Discerning eyes, watching late Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister removing his black cap and placing it on the head of the kneeling K1, saw more than what looked like an evening theatre inside the Water Park, a recreation centre on Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos State.
The 2008 occasion was the diamond birthday of Barrister powered by
K1 in collaboration with the City People magazine in honour of Barrister whom K1 regarded and still regards as his benefactor in his chosen music career.
Cultural pundits interpreted the historic episode as Barrister’s body language of asking K1 to step into his shoes as the numero uno of fuji, a genre he is widely acclaimed to have birthed during his struggle to find his feet among existing indigenous genres like Apala, Sakara, Highlife and Juju.
Afterwards, save for a few, marginal occasions of expressing inflammable views that ignited chaos of public reactions, K1 had demonstrated capacity and competence, particularly referencing activities preparatory to the burial of Barrister who had breathed his last in London on December 16, 2010. K1 it was who formally recieved the remains at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on December 31, 2010.
Inspite of inconsistent harmony among fuji musicians, K1, regardless of his limitations, remains the most acceptable rallying point whose aura easily magnetises majority of top fuji musicans who publicly or otherwise adore him for his sustained stamina, spanning over four decades.
Like Barrister did in 2016 when he was conferred with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by President Olusegun Obasanjo, K1 emerged the second recipient from Fuji class; he was honoured by President Muhammadu Buhari with the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 2022.
He has again followed the footstep of Barrister, now, the Bobagunwa-designate of Idimu, Lagos State, succeeding Barrister, who had the title in the late 70s.
The Onidimu of Idimu, Oba Noah Olayiwola Adefimihan, who ascended to the stool of his ancestors and had his installation ceremony on August 24 2025, is said to have caught K1 off guard in his choice of him for that prestigious title. How? How did it happen? K1 told Tunde Busari. Excerpts
Congratulations, sir on your new title. Can you share your short remark on it?
Honestly, my brother it was a shocking news when Kabiyesi, the Oba of Idimu (Oba Noah Adeyemi Olafimihan) made that announcement.
Really?
But to every honour given, it is a call to serve and a sign of good responsibility for you to ever be considered, especially to the man whom everyone knows I grew up under his tutelage and benefitted a lot from and still benefiting, even 15 years after his demise.
Can you be more explicit here?
Should anyone mean to ask what is late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’s achievements in life, he left behind good and well educated children, including King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, who are doing great in all shapes of life.
Interesting
Yes. He left behind, good name that no one can ever fault, and above all, ‘Fuji Music’, of which I am a great beneficiary of that genre of music. I can continue talking and talking.
Again, congratulations, sir
Thank you, Baba mi.
Leave a Reply