Fuji king Ayinde Barrister dies in London - ‘Alhaji Agba’

Fuji king Ayinde Barrister dies in London - Barely 24 hours after the transition of frontline politician and elder statesman, Chief Peter Enahoro, Nigeria lost yet another illustrous son, with the death of Fuji Exponent, Chief Sikiru Ayinde Barrister in far away London. Widely known and called ‘Alhaji Agba’ in the Fuji music circle, the late Ayinde Barrister died early yesterday at St Marys Hospital in London at the age of 62.

As about 6.00pm when African News Desk visited his home at 24, Lamina Lawal Street in Isolo area of Lagos, some hundreds of sympathisers had besieged the storey building while the street was occupied by Ayinde’s fans. The entire area was thrown into mourning as people stood in groups, discussing the transition of the Fuji exponent.

Another Fuji musician who is better known as the musical son of the late musiucian, Saheed Osupa, arrived at about 5.48 pm and moved straight into the inner segment of the house. Although he managed to control his emotion, he nevertheless wore a long face that depicted agony and despair. He was later reported to have broken into tears inside the expansive house.

Meanwhile, a few minutes after Osupa entered the house, there ensued vehicular and human traffic around the house, as more and more sympathizers flooded the area. A group of women believed to be friends of the slate musician’s wife also filed in, wailing and shouting in honour of the dead.

Shortly before this, the late Sikiru Ayinde’s son, Wale popularly known as Barry Showky said his father had been in an out of hospital in the last two years until yesterday when he died in a London hospsital.

According to him, his father was hospitalised in India a few month ago and was recuperating until last month when he was flown back to Nigeria. He was admitted at Havana Hospital in Surulere and treated but when his sistuation was not improving, he was flown abroad again to Universal Clinic in Germany.

While in Germany, Ayinde was rumoured dead and many of his fans reportedly rushed to his Isolo home only to discover that he was still alive. After receiving treatment for a while in Germany, Ayinde was eventually admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital where he breathed his last yesterday morning. As at 7pm yesterday, the condolence register that was opened for the late Fuji King had been filled with tributes by friends and well-wishers.

Among these were the Oba of Isolo in Council, Otuna Yisa Idowu (Yisco), Alhaji Abdul Raliman Azeez (MFR) and Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (Tokyo). Also reacting to Barrister’s death was Dele Abiodun, President of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) who said in a press release that "t really hurts to believe and accept the great Fuji creator is no more. We in PMAN are however consoled by the fact that Alhaji Ayinde Barrister was an accomplished musician who did not only leave a good footprint on the sands of time but also left a good vocal record on the sounds of time, May his great soul rest in perfect peace.”

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