How Awujale Made K1 Cry At OJUDE-OBA

• After He Was Made Olori Omoba & Head Fidipote Ruling House

+How The Decision Was Made By The Awujale

The just concluded 2023 Ojude-Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode may have come and gone. But one of the high points of the colourful event was Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona’s decision to make K1, the new Olori Omooba Akile Ijebu and head of the Fidipote Ruling House.  By that title, he is now the  Head of the Fidipote Royal Family and the overall Olori Omoba.

The title is the Olori Omooba, just as he is the Olori Fidipote Ruling House. Don’t forget that the Alaafin made him Mayegun of Yorubaland a few years back.

When the Awujale droped the bombshell in his speech at the Ojude-Oba, there was a resounding applause and Apala King, Musiliu Haruna Ishola, who was on band stand, already holding the microphone, ready to sing, sang a short song, eulogising K1. Don’t forget that K1 and Musiliu are close. They are brothers. K1 is older than him.

After Awujale announced it, K1 was allowed to respond to Awujale’s Golden Gift to him. K1 filled with emotion, thanked the Awujale for giving him such a big title when he least expected it. He promised not to dissapoint him and members of the Fidipote Ruling House. He also thanked all the Ijebus for their support. As he was speaking he broke into tears of joy and  he had to be encouraged to continue.

Awujale’s appointment of K1 as the Olori Omooba came as a big surprise to many Ijebu people. It was unexpected. They were not expecting such a big honour at the Ojude-Oba. It was not listed on the programme of events in the brochure. It came towards the end of the event, when the Awujale was called on to address the audience.

City People can tell you how the decision was taken by the Awujale. Many don’t know that K1 is a Prince from the Fidipite Royal Ruling  House. Following  the death of Otunba Subomi Balogun who was the Olori Omoba Akile Ijebu, the title moved from the Fusengbuwa Royal Ruling House (of which Tunwase Royal Ruling House is an integral part) to another Ruling House, the Fidipote Royal Ruling House. Wasiu Ayinde Marshall Anifowose is a Prince from the Fidipote Royal Ruling House. Kabiyesi Awujale simply  exercised his power as the prescribed authority and paramount ruler of Ijebuland.

But some guests at the Ojude Oba had suspected something was about to happen, at when K1 breezed into the Pavillion Grounds at about 10.30am. He usually does not attend Ojude Oba. He has not attended the last few Ojude Oba Festivals. But this time around he did. He came in with many of his Boys and Associates.

Immediately, he walked in, he went round the mainbowl of the Royal Pavilion, venue of the Ojude Festival to greet all the Regberegbe members. Many people also don’t know that K1 is a member of a particular Regberegbe. He is a valued member of the Egbe Bobakeye Akile Ijebu, headed by Giwa Biodun Onanuga. K1 is the Gbobaniyi Egbe Bobakeye.

After he arrived the venue, he went to greet his Giwa and members of the Egbe. But noticeable he didn’t wear the same official white Aso-Ebi and Fila which all the members wore. He also didn’t sit at the arena with them. He went to sit in the VVIP wing, upstairs, where the Awujale and other dignitaries sat.

Over the last few years, a lot of positive things have been happening to K1.

That is why many believe King of Fuji music, K1 is a very lucky man. He is a man blessed with the Grace of God upon his life. And he has become increasingly lucky with the wide acceptance that his music has received, globally.

That he is popular is no longer in doubt. That his music is widely accepted is not debatable.

Over the last 5 years, he has moved from Glory to Glory. He himself has stepped up his game. He has made his music very appealing to the vast majority and he has made Fuji music danceable. No wonder, there is a huge demand for him.

Practically everyone wants him to play at their party. People now book months ahead, to get a slot. People approach him first before they pick a date for their parties, because it may change if K1 is not free on the day they chose.

