During a recent live Radio Show on Fresh 105.5fm Radio, Ibadan owned by him, Yinka Ayefele, MON, left his listeners and viewers on social media speechless when he opened up to discuss some of the darkest moments of his life while growing up. Funny enough, his interviewer was his radio show partner, Enitan Olusegun Bamidele (EOB).
Read excerpts as monitored by PMParrot’s Oludotun Ajibola:
When we started this radio show, you mentioned something about planning to return to your home town in Ipoti Ekiti. Why did this cross your mind?
My eyes have seen a lot in life. I think it all started from the age of seven when I left my parents. My father was a teacher, and because of his being transferred from one place to another, I kept repeating classes in school. At a point, my mother went to the farm, and I decided to stay with my grandfather so I could attend school from there.
Did you attend any coaching classes or lessons?
How could I have done that? The only thing I did back then was join the Boys Brigade, and from there I joined the choir.
At a time, you were an apprentice ‘radionic’…How many years did you spend learning this vocation?
Before ‘radionic’, I first learnt barbing and vulcanizing. I later became an apprentice radio technician, and that was what gave me the basic understanding of sound systems and audio equipment.
You learnt vulcanizing, but people usually say vulcanizers are rough people?
(Laughs) Let those in the business catch you first. You and your mouth!
Anyway, I want to say it here that I suffered a lot while growing up. There were times I had no clothes of my own, so I wore my sister’s clothes, especially those belonging to my aunties, Aduke and Funke.
I remember going to work on someone’s farm, and the person seized my “buba” because the ridges I made were too small.
At a point, I stopped wearing my sisters’ gowns and other clothes.
I also worked for my grandparents and demanded payment from them, even though I still took things from their farm unlike when working for strangers.
I also remember that whenever I was broke, I usually dressed in masquerade costumes to beg for money.
How much did you usually make while wearing masquerade’s costumes?
It varied. Some people gave us kobo, some gave us “toro.” You know, the money was more like gifts. Anyone who refused to give us money usually got chased or beaten playfully.
That masquerade lifestyle eventually made Rev. Awosusi to bring me to the Vicarage. He questioned how a Christian child could be involved with Egungun groups like Iparaka and Agbe.
So, how did you leave Ekiti for Ibadan ?
After I got paid four naira for working on a farm and was also given some plantains, I used the money to travel to Ibadan. The money finished at Gate (Agodi), so I trekked from there down to Ososami here in Ibadan.
The house I stayed in was opposite the residence of Alhaji Roberta L. Ola Ibrahim Eleja.
Tell us about the first job you got upon arrival in Ibadan
My first job was at the Toll Gate, at a company called Eagle Flour in 1985. I worked there as a packer.
Do you remember your first salary?
We were paid weekly, and my first salary was six naira.
Later, someone informed me that workers were being recruited at the labour office in Ekotedo. Since I was educated, I applied. After that, I worked as a salesboy at Ayinke Stores in Ajeigbe before I later went on to study Political Science.
Was it at Ayinke Stores you were feeding dogs?
No, it was when I started working at a pharmaceutical store, Shellious. One of my bosses owned the dogs. I first worked in his house before moving to his shop.
Later, I worked at Zartech where they breed chickens. I also worked at Sumal Foods, but I was sacked because they thought I was eating their products. Meanwhile, I was only eating meat I bought during break time and couldn’t finish before work resumed. They dismissed me without paying my salary.
At what point did you decide to go fully into music?
Before I started following musicians around, I worked hard as a packer because you need to survive first.
But you were already playing guitar while in Ekiti?
Yes, of course. But when I got to Ibadan, I realized my guitar skills were not up to Ibadan standard, so I had to relearn under Bro Solo, who was then the leader of Melly Singers at Oke Ado Baptist Church.
Later, I moved into reggae music alongside a friend who returned from the North. We used to jam with Rastaman and Shatty Rankz at FM Peacock in Oke Ado, and later at Bambu in Bodija where I played guitar for Segun Olugbode before eventually settling at Yemetu Aladorin.
At Yemetu, a church bought me a cornet, similar to a trumpet, which I used for different events, especially burial ceremonies. I often performed alongside people like Sunday Olukitibi and Jasper. We also played for the Boys Brigade at Methodist Church, Agbeni.
I remember when myself, Bro Soji and Jaspa were assigned to blow the “Last Post” at the burial ceremony of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Through that event, I met Oga Micho Ade, Bro Kay and Akin George.
How did you meet Wale Thompson?
That was in 1988 after I graduated from Ikare Akoko where I furthered my education. During one Nigeria Tribune anniversary event, they invited Wale Thompson, who had previously played with Oga Micho Ade.
Before then, I had joined Baba Toye Ajagun’s band where Brother Tony played tenor guitar, Suru played bass guitar, and I handled second tenor guitar. Things gradually improved until I could finally rent my own room.
Was it the money or simply your passion for music that kept you going?
It wasn’t really about money. We just knew that whenever we had performances, food would always be available.
From there, I moved to Jericho where I assisted Iyanda Sawaba by playing trumpet at Rehama Phase Two alongside Luku Jazz.
How well did you know Luku Jazz?
Yes, very well.
Which musician did you work with before veering into broadcasting?
Wale Thompson used to perform every Friday at Akasia. Around that period, we also worked on Bukola Omo Daddy where I acted as “Gbada” in the movie. That was when acting started growing in me.
Around that same time, Luku Luku died. Since I could imitate people very well, I decided to take over his comic style. I copied his mannerisms and even applied black charcoal on my face because our skin colours were different.
I remember when Alhaji Gboyega Lawal invited me to his then popular Galaxy Television programme, “Onrossy,” as “Lukuluku Bantashi.” He announced that the late Lukuluku had resurrected and people should come and see him.
In fact, Isaac Brown later rescued me that day.
What exactly happened that day?
When Alhaji Gboyega announced that Lukuluku had resurrected at Oke Are, Galaxy Television, the place was completely filled with people.
I sneaked through the crowd, changed my clothes and appeared on stage acting exactly like him. People were shocked because of the resemblance.
But when they later discovered I was only imitating him, the crowd became aggressive. Isaac Brown helped me escape. Honestly, they could have killed me that day.
That was the day I decided never to act again.
After that incident, I joined Radio Nigeria as a freelance commercial assistant. During one Christmas period, they needed someone to act as Father Christmas, and I volunteered and performed excellently well.
When did you realize you could become a lead vocalist?
It was at the Assembly of God Church that I discovered I could lead a band as a vocalist.
There was a Reverend Owenaze of blessed memory. Around that period, Okoro was my drummer at NTC Road. That was where I discovered my ability to lead a band, and from there I started “Message of the Time Band.”
You also used to talk about a lady you were supposed to marry…
Yes, I would have married a pastor’s daughter then, but her parents did not support the relationship because I had no money, even though the lady truly loved me and had already accepted me. I was beaten seriously by the pastor o! The lady, Seyi…I am sure she is listening to us now! To God be all the Glory!
