One of Nigeria's best-known singer/songwriters, Chief Doctor Sikiru Ayinde Barrister (born: Sikiru Ayinde on 9th Feb 1948.) has played an essential role in the evolution of the music of his homeland. The leader of a 25-piece band, the Supreme Fuji Commanders, and a smaller group, the Africa Musical International Ambassadors, Barrister has continued to be one of the leading purveyors of fuji, an exciting, amplified dance music combining juju, apala, and traditional Yoruba blues that he introduced in the late-'70s. Barrister has been singing most of his life. By the age of ten, he had mastered a complex, Yoruba vocal style that was traditionally performed during the holy month of Ramadan. Although he briefly attended a Muslim school, Yaba Polytechnic, in 1961, financial difficulties prevented him from continuing. Leaving school, he found employment as a stenographer. During the Civil War that swept through Nigeria between 1967 and 1970, he served in the Army.
Signed by the Nigeria-based Africa Songs, Ltd. label, Barrister recorded many groundbreaking singles during the 1970s and '80s. With his heartfelt vocals set to a rhythmic mix of talking drums, claves, bells, shekere, drum set, and Hawaiian-style guitar, he laid the foundation for fuji, which he named after Mt. Fuji, the Japanese mountain of love. The style has been described as "juju without the guitars" and a "percussion conversation." http://www.rootsandrhythm.com/ described it as a "high speed assault by 12 wild percussionists."
Barrister renamed the musical style "Fuji garbage" in 2000. Recently it was rumour that Mr Fuji is dead, but report confirmed that Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister was still alive then,but in a critical condition
Now the latest report from a reliable source is confirming it to us that Chief Dr Sikiru Ayinde Balogun is dead, he passed on to the great beyond early yesterday 16th Dec 2010 morning at St Mary Hospital in London. (Barrister 1948-2010)Adieu MR FUJI, We pray that his gentle soul rest in perfect peace
Meanwhile Nigerians have started reacting to his death.According to Yinka Ayefele, “the death of Sikiru Ayinde Barrister is still a shock to me. He was a great man and he created the Fuji music that is waxing stronger by the day. May God grant him eternal rest.
Former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, described his death as a big loss to the country.
Oyinlola, in a statement, on Thursday, said, the death of Barrister had left the nation poorer, just as it had robbed the entertainment industry of one of its pillars.
The Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, said the late Sikiru Ayinde would be missed for the message of his lyrics.
In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Public Commu-nications, Dotun Oyelade, the governor said the deceased was a world class entertainer when he was alive.
excerpt from tribune.com.ng.
1 comment:
mr fuji don gooooo ah ile nje eyan R.I.P.baba.
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