Juju Makossa Star, Y.k. Ajao, Blasts Ksa

P.M. News (Lagos)

May 7, 2004
Posted to the web May 7, 2004

Ayodele Lawal
Lagos

The Juju Makossa exponent, Professor Yekini Kolawole Ajao a.k.a. Y.K. Ajao, has accused the juju king, Otunba Sunday Ishola Adeniyi Adegeye, a.k.a. King Sunny Ade, of killing juju music.

Speaking at a recent gathering of artistes at Majenta Hotel, Egbeda, Lagos State, Y.K., as he is popularly called, said he refused to be associated with a recent call by KSA for a juju Musician's Union at Sheraton Hotel and Towers because of the direction which the event was tilting towards, wondering: "How can a person who wants the welfare and unity of juju artistes form an association tagged "KSA and friends".

While advocating for a common juju front as a lasting solution to the current decline of juju music, he advocated the need for a new juju platform to which all and sundry will be dedicated.

"Lets swear on oath to affirm our loyalty when the association is formed", he added.

Also speaking, the Soko exponent, Wonder Dayo Kujore carpeted the Music Advertisement Association of Nigeria (MAAN) and Association of Gramophone Cassettes and Record Distributors (AGRED), which he accused of ganging up against juju musicians.

Tracing the geneis of the AGRED and MAN conspiracy to the year 1993, when he was with the Ivory Music, Kujore said, "we can not make an headway until we break the conspiracy against us by the distributors. Let's call them and ask what the problem is".

Kujore alleged that distributors always ask for money, liquor and other things before supporting an artiste and pushing his work.

"They believe juju artistes had offended them some years back so they are visiting their anger on us now", he stressed.

The convener of the event, Admiral Dele Abiodun, who is also the First Vice-President of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) told the gathering that he was not interested in a preponderance of juju associations, but affirmed his interest in the progress and general wellbeing of the juju artiste.

Abiodun told the juju artistes that "it is highly disheartening that we play for the elites, yet individually and as a group, we are not making appreciable progress.

Let's look inwards" .

At the well attended event it was resolved that the juju artistes should meet on the second Wednesday of every month for further discussion. Present at the gathering were, Emperor Pick Peters, General Prince Adekunle, Tunde Samson, Ade Olusayo S.F. Olomokere, Wale Thompson, Segun Adewale, and others.