15 Years Without Sikiru Ayinde Barrister
By Dr. Femi Adefila,
The echoes of his musical strides still reverberate. His legendary works still fill the airwaves. His words remain timeless—words of wisdom and words of reason. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister was a poet whose deep musical lyrics were crafted to provoke thought. He was a social crusader whose works taught ethics and values.
I was introduced to Fuji—Barrister’s genre of music—by my brother, Otunba Ademola Adefila. He was, and still is, fanatical about anything and everything that came from the stable of Omo Agbajelola. As an impressionable child, I faithfully imbibed the culture of Fuji music as espoused by the legend himself.
It is needless getting entangled in the debate on whether he birthed Fuji as a genre of music or not. What remains incontrovertible is that Sikiru Ayinde Barrister provided winds for the sail of Fuji. He breathed life into the idea. He gave it shape and form—and root to sprout.
His hybrid vocal skill gave him tonal variations, which he deployed with admirable dexterity. His songs were mostly spiritual and therapeutic. They offered a bouquet of variants and flavours that delighted his fans.
His philosophical sayings, ethical teachings, and moral lessons often rooted in islamic doctrines made him more than an entertainer. Those doctrinal principles were universally acceptable to people of all faiths. He was a teacher, preacher, and fun merchant. Agbajelola had a masterful command of the Yoruba language. Praise poetry ( oriki) is a cultural phenomenon among the Yoruba speaking people. He was a master of it. His praise singing touched souls and spirit.
Barrister Ayinde’s brand of Fuji music is a unique blend of traditional Yoruba styles—such as Apala, Sakara, and Awurebe—with modern elements like Juju and Highlife. His music is characterized by energetic percussion, clever storytelling, and sharp social commentary, often addressing issues like politics, culture, and morality. His powerful vocals and emotive delivery earned him the title “King of Fuji.” His music transcended religious and cultural boundaries, resonating with audiences across Nigeria and beyond.
The way he blended traditional instruments like the talking drum, Sakara drum, and local guitar (Agidigbo) gave his music remarkable energy. Ayinde Barrister told stories of everyday life and used folklore and imagery to analyze contemporary social issues. He was a Yoruba cultural ambassador who celebrated Yoruba traditions for the listening pleasure of his teeming fans. Without doubts, Barrister Ayinde’s Fuji music remains a vibrant and influential genre that continues to inspire artists and delight audiences to this day.
Barrister’s accomplishments in the musical realm earned him a pride of place among his many fans. With 126 albums to his credit at age 62, when he breathed his last, like apostle Paul in the Bible, he laboured more than them all and his works towered above and eclipsed those of his contemporaries in his era.
Sleep on, Great Legend.
Dr Femi Adefila is the CEO Rave FM and WSTV in Osogbo Osun state.