of the society.
8. All other Fuji musicians (Iyanda Sawaba – started Fuji around 1965, Shina Akanni, Fancy Aye Alamu, Adewale Ayuba, Besco Azeez, Abass Obesere, Pasuma, Saheed Osupa, Shefiu Alao, Gani Abefe, Safejo Amama,Taye Currency, etc) agreed that SAB created Fuji from 'were'.
Many of these musicians are seniors or juniors or contemporaries to Wasiu Ayinde. So which Fuji musician is with Wasiu? When SAB was alive, Wasiu sang his praise to heavens, when he claimed that he is "Oba Fuji", "Fuji King", and rated his boss, SAB as "Baba Oba Fuji", meaning, "Fuji King's Father."
9. In his "Flavour" album, where he sang the controversial ‘Orin d’owo’ song, Wasiu erroneously described 'were' musicians as Fuji musicians. None of those he mentioned
Sikiru omo Abiba of Offin,
Ajadi Ganiyu of Oluwole,
Ayinde Muniru Mayegun,
Kawu Aminu,
Saka Layigbade,
Mufu, Ayinde of Agarawu,
Ajadi Ewe Ina,
Jibowu Barrister,
Kasali Jolly,
Abinuwaye Bashiru,
Dauda Epo Akara,
Akande Monsuru, claimed to sing Fuji.
Does Wasiu know the type of music they sang more than the singers themselves? Wasiu also compounded the error by classifying Jibowu Barrister, who never sang but was only a captain/composer, as a 'were' musician. He also described Epo Akara, an "awurebe" exponent, as having sung Fuji.
10. Wasiu obviously forgot that many years before his Flavour album, Barrister had recognized the 'were' singers.
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