The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has congratulated Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, known professionally as King Sunny Ade, on his 80th birthday, describing him “as a trailblazer, music maestro, a rare breed, and a precious gift who has remained active in spite of his age on the music scene, thus reinforcing his position as a cultural ambassador, who has done so much to project a positive image for the country over the years.”
King Sunny Ade celebrated his 80th birthday on September 22, 2026, receiving widespread tributes from leaders, traditional rulers, and fans globally for his six decades of excellence in Jùjú music.
In a statement in a release by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the revered monarch salutes King Sunny Ade’s contribution to the growth of Nigerian music, which has become a global brand, crediting him and other musical stars of his generation for charting the path for today’s generation of ”Young Turks” in the industry.
According to Oba Owoade, “King Sunny Ade is a muse, a prodigious songster, a creative enigma, and a conversationalist musician, whose reach in the musical world is limitless. He could single up to the age of eighty due to a combination of factors, which include his dexterity, originality, hard work, and above all the grace of God.
“The juju exponent has made his mark in the music world as one of the most gifted and prolific singers and songwriters with an uncommon consistency in the last five decades. He is one of the music icons on the African continent. He is a gift not only to Nigeria but also to the whole music community of the world.
The Paramount Ruler pointed out that King Sunny Ade’s success should spur parents to support their children interested in making a career in music and inspired a lot of Nigerians to make a success of their career in it.
“Not too many parents would have encouraged their children to take to music before Sunny Ade, but Sunny Ade made it viable and made it interesting for people to play music. He (Sunny Ade)! in a way developed the path that a lot of people have followed. He performed before presidents, governors, kings, and other eminent personalities. That definitely has helped put music on a very respectable pedestal and inspired quite a lot of people. I am not sure there is any person who would not want to have a Sunny Ade as a relation, and that is good for music.
He went further, “King Sunny Ade should be named ‘Pride of Nigerian Culture’ as the leading projector of the nation’s cultural heritage to the world. His works would remain timeless because of the wisdom in his lyrics. The songs of the Juju music icon are ever-active lyrics that will remain relevant even decades after, unlike our contemporary songs by our young artists. It is a challenge for the computer-age musicians, as most young artists drift towards alien entertainment.”
Oba Owoade therefore prayed that God will grant the Juju maestro many more years in good health so that the muse can continue to sing to the benefit of humanity.
Packaged by Dare Raji
