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

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.