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Sikiru Ayinde Barrister: 9 Years Without Fuji Exponent | By Waheed Ganiyu

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Exactly 9 years ago, Nigerian music icon, Dr. Sikiru Ololade Ayinde Balogun popularly known across the globe as Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Alhaji Agba and Mr. Fuji died at St. Mary’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Incontrovertibly, Barrister is regarded as the Fuji creator.

Prior to naming his own brand of music as Fuji what it used to be was ‘were’ genre, which served as a means of entertaining the Muslim faithful during the month of Ramadan. But Sikiru Ayinde established Fuji, a name which according to him was derived from a mountain in Japan (Mount Fuji). Obviously, Barrister made Fuji genre to have commercial appeal.

During his lifetime , Barrister had over 100 albums to his  name and he inspired not only Fuji musicians, but from other genres. According to Sir Shina Peters, Barrister inspired him to release his debut ‘Aye’ in 1989. Shina was challenged when he saw how Barrister combined different juju music instruments in ‘Fuji Garbage’ series 2, in 1988.

Call him a prophet, you’re correct. There’s no doubt that Barrister had the premonition of the present insecurity and other social challenges bedevilling the country. In ‘Precaution’ released in 1995, he sang ‘mo sun mo la ala ala to buru, mo ri pe a n jagun ni Nigeria’ , meaning ‘I had a nightmare that Nigeria is in war’. And truly, Nigeria was grappled with insurgency, thank God they are technically ‘defeated’ now. Maybe the economic meltdown was part of Barrister’s nightmare.

Barrister also made significant contributions to the enthronement of Nigeria’s democracy. In his album ‘Truth'(1994). He called on the political office holders to make service their watchword. He challenged them to take into consideration the welfare of the electorates. Also in ‘Precaution’ he openly advocated for the release of Chief MKO Abiola and other political detainees ‘ka ni kan fi Moshudi sile MK Abiola’

He has always been on the side of the down-trodden. He used every opportunity to lament the suffering of the poor masses. ‘ka ma puro o mekunnu n jiya o, ka’ye san wo ina lai ma ma ri na o, k’aye san wo omi lai ma ma r’omi o. Meaning ‘truly, the poor are suffering by paying utility bills for service not rendered- electricity and water. Barrister lamented this in his album released preparatory to 1983 general elections ‘Nigeria’.

Many businesses had benefited from Barrister’s advertisement prowess. Some enterprises who were not enjoying popularity were made known in his albums. For instance in ‘Ijo Olomo’ released in 1983, he eulogised Chief Modupe Badero(Naira Pools) ‘ B’omode máa wi o Naira Pools ni…kin ni kan lo yato ti won fi j’olori , Saturday lo n san wo e, Atewolara ni won wa be de Mushin e beere’. Naira Pools also enjoyed mention in ‘Appreciation'(1984), ’emi a ta Naira Pools ni te mi, gbogbo wa la o ta’…
Barrister also extended the same gesture to Chief Rasaki Akanni Okoya in ‘Iwa'(1982),’ma jese mi o gb’ofo, Eleganza gbami odun de’. The business magnate was a major importer of footwear then.

All Barrister’s works which cover politics, humanity, discipline, celebration and others remain evergreen. His usual intervention as a commentator in the socio-political discourse is missing. Irrespective of the controversy surrounding the creator of Fuji music, I align with Saheed ‘Osupa that ‘Barry ni Fuji, e ma wule janpata’, ‘Barrister is Fuji, no argument’

Born in Ibadan, February 9, 1948, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister attended Model School Mushin and Yaba College of Technology. He started as ‘ajiwere’, in 1958 at Mushin, Lagos. He joined the Nigerian Army in 1958. His focus on music career prompted his resignation from the military in 1976. May his soul rest in peace.

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Eight Stabbed, Hundreds Arrested at Notting Hill Carnival

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Police officers make an arrest at the Notting Hill Carnival in west London on August 26, 2024. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)

 

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that eight people were stabbed and hundreds were arrested during last weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival, one of the world’s largest street festivals, held annually in west London.

In an update on their policing operation late Monday, the Met reported that five people were stabbed on the final day of the three-day celebration, which is internationally renowned for its vibrant display of British Afro-Caribbean culture.

