ADEWALE AYUBA: Mother Told Me Not to Feel Like King at Stardom
• MIMO to blare Through Speakers Soon
• Seven Music Artiste For Collaboration in 2021
• The Ayuba Azuka Combination
By OLUDANIELS
Bubble crooner and Bonsue Fuji creator, Adewale Ayuba also known as Mr Johnson, the delectable husband of Azuka, a peace loving man adorned with a lot of peculiarities across his brand of music, instrumentation and distinct voice, his wears, character and comportment earn him outstanding reputes among his caste and class.
He grew up as a child singer, and by the age of eight he had started singing at local musical competitions and fiestas in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Though he gained admission to study Architecture at the Ogun State Polytechnic but the burning music desire took center stage surprisingly, he released his first album, Ibere (Beginning) at the age of 17 and as a result, he rose rapidly in the Fuji music scene, he holds a Doctorate of Arts in Music at Bradley University.
Ayuba writes all his songs and stage crafts with his fifteen-man band.
His 1991 album titled ‘Bubble’ shot him into international stardom which marked the first time in history when a Fuji Music album gained such widespread recognition, topping music charts for six consecutive months and winning multiple awards at the Nigerian Music Awards (NMA). It also won Ayuba the coveted Artiste of the Year Awards, including the Album of the Year Award, Song of the Year Award, and Best Fuji Album of the Year Award,four in all.
Ayuba’s distinct voice changed the face of Fuji Music. For the first time in history, the Nigerian elites, who until then had ignored Fuji Music, embraced it whole heartedly.
Followed on the heels by ‘Mr. Johnson Play For Me’ which also became an instant success in 1992. In 1993, Ayuba went on his first West Africa coast tour, performing in several African countries. The success of this tour gave birth to his first US tour in 1993, during which he performed in over ten states. His performance at the world-renowned New Orleans Jazz Festival earned him an award titled ‘Key to the City of Providence, Rhode Island’ by its mayor after two successful concerts. His Los Angeles debut was also a success, and C.C. Smith of Los Angeles Weekly Magazine wrote that “Ayuba bases his Fuji on two elemental forces rhythm, and the human voice to create compelling, enchanting and powerful sound. Expect frenzied dancing style and colorful costumes, exultant fans and enough talking drums and percussion to remedy even a terminal case of sensory deprivation.”
After his return in 1993, Ayuba released another chart-topping album, Buggle D, which gained more recognition than Bubble, it won multiple awards at the FAME Music Awards, topping the music chart for several months.
In 1994 again, Ayuba internationalized his brand of Fuji music, Bonsue and toured the UK and the US. He recorded while in America in 1995, and he performed at various international concerts including the 1996 Summer State Concerts in New York, the African Mondo Concerts of 1996 and 1997, the 1997 International Festival in Houston, Texas, and the Black Entertainment Television Jazz USA Concert. Ayuba was signed by US-based Q-disc Record Company for a year contract and released ‘Fuji Time’ on the company’s label in 1996. In 1997, he released ‘Fuji Dub’ on the Agogo Music Label in London.
He came back to Nigeria in 1998 and buttresses his flourishing music rack with ‘Acceleration.’ 2000, it was another blockbuster: Turn Me On, which emerged as the Best Fuji Album of the Year at the Awards for Musical Excellence in Nigeria and as the ‘Best Song of The Year’ at the Nigerian Song Festival 2000. In the same year, he toured several European countries including England, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium.
As a genuine son of the soil of Remo, ‘Distinguished Son of Ikenne Remo Award’ was bestowed upon him in 2001 in a carnival like ceremony at the Ikenne Local Government in Ogun State that same year he performance at the Eko Le Meridien Hotel Banquet hall, Lagos, in a concert tagged ‘The Return of Ayuba’. This concert went off like fireworks through South-West Nigeria, as it captivated the Executive Governors of Lagos and Ogun State, Federal and State Legislators, including several commissioners, among other dignitaries from all works of life which made the media to tag Ayuba as the Most Corporate Fuji Musician ever.
In 2002, the Music Advertisers Association of Nigeria named Ayuba the Best Artiste of the Millennium. In 2003, Ayuba again toured Europe, performing in Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Essen, Krefeld, Paris, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Bologna, Napoli, Torin, and Genova. While on this tour, he recorded a joint album, ‘Fuji Satisfaction,’ with a German-based Afro-centric Music group Bantu, which won two Awards ‘The Best Group in West Africa’, ‘The Best Group in Africa at the Kora Music Awards’ in Durban, South Africa.
