Adewale Ayuba

"Mr. Johnson" redirects here. For other uses, see Mr. Johnson (disambiguation).
Adewale Ayuba

Ayuba
Background information
Birth name Adewale Ayuba
Also known as Mr. Johnson
Born (1966-05-06) 6 May 1966
Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria
Origin Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria
Genres World
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter Drummer Dancer Writer Artist Actor
Years active 1983–present

Adewale Ayuba, commonly known as Mr. Johnson, is a Nigerian singer known for singing Fuji music.

Biography

Adewale Ayuba popularly known as Ayuba, Mr. Johnson and the Bonsue-fuji maestro was born May 6, 1966 in Ikenne Remo, Ogun State Nigeria. He grew up as a child singer. By the age of eight, he started singing at Local Musical Competitions and fiestas in Ikenne. This led to his option for music as a career after his secondary school education at Remo, Secondary School, Sagamu, Ogun State.

Although he gained admission to read Architecture at the Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, his music career took center-stage and in a bid to curve a niche for himself, he made his first album IBERE {Beginning} at the age of 17. His rise on the Fuji Music scene was rapid. In early 1990, Ayuba was signed on by Sony Music (Nigerian) to record an album, Bubble. Bubble released in 1991, brought Ayuba into international prominence. For the first time in history, a Fuji Music album dominated the scene, topping musical charts for six consecutive months, winning multiple awards at the Nigerian Music Awards, (NMA). It bagged Ayuba the coveted Artiste of the Year Awards, Including the Album of the Year Award, Song of the Year Award and Best Fuji Album of the Year Award-four in all. It sold beyond expectations and made Ayuba a mega-star artiste. With the success of Bubble, it become obvious that Ayuba had hit the pinnacle of his career in Nigeria.

Ayuba's hi-tech instrumentation and distinct voice changed the face of Fuji Music. For the first time in History, Fuji Music which was hitherto ignored by the Nigerian Elite was embraced by all. After the success of Bubble Ayuba released a follow-up album, Mr. Johnson Play For Me (also on Sony Music Nigeria label) and this also became an instant success in 1992. In 1993, Ayuba was signed to Premier Music (Nigeria) before embarking on his first West Africa coast tour, performing in several African countries. The success of this tour led to his first United States of America Tour also in 1993. Ayuba performed in over ten states in America during this tour, a feat rarely achieved. He made Nigerians at home and abroad proud by successfully performing at the World renowned New Orleans Jazz Festival. After two successful concerts in Providence, Rhode Island,he was promptly awarded the key to the city by the mayor of Rhode Island. His Los Angeles debut consequently recorded a huge success and C.C. Smith of Los Angeles(LA) Weekly magazine succinctly Ayubas style of music as follows: Ayuba bases his Fuji on two elemental forces-rhythms and the human voice-to Create Compelling,enchanting and powerful sound, Expect frenzied dancing style and colorful costumes, exultant fans and enough talking drums and percussion to remedy even a terminal case of sensory deprivation.

After his return in 1993, he released another chart topping album, Buggle D on Premier Music (Nigeria) label. If Bubble was tremendous success, Buggle D was a run-way success. It instantly became a hit, winning multiple awards at the Fame Music Awards (FMA) and topping the music chart for several months. In 1994, Ayuba took a bold step with a vision to "Internationalizing Fuji Music" and embarked on the sojourn of the United Kingdom and the United States of America with his band. While he was in America in 1995, he recorded different feats, performing at various international concerts including the 1996 Summer State Concerts in New York, the African Mondo Concerts of 1996 and 1997, the New Orleans Jazz Festival of 1997, the 1997 International Festival in Houston, Texas, the Black Entertainment Television(BET Jazz), U.S.A. Concert. He was signed on by Q-disc Record Company of U.S.A for a year contract and he released Fuji Time on the company's label in 1996. In 1997, he released Fuji Dub on Agogo Music Label in London, England.

In 1998, he came back to Nigeria and released yet another successful album, Acceleration on the Corporate Music label. In 2000, he released a mega-hit album, Turn Me On. Turn Me On broke music records in Nigeria and emerged as the Best Fuji Album of the Year at the Awards for Musical Excellence in Nigeria (AMEN) and as the Best Song of The Year at the Nigerian Song Festival (NISOFEST) 2000. In the same year, he toured several European countries including England, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium. He was awarded as a Distinguished Son of Ikenne Remo, his birthplace, in 2001 in a colorful ceremony at the Ikenne Local Government,Ikenne, Ogun State. Also in 2001, Ayuba had a spectacular performance at the Eko Le Meridien Hotel Banquet hall, Lagos in a concert tagged The Return of Ayuba. The Return of Ayuba concert made history in Nigeria as it had Executive Governor of Lagos and Ogun state, Federal and State Legislators and several commissioners, among other dignitaries,in attendance.With this, Ayuba took Fuji Music to another level as rave reviews by the media followed suit, proclaiming Ayuba as the most corporate Fuji musician ever.

