The late Apala musician Ayinla Waheed Yusuf, popularly known as Ayinla Omowura, is considered one of the most original Yoruba musicians of post-colonial Nigeria. Omowura was born in 1933. His music was popular in southwestern Nigeria in the 1970s and gave him cult status. Unfortunately, at the peak of his career, he was killed by one of his band members in a fight in Abeokuta, Ogun State in 1980. Forty years after the tragic death of the music legend, the group’s lead drummer, Alhaji Abdul -Rahman Adewole Alao, popularly known as Adewole Onilu-Ola, 92, tells DAUD OLATUNJI about the late singer, his singing days and how, among other things he met Ayinla Omowura.
Ayinla Omowura could be described as an enigma (someone difficult to understand), who was he really? What can you say about his personality?
Ayinla was a kind and talented musician. Then I discovered him and asked him to work with me and sing while I beat the drum. When I discovered him, I tested his skills and found that his voice was perfect for what I wanted.It suited my typical Apala pace. I was the founder of the band and was looking for him as a musician for my band. Before he came to me, he worked as a backup singer for several people who were his music teachers. I went to where he was performing and was able to convince him to sing in my band. I was a famous Apala drummer back then.I was already popular before Ayinla Omowura joined the group. At that time I needed a singer in the band. I went through a lot before I figured it out and he agreed to join me. We gave our best and God rewarded our efforts because His voice matched my Apala rhythm.
Who did he work for as a backing singer before you met him?
This person was popularly called Osho in Igboore in Ago-Oba, people have described Omowura as a lyrical genius; Did you have the opportunity to get to know him better, how creative was he? He was talented; God gave him a beautiful voice. He was also known for his passion for women, alcohol and fighting.
What memories do you have of this period of his life?
Look at the Fuji musicians we have now. Can we count how many fans gather around her?Why are there always so many fans around musicians? Does this mean that women like female musicians more than female drummers? Not everyone understands the rhythms of the drums, but they are combined with the sweet voice of the musician.
I remember that God gave him a gift that always produced women like him; He was always surrounded by his fans. But he didn’t sleep with everyone; That’s all I can say because as a senior I wasn’t with them every time. But then we were very close and inseparable. The situation then was: If there is no Ayinla, there is no Adewole, and if there is no Adewole, there is no Ayinla. Have you ever had misunderstandings despite your closeness? We have reached a point where our paths have almost parted ways. We separated for a while but because we were a source of blessing to some actors in Abeokuta, they intervened and resolved the issue between us. What led to the controversy? It was a leadership crisis. Some white people came in and said they wanted to produce our songs, but only one person could be the leader of the band.They said the person they would accept as leader was a musician, and we accepted because we all wanted something great. You know, money is powerful; it’s intoxicating. This led to the separation. But because some people knew how important we were, they brought us together and solved the problem. If I hadn’t reconciled with him and told him that I wouldn’t reconcile with him, I could have been killed a long time ago because his fans would have thought I was involved in his untimely death.When we reconciled, no musician in Nigeria was as famous as us. Behind us were musicians like Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade and Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. None of them started playing before us. Obey and KSA came to get us. We recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of Omowura’s memory.
Did you ever think he could die so early and at the peak of his career?
(sighs) There was no indication that he would die so soon. No one can change the way we leave this world. There are several accounts of his death, but the most common is that he died in a bar fight. How did he die? I heard that after eating at one of his wives’ rented apartment, he left the apartment and got into an argument with his manager.I haven’t been there so don’t know much about it other than what I’ve been told. The next thing I heard was that he was dead. I was surprised by what happened. I went to the bar to confirm this but when I arrived I was told it had been taken elsewhere.
You can see where I live; Many people think that I am a rich man because of my popularity. When I had a problem with Ayinla, some people gathered around me. They bought me a car and musical instruments. I stopped using the vehicle after his death because there was no money for maintenance (sobs). Every time I think about his death I feel very depressed and sad.
What is the origin of Apala music?
This rhythm is called Apala; Apala is not music. Back when one of our brothers had a baby, people would get together and play and sing with old matchboxes. This is where the idea of playing drums came from; This is how the name Apala came about. Which musicians played on Apala before joining the group with Ayinla Omowura? Many musicians used the Apala rhythm in their songs before Ayinla Omowura started his music, and I don’t even know how many musicians did. In fact, someone who was my boss, Lasisi Baba Ibeji, later started working for me. I became famous and was one of the best Apala drummers in the country. I was about 30 years old then. At the age of 20 I became the drummer for Apala Beat.
How would you describe his rivalry with Haruna Ishola, Fatai Olowonyo and later Ayinde Barrister?
What I can say is that Haruna Ishola agreed that Ayinla Omowura was his boss because Ayinla had started producing records before him. As for Fatai Olowonyo, there was no dispute between them at that time. Back then, everyone was looking for a way to survive. Ayinde Barrister is said to have been the captain of his fan club before becoming one of his opponents.
What happened between them?
I can’t say much about it, but I heard that when Ayinla Omowura went to see the lawyer, she was asked to fill out a form before she could meet him. I wasn’t there, but that’s what they told me. I heard Ayinla Omowura leave in a huff, saying she couldn’t fill out any forms until she met with her lawyer.
Did he really predict that his band’s manager, Fatai Bayewumi, would kill him?
