I love how my woman pampers me—K1

The Mayegun of Yoruba land and Fuji king, Wasiu Ayinde, famous as K1 D Ultimate became the rally point for Fuji artistes since the demise of Fuji music creator, Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde, popularly known as Barrister. K1 and his colleagues days back held a colloquium in honour of Barrister, where he spoke to select journalists about a number of issues among which was the future of Fuji music in Nigeria. ROTIMI IGE presents excerpts of the conversation.

What informed the decision to organise a colloquium for Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister?

If we all agree Barrister is the symbol and face that attracted a lot of people to that genre of music, then we should be able to put our foot down that he must be well-celebrated. We should be able to create an institution out of the establishment he made so that many years to come, there would be reason for people to learn. For instance, the whole world believes the role of Bob Marley as far as Reggae is concerned, and all credits today go to him and Jamaica. That is the same thing with Barrister when it comes to Fuji and Nigeria. As we grow, we discover that our music, especially in southwest Nigeria, serves as an eye-opener and is full representation of the fact that Fuji music is a genre that has travelled far with its origins in Nigeria. Why do we have to wait till it is gone before we think that it is time to create our own Jamaica and our own Reggae that God has blessed us with through Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. That was what informed the organisation of the colloquium.

But a colloquium like this is not something you just wake up and do, you need a lot of consultation. It was that consultation that took us such a long time.

Beyond the colloquium, in what other ways are you looking at immortalising him?

What informs a better society is when there is an avenue for people to come together and talk. That is what will ginger us and open our eyes to a lot of things we cannot see. In the course of talking, discussing, holding meetings, symposiums, you would see a lot of development. If we don’t open discussions through forums like this, how do we know the problems and how to tackle them?

12 years after Barrister’s death, there has been no significant new entrants. Most of you were already established before Barrister’s passing. What do you think is responsible for this?

There have been. 9ice, one of the most vibrant and talented voices in entertainment that this country has produced, started as a Fuji artiste. What informed many not being able to categorically say they are playing Fuji is the notion behind the large crowd that goes with the forming of a band. You must have a minimum of 15 to 20 band members. Why did those who come before us and those who play now have 20-piece band standing on stage? It is because they are playing different instruments that have different meaning but young stars of today are not ready for such an expensive project. They simply want to do samples. ‘Aanu Mo Rigba’ was a sample track with few back up. Fuji music is getting there, and pretty soon you will see one man playing Fuji.

We seem to be missing new fresh voices and up and coming artistes in the Fuji industry.

Shanko Rasheed is a new fresh voice and I would say he is one of the youngest. Kolade Onanuga, and many others are the future. The fact that we don’t showcase them doesn’t mean there is none. We simply could not accommodate everyone to come in and hold the microphone to say something today, but they were present and there are more to come. Even those that are not in the country were part of this colloquium. It is a success story everyone wants to be part of.

You said during the event that one of the things you are proud of is that Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FUMAN) started while Barrister was alive. Why is it that you are still the main person championing this cause?

There must be someone God will use. There was a point in time when there was no American constitution. Today, they are one of the biggest political successes in terms of rule of law. The people that formed America at that time were not running that system of governance, it was those who came after them that discovered the importance of running a system of government and created the idea that is America today. Barrister was my direct boss and mentor. He nurtured me so well to realise the responsibility he was placing on my shoulders. I need not be told that I am his future. Some other person will be the future after me, so we have to start now. That was why we decided that we must first get ourselves together and then draft a document that would guide us and help us forge ahead like a responsible, knowledgeable set of people.

Lagos State was well represented at the colloquium, but Barrister cuts across two states. Why was Oyo State not as visible?

It is not about Oyo, Ogun, or Lagos alone, it is about the whole of the Western region where ‘ajiwere ajisari’ is rooted, up to Kwara State. This is the foundation of what is now known as Fuji. This music is being created up to places like Ilorin, Offa, in Kwara State, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and others. But we did not wait till we get everyone on seat before we initiate something that is good. Let us start somewhere and the rest will join us. We know that what we have at hand is beautiful and laudable and I am sure that in subsequent ones you will see that everyone will have taken their place.

After more than a year of your hit track, ‘Aanu Mo Ri Gba’, we are yet to get a video.. Why is that?

Not all successful albums of the world had a video. Video for me takes a very serious mind; we must make a statement with it, not just that it will only cost me five outfits and a few people on hand to dance. If you listen to the lyrics there is deep meaning and we are being careful to not create a video that will alienate some listeners.

But there is a video coming?

Oh, yes! The video that is coming will be one with multiple directions to give people the opportunity to enjoy it in their own way. White folks have been seen dancing to that song, and we want to ensure that the video embrasses all listeners.

There is a notion among music artistes especially at concerts and performances that they must juice up, use drugs or smoke something to deliver. What are the elders doing to sensitise the younger ones to this trend?

There must be a lot of education from the media how things should be done. I don’t smoke. But the issue of drugs goes beyond mere smoking. Today, people inject and sniff all sorts of things. But we must all teach artistes that they must be right when going on stage and give good account of themselves. It is all about education. But this problem is not peculiar to Fuji, it is the same with all genres of music.

Many artistes court controversy in their music by throwing shades at their colleagues. Is that a necessary part of making music?

We used to listen to foreign music a lot when we were young, but many people don’t pay attention to the fact that even those foreigners abuse themselves in the songs. You don’t notice it, and we only pinpoint our mistakes. For example, with drug usage, it has been in the life of music in the western world over the years. For you to be a rock musician, you will use drugs, you can’t do without it, it is the norm. But that doesn’t make rock music for drug users only. So when we make comparisms, we must be objective. Crime in America is 300 per cent higher than that of Nigeria. No matter the level of crime in Nigeria, it is worse in America. Yet they are able to manage things. Yoruba people say ‘a witch is pursuing you in Sokoto, you say you’re running away to Kafanchan. Where can you go that you won’t meet the wrath of witches.’ When you run because of a problem in Nigeria and you leave for America, when you are mugged in America, what do you do. We pray to God almighty to direct us right so that we can do what is better to serve our purpose.

At 65, what is the secret to your looking good?

The first thing any living soul can do for his or herself is to take cognisance of things around you. Even with many busiest schedule, I still find time to rest and I do not deny myself those things that make good living. When it is time for me to eat, I don’t deny myself. I don’t pass judgement or give direction, but there are a lot of drug users that don’t joke with eating and when you see them you won’t believe they are drug users. But when you lose your mind and you don’t take care of yourself, you look emaciated. I rest, work and don’t do anything in excess. I also love as every responsible man should do. When I am in the arms of my woman, she certainly pampers me.