This followed three other stabbings on Sunday. Three of the victims were left in life-threatening conditions.

Police made at least 230 arrests on Monday alone, including 49 for possession of an offensive weapon.

These arrests added to the scores of others made earlier in the weekend. In addition to the arrests, three firearms were seized, and 35 officers sustained injuries during the event, which attracts around a million attendees every August bank holiday weekend.

The number of arrests and incidents this year closely mirrors last year’s figures when there were 10 stabbings and approximately 300 arrests.

Despite the heavy police presence, with around 7,000 officers deployed, the carnival was once again marred by violence, particularly knife crime. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of revellers enjoyed the event without incident, filling the streets of Notting Hill with colour, music, and dancing.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Ade Adelekan expressed his frustration over the recurring violence, noting that a woman attending the carnival with her child was among those stabbed.

“We only very narrowly avoided a fatality,” he said, urging attendees to report any crimes they witness.

The Notting Hill Carnival, a celebration of British Afro-Caribbean culture, has its roots in the 1950s, following the post-World War II influx of immigrants from former British colonies.

The annual event is known for its feathered dancers, steel bands, and earth-shaking sound systems, symbolizing the rich cultural heritage of the Afro-Caribbean community in the UK.

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Portable Granted Bail After Night in Police Cell Over ₦14m Debt

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Habeeb Okikiola popularly known as Portable. Photo: @portablebaeby/Instagram

 

The Lagos State Police Command has freed renowned street artist, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, following a night spent in police detention.

Portable was apprehended on Tuesday in Lagos’ Abule Egba vicinity for purportedly defaulting on the balance payment for a G-Wagon vehicle he had purchased from an auto dealer.

Reports suggest that although the ‘Zazoo Zeh’ maestro acquired the vehicle valued at ₦27 million, he only disbursed ₦13 million, leaving a ₦14 million outstanding balance.

In footage that went viral, Portable was observed scaling a gate as law enforcement officers approached him with an arrest warrant.

Subsequently, another video emerged depicting him being restrained, handcuffed, and conveyed by approximately four policemen into a waiting vehicle.

During the altercation, a female voice, purportedly that of the car dealer, was heard in the background, issuing profanities and recounting Portable’s alleged threats when confronted about settling the debt.

The Police spokesperson in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that Portable was released on bail on Wednesday after spending Tuesday night in police custody.

He further disclosed that both Portable and the car dealer are expected to reconvene at a later date.

“He (Portable) has been released; he was granted bail on Wednesday to come back with the complainant later,” Hundeyin stated, stressing that “the outcome of that meeting will determine our next line of action.”

This incident marks not the first encounter between the singer and law enforcement.

In April 2023, Portable was detained by the police in Ogun State and arraigned on five charges related to alleged assault and theft at the Ifo Magistrate Court, in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Subsequently, he was held at the Ilaro Correctional Centre before being released upon meeting bail conditions.

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Autopsy Results Fail to Determine Cause of Mohbad’s Death

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In a recent inquiry into the untimely demise of Nigerian musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad, held at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Sunday Osiyemi, a Forensic Scientist and Pathologist, revealed that the results of the autopsy conducted on the deceased failed to unveil the cause of death.

Speaking before Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, who presided over the coroner’s inquiry, Prof. Osiyemi cited various factors contributing to the inconclusive findings, notably the significant decomposition of the body due to the extended delay of 21 days before the autopsy was performed.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, representing Mohbad’s family, emphasised that according to the pathologist, the body should have been exhumed within 12 hours post-burial to prevent decomposition, a critical factor in determining the cause of death.

Shittu further elucidated that the pathologist referenced the administration of certain drugs to Mohbad before his demise, suggesting a potential correlation between the drugs and the difficulties encountered in pinpointing the cause of death.

“He also went further to say that it may be attributed to reactions to certain drugs administered on him before he died. Again he then qualified that to say he does not know whether it is those drugs that actually led to his death,” Shittu stated.

With the cause of death remaining elusive, the coroner adjourned the proceedings to June 11th for further examination and cross-examination of the pathologist’s findings, signaling a continuation in the quest for answers surrounding Mohbad’s untimely passing.

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