Yinka Ayefele Opens Up: My Life, My Music, My Radio Station
 |
|
| Yinka Ayefele |
Yinka Ayefele is a high-class Nigerian
gospel Tungba- highlife musician, He sings in Yoruba, English, Hausa and Igbo
language. He is among the most popular musicians in the country; he has about
18albums and over 200 awards to his name as at September, 2016. He came into the
music industry in 1997 after the fatal accident that damaged his spinal cord and
confined him to a wheelchair.
gospel Tungba- highlife musician, He sings in Yoruba, English, Hausa and Igbo
language. He is among the most popular musicians in the country; he has about
18albums and over 200 awards to his name as at September, 2016. He came into the
music industry in 1997 after the fatal accident that damaged his spinal cord and
confined him to a wheelchair.
EARLY
LIFE AND BACKGROUND
LIFE AND BACKGROUND
Ayefele was born in Ekiti State
southwestern Nigeria and hails from Ipoti, a city in Ekiti State southwestern
Nigeria. He attended Our Saviours Anglican Primary School, Ipoti-Ekiti for his
primary and secondary education before he later proceeded to Ondo State College
of Arts andScience at IkareAkoko, Ondo State Nigeria.
southwestern Nigeria and hails from Ipoti, a city in Ekiti State southwestern
Nigeria. He attended Our Saviours Anglican Primary School, Ipoti-Ekiti for his
primary and secondary education before he later proceeded to Ondo State College
of Arts andScience at IkareAkoko, Ondo State Nigeria.
Ayefele worked briefly as journalist and
broadcasterat the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ibadan, where he also produced
jingles and musical works on radio. He began his music career in 1997 after he
was involved in an automobile accident which damaged his spinal cord and
confined him to a wheelchair.
broadcasterat the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ibadan, where he also produced
jingles and musical works on radio. He began his music career in 1997 after he
was involved in an automobile accident which damaged his spinal cord and
confined him to a wheelchair.
Speaking in an interview on his passion
for music, Ayefele said: “I have been in music since when I was in
secondary school. I used to be a member of the Boys Brigades in my hometown
where I played trumpet. I started playing guitar when I was in the choir. I
actually developed the talent in music when I joined FRCN in Ibadan by producing
jingles for programmes and so on. This was the time I discovered I had the
potential in me especially when I had the accident and I had cause to raise
funds, I discovered that I could work in the music industry full time.”
for music, Ayefele said: “I have been in music since when I was in
secondary school. I used to be a member of the Boys Brigades in my hometown
where I played trumpet. I started playing guitar when I was in the choir. I
actually developed the talent in music when I joined FRCN in Ibadan by producing
jingles for programmes and so on. This was the time I discovered I had the
potential in me especially when I had the accident and I had cause to raise
funds, I discovered that I could work in the music industry full time.”
Initially, he didn’t have the passion
for music. He thought he would become a banker or work in a firm as a clerk. He
did not have the intention of going into music at all, even when he was younger
asa chorister he joinedthe church choir
at an early age, his parents did not encourage him to go into music.
for music. He thought he would become a banker or work in a firm as a clerk. He
did not have the intention of going into music at all, even when he was younger
asa chorister he joinedthe church choir
at an early age, his parents did not encourage him to go into music.
CAREER
AND LIFE
AND LIFE
He began his music career in 1997 after
he was involved in an automobile accident which damaged his spinal cord and
confined him to a wheelchair. While in the hospital after spending about 9
months, his friend, Kola Olawuyi visited and advised him to put some songs
together. He later started music in December 12, 1999.
he was involved in an automobile accident which damaged his spinal cord and
confined him to a wheelchair. While in the hospital after spending about 9
months, his friend, Kola Olawuyi visited and advised him to put some songs
together. He later started music in December 12, 1999.
It was at the Bitter Experience album
launch. He did the launch to raise fund for my treatment. After the launch people
kept calling him to request for more copies of the album: “Ayefele we love that
album and we need to get more of it”, they would tell me each time they called.
It encouraged him to do more songs and that was why he decided to really go
into music. After the launch of the album, a lot of people deposited money for
their copies. So, they quickly went back to produce more copies.
launch. He did the launch to raise fund for my treatment. After the launch people
kept calling him to request for more copies of the album: “Ayefele we love that
album and we need to get more of it”, they would tell me each time they called.