In 2004, the Ikenne Development Association in Chicago gave him its Ogo-irawo Award in recognition of his contribution to the development of Ikenne Remo. His album, Mellow, which became a success after release, won the ‘Best Fuji Vocal Performance’ at the (AMEN) 2007 Awards, which topped Nigeria’s contemporary African charts.
Ayuba is the last child of his parents, and he is happily married to Azukaego Kwentoh a union blessed with beautiful children.
As a graduate of Financial Accounting from the Queens Borough Community College, New York, he does business to supports his music career.
Our distinguished Multiple award winner entertained few questions from Creekvibes Oludaniels.
Excerpt.
How would you describe Bonsue music that you typically create, was the name Bonsue delivered in a dream?
As a growing up child, whenever I am on errand, I always sing along, sometimes I may forget what I was asked to go and get or do the wrong thing, so while my mother was scolding me she used that phrase, ‘Ma lo ma bo-bo-bo-bonsue.’ Literarily to mean: Don’t go and be doing bobobonsue.
When I decided to create my band I said let me use the name my mother use to call me as a lad. So, that was how Bonsue came into existence and I added Fuji.
According to research, the name Bonsue represents power, practicality; ambition, success, inspiration and discipline are you using all these to your favour?
I’ve never come across such meaning.That is just great; it is interesting.
Records, has it that your father was a musician, was he into Fuji, Apala or Awurebe?
No, my father has a fantastic voice, he sings in the house, he never put a band together, his singing ability earned him a name among his peers,‘Afodun.’ To mean: Someone with sweet voice always.
Just like Bob Marley had taken reggae to every part of the world, how many part of the world have you taken Bonsue fuji music to?
Well, I’ve gone to quite few countries but, by His grace I’ll still go to more countries, I’ve been to America, London, Italy, Belgium, Rio de janeiro Brazil and a couple of European countries.
What is the secret of your ever looking young?
I will give that glory to God, we should always give God all the glory pertaining our health. I eat normal food every other person eat; I drink what others drinks but I don’t take alcoholic drinks; I sleep normal and I don’t flirt.
What should your staunch followers be expecting soon?
I dropped a single 3-month ago ‘Birthday Groove,’ while I’m working on another single to be rolled out before the end of December to welcome the frenzy festive mode of my fans. In a nutshell, I intend to compile 9 singles into an album not the usual format for Fuji musician; we normally sing 30 minutes or more for an album.
What is the name, of soon to be rolled out single?
MIMO
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music industry, negatively or positively?
Although, anything that has a negative side must have positivity, I can tell you that the internet has contributed 70 per cent positive impact on the music industry, music tracks are been sold right away on the internet; send to a friend via the net; you reach more audience through the internet, more people get to know you and hear your songs.
What is your favourite song to perform anytime; anywhere; anyday that will wao the audiences?
I’ve got a lot so, I don’t know, sometimes I allow the audience to decide, they may say: Turn me on, Ijo Fuji, La Campari and a couple of others.
Would you want to do collaboration with any musician?
Yes, that’s a programme for 2021. I’ve got about 7 artistes pencilled down for collaboration.
Presently which musician do you admire?
To be frank, I admire all artistes, they are doing great.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
From my mother, she told me not to allow fame to get to my brain, sometime when people get to stardom, they feel like kings, she said: I shouldn’t allow people to call me superstar; to appreciate my friends always, she said everyone on earth is a star, it is my music that made me different. It echoes in my ears always.
How do you handle female fan that wants relationships?
Well, I see female fan as a sincere fan, it takes two to tango, forget about all the hear say that if you are a musician, women won’t let you be, if anybody come to you and say ‘you are looking good’ all you need do is say thank you and move on but, when you say thank you, and you started exchanging pleasantries that will be the beginning of the problem.
All you need to do is to know how to manage your life.
Who is the oldest drummer or serving member of your band?
Alhaji Kamoru
Your best sport?
Football and Golf
Do you participate?
I don’t play football anymore but I still do, with Golf.
Thanks for your time and do have blissful day ahead sir.
