Fuji music star, Alhaji (Dr.) Sefiu Alao Adekunle better known as Baba Oko, has collaborated with a female Apala music singer and daughter to late Apala music maestro, Ayinla Omowura, Queen Halimat Omowura, one of the surviving members of Ayinla Omowura’s Band, Sikiru Oyewole, and a Dublin returnee Fuji artiste, Oba Abimbola Semiu Ayantola, popularly known as Semo Winter, to wax a tribute album for late lead drummer to Ayinla Omowura’s Band, Adewole Onilu.
According to Sefiu Alao’s Media Manager, Saheed Ojubanire, the idea of the album was conceived by the artistes as their own way of paying last respect to a legendary drummer and one of the generation of musicians who gave indigenous music which include Apala and Fuji, the pride of place in the annals of Nigerian music brands. As a matter of fact, Ojubanire added, the story of Apala music in Nigeria cannot be fully told without the name of Baba Adewole, who died on December 28th, 2020, being mentioned prominently in it.
“And again, Baba Adewole was very close to Alhaji Sefiu Alao in his lifetime. Baba would always visit Alhaji Sefiu Alao’s Corporate Office in Abeokuta to relate and share ideas with the Fuji artiste, and it was on one of such visits that Baba Adewole conceived the idea that they should do a commemorative album for his late partner in their band, Ayinla Omowura, when it clocked 40 years since he died in 2020. Ayinla Omowura died in 1980, and the commemorative album in which Baba Adewole was the lead drummer despite his old age was recorded and released in the middle of the year 2020,” Ojubanire revealed.
Not knowing that he too was going to pass on later same year, Ojubanire continued, Baba Adewole ensured that Ayinla Omowura was well remembered and celebrated 40 years after his demise, and it is only befitting that such an old man with a good heart is paid a befitting last respect with a special album like Alhaji Sefiu Alao and the 3 other artistes have done. He said the album which was majorly produced by Alhaji Sefiu Alao’s Official Producer, Isa Alabede, would be released into the market soon.