He embarked on a tour of Austria with his band in 2001, performing in Graz and Vienna. In 2002, he once again took Europe by storm for four months performing at concerts in England, France, Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands. He recorded a new album, Formula in England while on this tour. Formula in 2002 emerged as the Best Fuji Album of the Year at the Awards for Musical Excellence in Nigeria (AMEN). The Music Advertisers Association of Nigeria (MAAN) also in the same year, named Ayuba the Best Artiste of the Millennium. In 2003, Ayuba again embarked on a tour of Europe, performing in various concerts in, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Essen and Krefeld, all in Germany and in Paris, France, Antwerp in Belgium, Amsterdam in the Netherlands and in Bologna, Napoli, Torin, Genova in Italy.

While on this tour, he did a joint album, Fuji Satisfaction, with German-based Afro-centric Music group Bantu known for their various collaborative efforts with international artistes like UB40. Ayuba was awarded as the Millennium Voice of Nigerian Music (home and abroad) in Düsseldorf, Germany by Pan-Yoruba Group,Omo Oduduwa Association in recognition of his valuable contributions to the growth of the music industry. In 2004, Ayuba released a wave-making chart topping album Ijo Fuji (Fuji Dance) on the Nigerian music air waves. In the United States of America in 2004, he was given the entertainer of the Year Award by the Nigerian American Community Association.

Also in the same year, the Ikenne Development Association in Chicago, USA gave him an award as the Ogo-irawo of Ikenne Development Association in recognition of his contribution to the development of Ikenne Remo, his birthplace. Ijo Fuji won the Best Fuji Album of the Year Award at the Awards for Musical Excellence in Nigeria, (AMEN) which was held in Nigeria in July 2005. The collaboration of Ayuba and Bantu produced the Fuji satisfaction Album released in Germany,in 2005 and promptly won two Awards – The Best Group in West Africa and The Best Group in Africa at the Kora Music Awards in Durban,South Africa. Ayuba's album, Mellow won the Best Fuji Vocal Performance at the (AMEN) 2007 Awards, which topped the charts in Nigeria as far as the contemporary African music was concerned.The Album instantly became a success after its release proving Ayuba's mettle as a rave musician who is on top of his trade. Ayuba currently bags a Doctoateof Arts in Music at the prestigious Bradley University, USA

Music career

Ayuba began singing as a child. His father was an amateur singer but reinforced the value of education, making his son agree to focus on his education during the week and allowing him to practice his music on Saturday.[1]

Since signing his first record deal in the 1980s, he has released 15 albums in Nigeria and four internationally.[2]

Ibere (Beginning) 1986
Igida (Tribute to Obafemi Awolowo) 1987
Bonsue Knockout 1988
Ife (Love) 1988
Olorun ni Gbe ni Ga 1989 Bubble 1990
Mr Johnson Play For Me 1993
Buggle D (Dance) 1994
Move Up 1995
Fuji Time 1996
Fuji Music 1995
Fuji Dub 1997
Acceleration 1999
Turn Me On 2001
Formular 2003 Gun shot 2003
Fuji Satisfaction 2005
Ijo Fuji 2007
Mellow 2009
Ariya 2011
Sugar 2013
Happy People Remix 2015

Public Image

Ayuba has been crowned as the King of Bonsue Fuji as he was the original artiste who coined the musical genre. 'Bonsue Fuji' is a subgenre of 'Fuji'.

Awards and Honors

Ayuba won two Kora Awards in 2005.[2]

Ayuba is a member of the Nigerian Red Cross and was branded "Prince Of Peace" in 2012.

Family

Ayuba is the last child of his parents He is married with six children. Ayuba met his wife Azukaego Kwentoh at a cafeteria in Queens Borough Community College where he studied and they got married in 1989. Azukaego Kwentoh is from Onitsha-Oke, Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria.

Filmography

Ayuba acted as a journalist in the movie; Mystery of Unity (Produced by Ebun Oloyede)

Artistry

Ayuba writes all his songs and works hand in hand with his fifteen man-band in his music productions and stage performances. He grew up with his band in his musical career and success. He is the lead-singer of his band 'Ayuba and The Bonsue Fuji Band'. His signature sound in his music is the Yoruba talking drum and sometimes the American percussion.

Legacy

Ayuba lives by drive of being able to take fuji music to the whole world as Bob Marley had taken reggae to the whole world.

Fashion Lines

In 2013 he signed on his long time diligent stylist and fashion design to introduce Bonsue Wears. Bonsue Wears would boost the awareness of his kind of style to the whole world. Ayuba had always loved his traditional Yoruba outfits like the Shokoto and bubba outfit. The clothes he wore for his stage performances made him very comfortable to perform and had since been his signature look. The couture consists of two-piece clothes of a shirt-like top with free opening sleeves and a matching pants that gathers at the knee. The bosue fashion line surround its concept of strictly Yoruba traditional styles with the urban touch.

Other Ventures

Ayuba aside his music is also a business man supporting his trade with the Diploma in Finance accounting he acquired at the Queens Borough Community College, New York.

References

  1. ↑ Mpamugoh, Simeon; Amadi, Chinonye (25 November 2012). "Day police shot me – Adewale Ayuba". The Sun News. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 "I should have bought a jet by now – Ayuba". Ogun State Television. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.

3. http://www.olamildent.com/2009/08/adewale-ayubas-biography.html Ayuba's biography

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