(sighs) It’s true, he said it.I was there when he said it. We had gone to a concert in Ijebu and were about to perform when Ayinla said he had the opportunity to watch a film about Jesus Christ for the first time at Easter this year. He told us that one of Jesus’ closest disciples had betrayed him in the film. However, he concluded that he had realized that one of our closest associates was going to kill him. Everyone present was shocked and surprised.
At first he said it indirectly, and when I asked him if he was serious, he said no. Some people asked him the same question and he said no. But when it was Bayewumi’s turn, he said it was him. The team leader rejected this suggestion and almost got into an argument with Ayinla that day. He said his name should not be associated with anything negative.Sometimes he spoke as if he were prophesying. That’s all I can say, because if he had lived, I would have lived in prosperity and comfort. It is said that he was murdered with a glass cup, how did that happen? I heard the same thing too; I heard that the murderer hit him on the head with a glass cup and that shards of glass pierced his skull. I learned that shards of glass had been removed from his head at General Hospital.
What was the cause of the fight that led to his death? Was it really a motorcycle and a woman?
Like I said, I didn’t hang out with them unless I had shows. I heard there was a misunderstanding, but I don’t know what it was. His murderer was hanged; Do you remember the events of that time? After the judge sentenced the murderer to death, he initially remained in prison. Lt. Gen. Oladipupo Diya (Rtd) was the then Military Governor of Ogun State.I think he went to prison and started asking questions about the crimes the prisoners were committing. When he arrived at Bayewumi Railway, he was informed that he had been sentenced to death for Ayinla’s murder. Diya then ordered his immediate execution. What do you know about his claim that the witches put him on 200 needles and assured him that none of them would pinch him? He didn’t say it; I was the one who used the drum to brag like that.In fact, I was talking about myself; It was just a way to make noise, and that’s what music is.
How would you describe the childhood you both had? was it hard ?
When we were young, we learned more on the job. We worked hard and were dedicated in everything we did.I can’t talk about Ayinla Omowur because we grew up in different families.
Why do you think he continued to fight even after he became rich and famous?
He didn’t fight anyway, but he hated the lack of discipline and the cheating. He fought against everyone who took him for granted or deceived him. He wasn’t the troublemaker he was made out to be. There have also been stories that he loved marijuana until his death… He didn’t smoke; all he did was take some gin whenever we had to perform. He did not even like beer and he was not a heavy drinker. What can you say about the story that he was jailed for raping someone?
God is wonderful! You know, there are always different stories on a given topic. I wasn’t there, but I heard that he took one of his lovers to someone’s house and deflowered her. I heard there was a problem when the homeowner saw the woman was weak and bleeding. That’s all I can say about it. Why did he build his house on his grandmother’s shrine? I don’t know. I didn’t spend the night at his house, so I can’t comment on that. Only when we were together could we see each other. It is said that his father sang Sakara.
Did you start there or did you start with Apala?
We once heard that his father Sakara sang, but as I said, he started as a backing singer. Although he was a Muslim, he practiced Ogboni, Ogun worship etc. He gave the impression of a mysterious person. What can you say about his religious beliefs? We have participated in many things while seeking glory, and God has blessed us. We went to Lagos and other places to pay our respects to Ogun.It’s not that we went there specifically for that reason; They invited us as a team and we had no choice but to participate in what they were doing. Why do you think he sang “Olorin ti o bá fi oju di mi lode, jije, mimu e tan ni Ile aye” (Any musician who doesn’t respect us will be hungry in life)? It was more or less a warning to the musicians who didn’t want to accept that he was their music teacher. It was simply a way to boost his ego as a musician; it was nothing out of the ordinary. What do you know about the story that he gave his children tribal marks so that another man could not care for them? He gave them tribal marks because he also had tribal marks. He had always thought of giving all of his children tribal marks, but in the end not all of his children had tribal marks. Why didn’t he teach all of his children from a young age what he really wanted to do later? He sent them to school, but sending a child to school does not mean he will learn. He did his best to send her to school.
Where did the name “Omowura” come from if it was not his real name?
His real name was Waheed Ayinla; I was the one who gave him “Omowura” with my drum beat. Wura is his mother’s name and I emphasized it by calling him “Omo Wura” (Son of Wura). Since you all already knew how the group was run, why didn’t one of the group members join the group after his death?
We continued after his death and asked his younger brother Dauda to lead the group so that it would not appear that we killed Omowura to take control of the group. His little brother said he would try and we let him try until he died.
What was the origin of Dauda’s quarrel with his son Akeem? Was it just about taking over and replacing his team, or was there more to it?
You know, they were relatives and everything that happened between them was their personal matter. I didn’t interfere and it didn’t bother me, Dauda died in 2006 and Akeem in 2016. What do you think of the allegations that their deaths were linked to the fight? I can’t say anything about it. Ayinla Omowura died 40 years ago.
What comes to mind now when you remember that?
We recorded a song in his memory, but due to events on Earth we did not release it. The other members of his group, his daughter and one other person sang this song in memory of him 40 years after his departure. The coronavirus pandemic prevented us from launching it. How long do you have left? When I think of him I cry because if he had lived I would have become what I am today. I’m always sad when I think about him being gone.
How do you think he should be remembered?
His children and family pray for him in a special way every year. Even though Ayinla Omowura is long dead, the government should do something for us, the surviving members of her team. We want basic things that make our lives enjoyable.
