Biography

KWAM I, Wasiu Ayinde: Biography, Education, Career, Marriages, Net Worth, and Controversies

Published

3 years ago

2022/08/18

Sub-editor

By Balogun Kamilu Lekan

Biography

Wasiu Ayinde Adewale Olasunkanmi Omogbolahan Anifowoshe famously called KWAM I or K! The Ultimate.

Wasiu is a fuji maestro and entertainer.

Born in Agarawu, Lagos Island on the 3rd of March 1957. The fuji star is 65 as of 2022.

Wasiu was born to an Ijebu Ode father and an Ilupeju in Ondo State mother.

His kind of music is a Fuji genre mixed with juju, apala, Yoruba blues, and other styles and genres accompanied by the melodious sounds of keyboards, saxophones, guitars, and other indigenous Yoruba musical instruments.

Mayegun, as he is also popularly known, has established himself as a top fuji authority in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

He has also grown to include rock, funk, and hip-hop in his musical repertoire; compared to the Quranic rhymes and chants he started his musical career with.

Education

KWAM I attended The Government College in Isolo, Lagos but couldn’t complete his education following the death of his father.

In an interview, Wasiu stated that he would have become a lawyer if he had had the opportunity to finish his education.

Career

When K1 D Ultimate was 8 years old, he first became interested in music.

Although his parents at first disapproved, he persisted in following his heart, and by the time he was 15, he had achieved success in a number of regional musical competitions.

Later, from 1975 to 1979, he joined Ayinde Barrister’s group, the “Supreme Fuji Commanders”.

In 1979, Wasiu issued his debut album, “Abode Mecca.” and in 1984, he released his breakthrough album, “Talazo 84”

His breakthrough album opened the door for his first tour in 1984, which spread across North America and Europe.

He gave the first-ever Fuji performance at the WOMAD Festival in 1996. In addition, he is the only musician from Fuji to have played at Troxy, WOMEX, and SOB.

Marriage

Wasiu is a proud polygamist. The numbers of his wives are unknown but there are a few that are publicly known among them which include:

Shalewa
Yewande
Fathia Opeyemi Marshal
Emmanuella Aderopo

Wasiu married Fathia Opeyemi on 3rd March 2018, a day which coincides with his 61st birthday.

The event was a flamboyant one in Ijebu Ode, with top dignitaries in attendance.

In November 2021, Wasiu married his latest wife and mother of 3, Emanuella Aderopo, in Abeokuta. The event took place at the palace of the Alake of Egbaland, and it was polished with affluence and extravagance.

Wasiu was also rumoured to have about 38 children from his marriages. When asked about the number of his children, Wasiu reportedly said “I am blessed with children. Islam does not allow the counting of children. children are children as long as you are sure you fathered them and you are responsible for them”

Only a few of his children have made their way to the public. They include

Hidayat Abolaji Anifowose
Wasilat Olaronke Ashabi Ayinde
El-Amin Ademola Adio
Sultan Omogbadebo Anifowose
Fathia Witney Anjolaoluwa

Net worth

An online publication reported that Wasiu charges between N5m-N15m per show.

The influential Fuji maestro is reportedly estimated to have a net worth of N800million

Achievements

In this course of his glorious musical career, Wasiu have bagged some awards and titles to himself. To date, Wasiu is still receiving awards as he keeps advancing through the journey.

Some of his awards include:

Hall of Fame at the Headies Award (2013)
City People Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)
FAME Musician of the Year
Best Fuji Artiste at the Nigerian Music Awards
Best African Artiste at the WOMAD Festival in Reading 1996
Honoris Causa of Music at Saint John University Bakersfield California USA in 1989

Below are a few of his titles:

Badabarawu of Ogijo 1985
Ekerin Amuludun of Ibadanland in 1986
Golden Mercury of Africa title in 1986
Ekerin Amukudun of Ibadanland in 1986
King of Fuji 1993
The Oluomo of Lagos 1999
First Mayegun of Oyo Kingdom 2020

Below is a glimpse of his Discography:

Studio albums

1980: Iba

1981: Esi Oro

1982: Igbalaye

1984: Talazo System

1984: Talazo ’84

1984: Ise L’Ogun Ise

1984: Ijo Olomo

1985: Talazo Disco 85

1985: Alhaji Chief Wasiu Ayinde Barrister and His Talazo Fuji Commanders Organisation Oloriki Metta / Ki De Se Vinyl LP Leader Record / LRC (LP) 05

1985: Elo-Sora

1985: Pomposity

1986: Ori

1986: Tiwa Dayo

1986: Erin Goke – Lecture

1986: Baby Je Kajo

1987: Talazo In London

1987: Aiyé

1987: Adieu Awolowo

1988: Sun – Splash

1988: Fuji Headline

1988: My Dear Mother

1989: Fuji Rapping

1989: Achievement

1990: Jo Fun Mi (Dance For Me)

1991: American Tips

1991: Fuji Collections

1993: The Ultimate

1995: Consolidation

1995: Reflection

1995: Talazo Fuji Party Music Compact Disk

1996: Legacy

1996: Faze 2 Global Tour ’96

1997: History

1997: Berlin Compact Disk

1999: Fuji Fusion (Okofaji Carnival)