It encouraged him to do more songs and that was why he decided to really go
into music. After the launch of the album, a lot of people deposited money for
their copies. So, they quickly went back to produce more copies.
When he saw the acceptance of the first
work, he decided to go fully into music as his chosen career. This suggestion
resulted in the release of his debut album titled, Bitter Experience in 1998
which brought him into limelight.
work, he decided to go fully into music as his chosen career. This suggestion
resulted in the release of his debut album titled, Bitter Experience in 1998
which brought him into limelight.
The release of Bitter experience was followed
by the release of Sweet Experience. Other albums released by the gospel
musician are Something Else, Divine Intervention and Life after death, released
in honor of Gbenga Adeboye a Nigerian radio presenter, musician and comedian.
by the release of Sweet Experience. Other albums released by the gospel
musician are Something Else, Divine Intervention and Life after death, released
in honor of Gbenga Adeboye a Nigerian radio presenter, musician and comedian.
Experience reflected his ordeal and
Sweet Experience was the sweetness after a “Bitter Experience”. He
revealed what he felt after the accident: “I had a choice – to die or to live. I chose
to live. I didn’t want to become a liability. I decided to live and make it. I
learnt how to play all musical instruments on my own. I was in persistent pains
24 hours – five of my ribs got broken in the accident, but I had to forget my
pains and forge ahead.”
Sweet Experience was the sweetness after a “Bitter Experience”. He
revealed what he felt after the accident: “I had a choice – to die or to live. I chose
to live. I didn’t want to become a liability. I decided to live and make it. I
learnt how to play all musical instruments on my own. I was in persistent pains
24 hours – five of my ribs got broken in the accident, but I had to forget my
pains and forge ahead.”
SPEAKING
OF ABOUT HIS LATE BENEFACTORS
OF ABOUT HIS LATE BENEFACTORS
Without Kola Olawuyi and Gbenga Adeboye
in my life, I may not be alive today. I was working with Kola Olawuyi by
supporting his famous programme, Nnkan Nbe when he was alive. I
produced the entire musical jingle he used on his programme and I produced
theme songs for the programmes as well. For Gbenga Adeboye of blessed memory, I
produced Choices, one of his albums. So, these people really exposed me one way
or the other and I have a very good relationship with them till death.
in my life, I may not be alive today. I was working with Kola Olawuyi by
supporting his famous programme, Nnkan Nbe when he was alive. I
produced the entire musical jingle he used on his programme and I produced
theme songs for the programmes as well. For Gbenga Adeboye of blessed memory, I
produced Choices, one of his albums. So, these people really exposed me one way
or the other and I have a very good relationship with them till death.
In my trying times, they stood by me;
they supported me financially and morally. I can never forget them in my life
and it is a colossal loss to the entertainment industry to lose these titans.
Kola Olotu was the one who came to the hospital and when he saw me on my sick
bed, he said, “Yinka, why can’t you put some songs together to see how we can
raise some funds for you so that you can go abroad for further treatments.” He
was the one who suggested it and thank God I heeded his advice and it worked
for me and that is why I will forever remain grateful to Kola Olotu
they supported me financially and morally. I can never forget them in my life
and it is a colossal loss to the entertainment industry to lose these titans.
Kola Olotu was the one who came to the hospital and when he saw me on my sick
bed, he said, “Yinka, why can’t you put some songs together to see how we can
raise some funds for you so that you can go abroad for further treatments.” He
was the one who suggested it and thank God I heeded his advice and it worked
for me and that is why I will forever remain grateful to Kola Olotu
Speaking
on his challenges, he said: “The greatest challenge for
me is piracy. Seeing the way people are accepting my music, one would think
that Yinka Ayefele is a multi-millionaire. But the way my music is seen is not
the way I am reaping from it. Piracy has really affected my music. Fans who buy
these pirated copies of my music do not mind, since they contain my music and
picture.
on his challenges, he said: “The greatest challenge for
me is piracy. Seeing the way people are accepting my music, one would think
that Yinka Ayefele is a multi-millionaire. But the way my music is seen is not
the way I am reaping from it. Piracy has really affected my music. Fans who buy
these pirated copies of my music do not mind, since they contain my music and
picture.
“To me, that is the greatest problem.
Another problem I am faced with, especially when I go for performances here in
Nigeria, is the Oraisasor Urchins. They always ask for financial settlements
and after settling a group, another would insist that they are the right group
to be settled.
