The Fuji musician who was born in 1953 in
Ibadan, Oyo State, had an interview with the Vanguard newspaper where he
revealed that he started music alongside the late Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde
Barrister in 1965, adding that it was in the late 1970s he refined his own
brand of music by adding bata drums and changed his band’s name to Fuji (1978
to be precise).
“Starting off was very early for me”, he says. “I started with’ weere’ music in 1965 at 10”.
Group of amateurs who had talent in music usually moved from
house to house to perform especially during Ramadan. They were the Weere
musicians. Some of them eventually became stars. It was a distinguished
performance that saw him winning an award even as a Weere musician. And that
meant a visit to the State House Marina to receive the award. It was a big
achievement to visit the State House in those days. It meant you were special.
His was clearly a case of talent not fully harnessed in the beginning. But that
award marked the beginning of the good things that were to follow, the report
states. “I was at the State House in Marina, Lagos to receive a trophy and a
certificate of merit and it felt great.”