2000: New Era

2000: Faze 3

2001: Message

2001: Statement

2001: New Lagos

2002: Gourd

2003: Big Deal

2006: Flavour

2011: Tribute To My Mentor

2012: Instinct

2012: Fuji Time

2017: 22 Dec Fuji Ep Let Music Flow

2020 Fuji The Sound Fuji Hip

Hit Live shows

1984: Talazo System

1984: Omo Akorede

1986: Golden Mercury

1989: Siliky

1990: Eko for show USA 1990 Concert

1991: Yuppie Night 1 n 2

1994: Consolidation live Ade Bendel

1995: Sabaka Night

1995: Oju Opon

1995: Fadaka Club

1995: London Hamburg Amsterdam Berlin 95

1997: London Hamburg Amsterdam Berlin Paris 97

1997 Benson & Hedges

1999 Benson & Hedges Loud in Lagos

1998: United Kingdom Live

1998: New York Chicago Atlanta Houston & Canada Tour Toronto Montreal live 1998

1999: New Era Live United Kingdom

1999: Afinni

2000: Canada live

2007: United Kingdom Ireland Tour Live

2007: The Truth Live

Controversies

A man of his status and personality hardly escapes the long being caught in the web of controversy and Wasiu through the years have swan in the mud of a series of controversies.

Another Popular fuji music star, Alabi Pasuma was a mentee of KWAM I. Their relationship however fell out when it was rumoured that Kwam I was allegedly having a sexual affair with Pasuma’s first daughter, Wasilat.

It was further reported that Pasuma dropped his former title. Arabambi II which he adopted because of his reverence of Kwam I.

The duo however denied the rumour. Dismissing the rumour, Pasuma said, “I am loyal to K1 and his alleged affair with my daughter is rubbish.”

An online source reported that Pasuma in a statement also debunked the rumour about his change of title. He said “I am old enough to decide on my own; I have served K1 and I have to move on with my career. After all, K1 used to be called Wasiu Ayinde Barrister and when he changed the name, almost everybody hailed him over his decision,”

KWAM I too reportedly commented. He said “Do we have to deny anybody the right to change of name? He has been a wonderful and loyal person to me, so I have no hard feelings over the change in title. At least, it will go down in history that he was once Arabambi 2.“

Amidst the rumour of alleged rift between the duo, KWAM I was the official artiste that performed at another Pasuma daughter, Barakat’s wedding

In 2001, Wasiu Ayinde married Titi who was reportedly the niece of Shalewa, his ex-wife. The public attacked the music star with lots of backlash for his action.

Wasiu however didn’t hesitate to clap back saying he had no regret marrying his ex-wife niece. In an interview with Punch, he likened himself to King Solomon with 700 wives and 300 concubines. He said “When King Solomon in the Bible died, there was no issue among his wives and children. If it didn’t happen in the time of Solomon, it will not happen in my time. How many kids do I even have? How many women have I known? There are so many people out there who even have more than we can ever think of. It is on record that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. If somebody like Solomon wasn’t crucified during his time, why do you have to talk about me? How many women have I ever touched? How many children do I have? Before you talk about me, let people talk about King Solomon.”

In 2020, Wasiu Ayinde was alleged to have a romantic affair with Olori Ajoke, one of the wives of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi III

However, Ajoke refuted the claims in a weekend Instagram live chat.

She vowed by all the Yoruba gods and the orishas of the Alaafin’s palace to refute the accusations.

Wasiu on the other end too debunked the allegation in a statement released by his media adviser. The statement reads “The attention of Fuji Maestro and Mayegun of Yorubaland, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, K1 De Ultimate, has been drawn to the rumour making the rounds in the past 48 hours, on social media platforms, where it has been alleged that the music icon was having an affair with Olori Ajoke, one of the wives of Alayeluwa, the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III”

In 2017, Wasiu Ayinde was accused of disrespecting his former boss and mentor, the late Ayinde Barrister.

Wasiu had reportedly claimed he is the creator of Fuji music

He was however called to order and castigated for his comment. One of the late Fuji Icon’s spokesperson in response said “It is also a flagrant display of arrogance and naivety on his part. It reveals his hatred and open jealousy to the man who gave him his source of livelihood,”

To stress his statement, he further said “He was never a part of history of Fuji creation as the music itself (Fuji) was 7 years old as at the time he came into music under the tutelage of Ayinde Barister in 1974. Perhaps, I should make it clear that Wasui Ayinde who is claiming to know much abut Fuji joined Barrister organization in 1974 after uncompleting secondary school education at Ansarudeen High School, Ijebu Isiwo. As at 1974 Barrister had released 19 (nineteen) solid records including (2) two singles and one extended play. By calculation, if we subtract 1967 when Barister released his first Fuji record titled Waya Rabi from 1974 when Wasui joined his organization as a packer, the gap is 7 years meaning Fuji music is 7 years older than Wasui Ayinde alias K 1 who is now trying to tell the story of what he knew nothing about”

In 2021, Wasiu was seen in a viral video allegedly disrespecting the Oluwo of Iwo, ?ba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Ilufemiloye Telu 1.

In the video, Wasiu was challenging the monarch for not inviting him to perform at Chief Dele Momodu’s chieftaincy installation ceremony.

This was faced with a lot of backlashes from the public who accused Wasiu of disrespecting the Yoruba cultural institution by talking to a monarch in such a disrespectful manner.