Fuji Legend Killington Ayinla Battles For Life In Hospital
One of Nigeria’s most celebrated Fuji musicians, Killington Ayinla, is critically ill and has been hospitalised for days, according to SaharaReporters.
The 75-year-old artist, whose full name is Alhaji Kolawole Rasaq Ilori, was admitted to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja after suffering from an undisclosed ailment for over a week.
Sources close to the family told PRISTINEGIST that Ayinla’s condition had worsened and he had to be put on oxygen. However, the family has been keeping the matter private and has not disclosed the nature of his illness.
Attempts by PRISTINEGIST to reach Ayinla or his son, Sheriff Olori, also known as Big Sheff, were unsuccessful as their phones were switched off.
Ayinla, who was born in August 1949 in Ilota, a town near Ilorin, Kwara State, is widely regarded as one of the pioneers and icons of Fuji music, a genre that blends traditional Yoruba percussion with Islamic chants and modern influences.
He is also known by various nicknames, such as Baba Alatika, Kebe-n-Kwara, and Baba Alagbado.
Ayinla and his late rival and friend, Ayinde Barrister, dominated the Fuji music scene for decades, producing numerous hit albums and songs that appealed to millions of fans across Nigeria and beyond.
The two legends, who often engaged in musical duels and lyrical battles, later reconciled and became close allies. In 1983, they both attended the funeral of another prominent musician, Haruna Ishola, who was famous for his Apala music.
Barrister passed away in December 2010 at a hospital in London, leaving behind a legacy of musical excellence and innovation.
Ayinla’s fans and admirers have been praying for his speedy recovery and wishing him well on social media platforms.
