Alujo tun ti de (Music has come),
Oya wa ka jo jo (Come let us dance),
Ilu oloyin momo (To this melodious song),
Hypertension o le raye ke (Hypertension cannot creep in),
Bilu bandun (When beats emanate from the drums),
….
Iruno pupo, hypertension malon fawa (Excessive thinking is an invitation to hypertension),
Bere, oya bere, oya bere (Bend down, bend down, bend down),
Wa ka jo jo (Let us dance).
He is handsome. He has a bright and cheerful face. Whenever he is talking or singing, you see a warm, permanent smile dancing on his lips and beefy cheeks. Yinka Ayefele is the darling of millions of Nigerians within and outside the country. His vibrant energy is infectious and I think his selling point is his ability to brighten virtually anyone’s mood, no matter how gloomy. Here is the story of Yinka Ayefele, Nigeria’s gospel tungba
highlife musician, as he calls himself.
BIRTH, EARLY DAYS AND EDUCATION
Born over 50 years ago, he hails from Ipoti-Ekiti, Ekiti State in southwestern Nigeria.
Yinka Ayefele has his primary and secondary school education in Ipoti-Ekiti. Later, he proceeded to the Ondo State College of Arts and Science where he studied political science. He was forced to drop out from college while studying political science because he could not pay the tuition fees. After that, he moved to Ibadan, Oyo State where he joined the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) national station. Little did he know that his decision to move to Ibadan would be the best in his chequered life.
THE ACCIDENT
On Friday, 12 th of December, 1997, Yinka Ayefele was on his way to the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State when he was involved in a grisly motor accident on the Ibadan-Abeokuta Road. He was heading for Kola Olawuyi’s programme named Iriri Aye.
Ayefele was responsible for producing musical jingles for the programme (and other radio and television stations) and he took active part in its production. The accident, which crushed his spinal cord, would leave him bedridden for nine months at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan but he stated that through it all, he had a strong determination and will to not just survive it all but to live. See his photos below:
MUSIC CAREER
Like many of the artistes in Nigeria, their roots in music are directly linked to their days in the church. Music has always been in Ayefele’s blood, even when he was a little kid in the Boys Brigade in his hometown, Ipoti.
He was a trumpeter at the Our Saviour’s Anglican Church in Ipoti-Ekiti. He played the side drums and later taught himself how to play the guitar in the church.
NEVER DESPISE THE DAYS OF HUMBLE BEGINNINGS: Yinka Ayefele As The Band Leader At Assemblies Of God Church, NTC Road Ibadan, Oyo State back in time.
While at FRSC Ibadan, he performed the duties of a producer, presenter and carried out a number of other responsibilities.
Prior to that period, Yinka Ayefele had been dabbling into the world of music and even went as far as performing with prominent Nigerian artistes, the likes of Uncle Toye Ajagun, Micho Ade, Wale Thompson and a host of others.
Yinka Ayefele’s utmost surprise and delight, Bitter Experience was a massive hit! He became a star and a celebrity! The music release was so successful that he decided to launch another one, just that this time around, the name would be
Sweet Experience. The second one also performed excellently in the market and till today, the rest is history, he has never looked back since then. You see why it is very important that you should never give up on yourself no matter the challenge you are facing in life, you just have to believe in yourself and summon the most innermost powers you have, it is not always easy but you can do it. Some of his other songs are Divine Intervention, Transformation, Everlasting Grace, Beru Ba Monu Ro, Ohun Oju Mi Ri, Yinka Ayefele in America, Ijo Ya, Odun Ikore, Prayer Point and Fulfilment.
Ayefele also performs regularly outside Nigeria.
MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND CHILDREN
Yinka Ayefele is happily married to Temitope Titilope Ayefele and they got married on the 23 rd of March, 2000. There is a photoshopped picture of Ayefele standing with his wife on the wedding day floating all over the Internet (see photo).
However, the truth of the matter is that Ayefele got married a couple of years
after his accident and in his original wedding picture, he was with crutches, which has been mischievously cropped out in this particular image. This is important as there is a false story that Ayefele’s wife left him because of the accident only to later come back and beg after he had hit it big. That is not true. Ayefele has been married only once and that is to none other but his sweetheart, Mrs. Temitope Titilope Ayefele.
He is a proud of father of two kids: Dolapo and Morayo Ayefele are his daughters.
Yinka Ayefele’s immediate younger brother is the late Oluwole Ayefele, who was married to Toyin Ayefele. Toyin herself died with her baby girl in November 2007 immediately after childbirth (maternal and infant mortality is a big headache in this country), few months after her husband, Oluwole died in a car accident.
Yinka Ayefele was devastated, and he had to cancel his musical tour in faraway South Africa and the launch of his album that was to come up at the Premier Hotel in December 2007. He is the one now taking care of the kids of his late brother and his deceased wife. Toyin Ayefele died as the Ibadan Central Hospital, Ososami Area, Ibadan, Oyo State,
ACHIEVEMENTS HONOURS AND AWARDS
With former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Ever since he chose the path of music as his way, Yinka Ayefele has recorded outstanding success in the niche and remains one of the most beloved and sought-after musicians in the world’s most populous black nation. He is also a proud recipient of numerous honours and awards.
In 2010, he was awarded with the eighth highest honour in Nigeria, Member of the Order of the Niger. An elated Ayefele said after the nomination in July 2010 that he was extremely happy and grateful to God for the honour. He also extended his thanks to the Ekiti State Government which ostensibly nominated him and to his fans as well.
Receiving a national honour for his accomplishments.
With Nigerian musician Oritsefemi. Can you see Denrele at the left?
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