Another problem I am faced with, especially when I go for performances here in
Nigeria, is the Oraisasor Urchins. They always ask for financial settlements
and after settling a group, another would insist that they are the right group
to be settled.
On the allegation of making rituals,
Ayefele said: People who have said that I am a ritualist or that I have used my
spinal cord to attain success are all enemies of progress. Those are all
rumours. I can never negotiate any part of my body for success of any kind and anybody
who knows well about spinal cord injury would know that it comes with regular
and persistent pain. I am very lucky to be able to make use of the upper part
of my body. I don’t know who is behind those rumours but maybe they say those
things about me because they want to make money.
Ayefele said: People who have said that I am a ritualist or that I have used my
spinal cord to attain success are all enemies of progress. Those are all
rumours. I can never negotiate any part of my body for success of any kind and anybody
who knows well about spinal cord injury would know that it comes with regular
and persistent pain. I am very lucky to be able to make use of the upper part
of my body. I don’t know who is behind those rumours but maybe they say those
things about me because they want to make money.
Recently, a soft sell magazine published
my picture on its cover. They featured many names but why was I singled out
with my picture? As a matter of fact, I have sued them already to the tune of
N1 billion. Also, when I traveled to America there was a rumour that I was
jailed for drugs. When I eventually returned, the same people that peddled the
rumour celebrated me. It is very unprofessional.
my picture on its cover. They featured many names but why was I singled out
with my picture? As a matter of fact, I have sued them already to the tune of
N1 billion. Also, when I traveled to America there was a rumour that I was
jailed for drugs. When I eventually returned, the same people that peddled the
rumour celebrated me. It is very unprofessional.
They are only out to deceive people. It
has become a part of us in this part of the world. People could just insinuate something;
work on it and then spread it. But this is the prize to pay for being
successful. Yinka and wife welcomed another baby boy in 2015 with his darling
wife Temitope Titilope, they tied the knot in year 2000.
has become a part of us in this part of the world. People could just insinuate something;
work on it and then spread it. But this is the prize to pay for being
successful. Yinka and wife welcomed another baby boy in 2015 with his darling
wife Temitope Titilope, they tied the knot in year 2000.
Today, Yinka is one of the most popular
gospel artistes in the country, he was among the entertainers at Patience
Jonathan’s elaborate dinner party held dating back to August, 2013. Ayefele
owns a hotel and he runs other businesses different from music.
gospel artistes in the country, he was among the entertainers at Patience
Jonathan’s elaborate dinner party held dating back to August, 2013. Ayefele
owns a hotel and he runs other businesses different from music.
As of 2015; he has about 18 studio
albums already, checkout the list of his albums below: Bitter Experience
(1998), Sweet Experience (1999),Something Else (2000),Divine Intervention
(2001),Fun Fair (2002),Life after death (2003),Aspiration” (2004),Fulfillment
(2005),New Dawn (2006),Next Level (2007),Gratitude (2008),Absolute Praise
(2008),Transformation (2009),Everlasting Grace (2010),Prayer Point
(2011),Goodness Of God (2012),Comforter (2013),Overcommer
albums already, checkout the list of his albums below: Bitter Experience
(1998), Sweet Experience (1999),Something Else (2000),Divine Intervention
(2001),Fun Fair (2002),Life after death (2003),Aspiration” (2004),Fulfillment
(2005),New Dawn (2006),Next Level (2007),Gratitude (2008),Absolute Praise
(2008),Transformation (2009),Everlasting Grace (2010),Prayer Point
(2011),Goodness Of God (2012),Comforter (2013),Overcommer
(2014),Upliftment
(2015)
(2015)
AWARDS
AND ENDORSEMENTS
AND ENDORSEMENTS
He had received over 200 awards. Member
of the Order of the Niger awarded by GoodluckEbele Jonathan, the president of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (2011)Ekiti cultural ambassador award.
of the Order of the Niger awarded by GoodluckEbele Jonathan, the president of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (2011)Ekiti cultural ambassador award.
ON
HIS RADIO
HIS RADIO
Radio has been my
passion for a long time. I actually started Fresh FM way back. About eight years
ago as an online radio before my license request was granted last year. Today,
Fresh 105.9fm is the number one radio station in Ibadan.
 |
| Yinka Ayefele Before Accident |
