KWAM1 Stirs the Hornets Trying To Re-write Fuji History (Reactions)

Mr Dayo Odeyemi, Late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’s Spokeperson:

Since Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, a.k.a K1, stirred the hornets next after his birthday statement a few weeks ago that his mentor, the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, was not the creator of Fuji music, the spokesman of the latter, Mr Dayo Odeyemi, has slammed K1 over his controversial statement.

In a release made available to R, the journalist, who had written three books on the history of Nigerian music-Mr Fuji, My Memoir and Pioneer Entertainers, after due consultation with the family, friends and fans of Barrister, said it became imperative for him to comment on the outburst of Wasiu Ayinde.

“K1 was reported to have, at a forum in Lagos, chided his mentor, Barrister, insinuating that he was not the creator of fuji music. He also reportedly claimed that he singlehandedly gave Barrister a befitting burial in response to his earlier promise he made to him before he died. In addition, K1 dismissed the statement of the founding father of Fuji music, Ayinde Barrister, that the word Fuji was derived from the Japanesse mountain of love.

“It is most unfortunate that these statements are credited to K1, just as well as they are laughable. It is a flagrant display of arrogance and naivety on his part,” Odeyemi stated.

While clarifying how Fuji music came to be, he said; “K1 was never a part of the history of Fuji creation as the music itself (fuji) was seven years old as at the time he came into music. K1, who is claiming to know much about Fuji, joined Barrister’s organisation in 1974 after dropping out from Ansarudeen High School, Ijebu Isiwo.”

As at that time, Barrister had released 19 records, including two singles and one extended play. So, if we subtract 1967, when Barrister released his first record entitled “Waya Rabi”, from 1974 when K1 joined the organisation as a parker, it is 7 years. In other words, fuji music is 7 years older than K1, who is now trying to rewrite the history of what he knew nothing about its creation.

“Between 1966 and 1980 when K1 released his first album after leaving Barrister Organisation in 1978/79, Barrister had released 38 long playing records. The question is: at what stage did K1 modernise fuji music when his first hit album, Talaso 84, was a copy of Barrister’s Fuji Funky series 1 and 2.

“On his claim that he promised Barrister that he would give him a befitting burial; where did he meet the old man to discuss that? It is on record that K1 visited Barrister just once in the 10 months that he was hospitalised at the Havana Hospital in Surulere. It is equally on record that it was former Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who donated money for all the funeral expenses, including the feeding and security arrangement at fuji chambers,and also Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. So, at what stage did K1 spend his money, bearing in mind that a burial committee, headed by Buhari Oloto, had been put in place by the Lagos State government to handle the burial arrangement. “K1 cannot deny the fact that he was taking orders from Alhaji Oloto, who was in total control of the programme. I want to appeal to Wasiu Ayinde to desist forthwith from destroying the legacy of the man who gave him his source of livelihood.

He should also tell the world what he has done for the Barrister family despite all the promises he made to the children and wife of his late mentor. That if he did not desist from the display of hatred and campaign of calumny, which he had embarked upon from the time the man was alive till date, he may be further exposed on his estranged relationship with the late music icon,” warned Odeyemi. (Tribune)

Otunba Adisa Osiefa, A Veteran Fuji Patron:

A veteran fuji patron and a staunch fan of late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Otunba Adisa Osiefa, has berated fuji star, Wasiu Ayinde K1 de Ultimate, over his claim that it was not the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister that created and named fuji music.

Osiefa also described as false Wasiu's claim he (K1) gave Barrister a befitting burial.

In an interview with our correspondent on Thursday, Osiefa, who was one of the biggest supporters of the senior artiste who died in 2010, said that he did not only create fuji, the genre was also synonymous with him.

He said, "Wasiu Ayinde is too small to comment on this matter. I think the story he is telling is just a product of arrogance. Nobody else named the music fuji except Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. He did not only name it so, he also popularised it.

"It is true that were has been in existence since I was born. But when Barrister took it up, he created fuji out of it and named it so. And in several albums, he told us its meaning and why he created it. Who is Wasiu to say Barrister did not create fuji? Why was he bearing Wasiu Ayinde Barrister in the beginning, before he changed his name to Marshal and all?"

The controversy erupted after K1 de Ultimate noted at a forum held in Lagos last month that it was false to say that fuji was created by Barrister.

According to him, although Barrister started practising the art before his (Wasiu's) generation and he remained his mentor, there were some other artistes that sang fuji before Barrister.

Wasiu had added that 'fuji' evolved from a slang expression popular in the Isale Eko (Lagos Island) in Lagos State.

He said it was an offshoot of expressions such as fuji, faji and buruji.

Although many stakeholders have disagreed with Wasiu and accused him of falsifying history, a media executive and music critic, Wale Ademowo, who wrote a book, titled The History of Fuji, published in 1993, okayed K1's claim.

He noted in a Facebook post, "King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal is right. The music called fuji originated from were ajisari. There were a lot of people before Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. This he said in 1993 when this book was put together by my humble self. The book was presented at a hotel in Lagos. It was dedicated to him as 'The man who changed the face of the music, in spite of all odds'. There were Omo Olayemi at Daddy Alajas compound, Gani Oluwole, Kao Aminu and Bashiru Abinuwaye, the late Wasiu Anifowose, Karimot Aduke, Ogidan Raimi,Waliu Saudat etc. Later, Ayinla Killington and Sikiru Ayinde emerged clear leaders, having won the Zik Cup and Coca Cola Cup, respectively. Barrister was Mr Fuji, he revolutionized it but he was not the founder."

But, while Osiefa noted that Wasiu's position on the matter not only smelt of backbiting, but also an attempt to rewrite history, he disapproved of the claim by K1 that he gave Barrister a befitting burial as promised.

According to Osiefa, although Wasiu was a member of the burial committee, he never did anything extraordinary and he was not the sponsor as allegedly suggested.

Osiefa said that another fuji patron and a big fan of Barrister, Alhaji Buhari Oloto, was the chairman of the burial committee. He, Osiefa, was the chairman, with Wasiu as the secretary and spokesperson.

Osiefa said that every member of the committee contributed money towards bringing home the corpse of the deceased, who died in London, and organising the ceremony.

"I can say authoritatively that we all contributed money. Alhaji Oloto did. Chief Ebenezer Obey, who was also a member, did. I did. Even King Sunny Ade sent N250,000 to the committee. Adewale Ayuba also sent N250,000. The biggest sum came from the Lagos State Government, which provided N10m for the programme. So, if the government gave us N10m, what did we do with it, now that someone is claiming that he gave Barrister a befitting burial?" Osiefa asked. (Punch)