City People can authoritatively reveal that K1 has been fully booked from January till the end of this year, 2023. And all the bookings are fully paid for. That is why he will need to continue to play,most times twice a day from Mondays to Sundays, to catch up with the backlog of shows he has. Before the campaigns started almost every day, he had shows across the country. Most times, he now has 2 shows a day and he copes well.

Why is K1’s music in high demand? Why do many celebrities want K1,who some choose to call Wasiu or Alhaji to play at their parties?We can tell you the answer to that for free.

It is because they love his music. It is also because they love the rhythm of his songs. And his music is danceable. He knows what to sing that will put all the ladies on their feet. Many of them can mime his songs from A to Z. That is how hooked they are on his music.

Let us tell you more about K1 who was born as Wasiu Omogbolahan Olasunkanmi Adewale Ayinde Marshal on 3 March 1957. Don’t forget that he popularised a brand of the Fuji genre based on the work of the Fuji creator Ayinde Barrister, known as Talazo Fuji, that appealed to all age groups, irrespective of tribe and background.

He discovered his interest in music when he was 8. His parents initially opposed his desire to be a musician but he continued to pursue his passion and by the time he was 15 he had won various local musical competitions. He later became a member, of Ayinde Barrister’s band, The Supreme Fuji Commanders from 1975 to 1978 after previously serving under him as instrument packer. He also adopted the name of Ayinde into his name after seeking the permission and blessing of his master, Ayinde Barrister. He released his first album titled Iba with the special track ‘Abode Mecca’ in 1980, and thereafter, his most successful album Talazo ’84 in 1984. He has won many titles and several music awards.

K1 began his global tour between North America and Europe in 1986 and performed at Hammersmith Town Hall in 1987. That was followed by New York City, United States with full Talazo Band on Sep. 28 1990, London Yuppie 1 & 2 Nights 1991/92, European Tour 1995, Berlin 1997, North America (the USA & Canada ’98), Canada 2000, and USA Tour 2003. He has continued non-stop touring annually since. In 1995 he delivered the first Fuji performance ever at WOMAD Festival. He is also the only Fuji musician to perform at Troxy, WOMEX and SOB.

He  has many chieftaincy titles and awards, such as Badabarawu of Ogijo in 1985, Ekerin Amuludun of Ibadanland in 1986,

Golden Mercury of Africa Title in 1986, Honoris Causa of Music at Saint John University Bakersfield California USA in 1989, crowned as King of Fuji, (Oluaye Fuji Music) at NTA Ibadan in 1993,the Oluomo of Lagos by King Adeyinka Oyekan of Lagos in 1999.

On Monday, January 13, 2020, he was installed by the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi as the first Mayegun of Yorubaland.

He recently revealed his success story. “I started professionally at the age of 15 and if my calculation is right, I clocked 65 just a few weeks ago and I can boldly say that I have put 50 active years of my life into this business. If no one sees anything good in that, I can see something beautiful. Among all the musicians and artistes, I can say that I am the closest to Alhaji Barrister, apart from our father, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey. I served him rigorously, and I learnt a lot of the rudiments of Fuji music from him and that has pushed me forward to be adjudged the best in Fuji music”.

“This is the time for all Fuji musicians all over the world to wake up from their slumber and defend what is truly theirs. We can do all in our power to further improve the image of Fuji everywhere we find ourselves. While the late Barrister was alive, I took up the challenge to be the one to run many things for him. I remember holding a meeting with the young Fuji musicians at that time to see how we can make all our efforts count in promoting Fuji music. That was how we started the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FUMAN) which is still standing today. With the aid of my personal lawyer and secretary, we were able to draft a constitution for the association. That was my journey from way back. While I was doing that, there was nothing that points out the fact that Wasiu was doing anything to take the shine or glory of Fuji away from Barrister.

Nothing was done to fix myself in the game, I was just playing my role as a supporter of the creator of Fuji music and was looking for a way to place our genre of music on a pedestal where it becomes the envy of other genres. I wanted to surprise him all my life, I wanted to keep making him have reasons to believe that I will remain loyal to him all my life and to God be the glory, I have achieved that.”