Mar 4
The Doctor and the General
Those who grew up in the 90s and ‘entered town’ with Tupac and Biggie would think music rivalry started with ‘Get Money’ and ‘Hit ‘em all’ but for old school folks like me, the rivalry between those two, even though it ended in their deaths, unfortunately, doesn’t even come close to what we experienced between Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister & Alhaji Kollington Ayinla.Barrister and Kollington took rivalry to another level. Before them, people had speculated that there was some rivalry between Juju music megastars, Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade, but that was just healthy competition and I really can’t remember either of them coming out in the open to insult the other.
But Kebe n Kwara [Kollington] and Alhaji Agba [Barrister] didn’t pull punches. They battled on for decades, their rivalry stoked in part by fans, rumors, banters and controversial recordings, especially by Kollington.
There was no other place this battle was more ‘vicious’ than in my parents’ living room. You see, my Dad was a diehard Kollington fan, while My Mum loved Barrister to pieces. So as a child, I grew up listening to music from both of them and learnt the songs whether I wanted to or not. I had no choice in the matter. Whenever my Dad was home, we listened & and danced to Kollington. When he went to work or traveled, Barrister’s music ruled the household.
Somehow, I took a liking to Barrister’s blend of Fuji music. I felt he was more philosophical, poetic and matured in his rendition. Kollington on the other hand was more ‘expressive’, vulgar but also more entertaining. His brand of music was more danceable and more of alujo in delivery, I think. Their styles was also reflected in the manner they named their albums.
A few examples: For Barrister, there was Barry @40, Fuji Funky, Fuji Garbage Series, Barry Wonder, and New Dimension.
For Kollington: Fuji Ropopo, Ijo Yoyo, Fuji Megastar & American Yankee.
At the height of their ‘war’, Barrister, consistent with his style, was always diplomatic in his responses to Kollington. Kollington, on the other hand, couldn’t care less. Tact was not one of his strong points. He let Barrister have it at every given opportunity. Although, neither of them ever used the other’s name in their fights, it was very obvious to keen observers and Fuji aficionados who Kollington was talking to.
They ‘battled’ over everything; who went on tour first? Who made it to the US of A first?
 Who slept with whom first? Everything! And one could tell what the latest bone of contention was. If it was not reflected in the latest album title, you didn’t have to listen to more than 5minutes into the new album to figure it out.
Allow me paint some of their battles scenes for you.
- Traveling Overseas on Tour:
Barrister beat Kollington to this one. He went on tour of the Europe and the US long before Kollington. But Kollington wasn’t going to allow him any victory party because of that. He promptly released an album and said:
Ile yi la o ti la o [We will become wealthy in this land] X 2ce
Mosalasi won ti ni ko ni’bii re [The mosque doesn’t have to go anywhere to get filled]
Ile yi la o ti la o [We will become wealthy in this land]
However, when Kollington eventually secured VISAS and a sponsor for his overseas tour, he forgot what he said about not having to travel overseas to become wealthy and quickly picked on a part of his rival’s American Tour welcome album and used it to spite him.
Barrister had sung about one of his drummers getting lost in Atlanta:
Nigbati a wa Ballinger titi ni Atlanta, t’aori Ballinger, opelope body pass t’omu dani, loje ka f’oju kan Ballinger.
Paraphrased [But for the body pass that Ballinger had with him in Atlanta, it would have been very difficult to locate him when he got lost]
What was Kollington’s response?
Ko ma s’eni to soonu ninu wa
Ko mama s’e ni to soonu ninu wa o
Eja ka wo ran niwon se o
Eja ka wo ran niwon tori ti aba r’ajo
Ko ma s’eni to sonu ninu wa
Paraphrased [None of my band members got lost on tour. Never allow yourself to be carried away by sights when you are on a trip] … I think?
- Titles & Aliases
This particular battle is still on and it’s been going on forever.
When Barrister visited Disney World, Orlando Florida in the early 80s, he came back home and released an album, singing about all the wonderful things he saw over there, I heard. After the album, the management of Disney World saw an influx of Nigerian tourists at their resort and wondered why. Theyvlater learnt it was because of a song the people had heard back home about Disney world. This eventually led to a university in Orlando honoring Barrister with an honorary doctorate degree in Music. That was how Barrister became Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.
Not one to be left out, Kollington quickly took on the alias Professor Master after he returned from his trip to the US. No one knew how he got that title.
Over the years, they both have taken on several aliases and titles.
Kollington was at a time General Kollington, a title bestowed on him by IBB after he sang about and created awareness for the Census.
Barrister has been Alhaji Agba, Mr Fuji, Barry Wonder, Legend …and he is not through yet.
- Who Originated Fuji Music?
This is a battle that will outlive both of them. In fact, at moment, practitioners in the Fuji music industry are divided into two camps: those who believe Barrister founded Fuji music and the others.
Barrister claims he evolved and modernized Fuji music, from ‘were’ music in the early 70s. He once said that he came up with the name ‘Fuji’ when he saw a poster at an airport advertising Mount Fuji, the highest peak in Japan.
Kollington has another story of how Fuji started and it is completely different from Barrister’s account.
Would have loved to talk about the battle over the Yeye Oba of Fuji Music [Alhaja Salawa Abeni] but that could generate some roforofo [mud]. I mean what would I gain from talking about who ate who’s yam first and what color it was? You wouldn’t be interested in that, would you?
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BJB, the best thing about your blog is that we can neva guess correctly, what topic you will come up with.
Anyway, you got me there, when I saw the title, I was expecting another medical treatise or the state of the military.
Come to think of it, I will very much love to lay my hands on some of Barrister’s tapes now, especially the Barry@40, my bro really fell in lv with that particular one.
Please dont go on sabatical o,u wont begin to knw how much some of us look 4ward to anoda trip down memory lane.
Thanks.
LMAO. my ribs r aching now. i remember those days VIVIDLY. the days when we used to listen to ‘PLATES’. still laughing o. can’t help myself.
excellent write-up
fabulous post as always
pray tell us who ate the yam first……….
i thot her music was/is classified as waka?
slam us wit mud
we like to get dirty
*wink*
LOL,i was just about to ask about Salawa. I know she had some beef with Kollington. I dont like their kinda music, i never get what they are saying. Its kinda cool how Barrister got the Dr.title. Gbogbo won ma wa alright…
How’s sexy eyes? What is he up to nowadays?:D
@ibiluv…you are right, Salawa sings ‘waka’ but she was recently awarded the title of Yeye Oba [Queen mother] of Fuji Music. Other awardees at the event were:
Saheed Osupa - Oba of Fuji Music [King of Fuji Music]
Wasiu Ayinde [KWAM 1]- Baba Oba of Fuji Music [King’s father]
Kollington Ayinla - Baba Baba Oba of fuji Music [ the king’s Grandfather ]
Barrister - Baba Baba Baba Oba of Fuji Music [ the king’s Great Grand Father ]
Needless to say that a particular faction of fuji music [the one loyal to Kollington] didnt agree with the awards.
On the mud and yam level, unconfirmed sources claim that there might have been some kind of incestual relationship going on in fuji kingdom at some point because both the great grandfather and grandfather of music seemed to have ‘chopped’ the Yeye Oba’s yam at different times.
@ omosewa..sexy eyes is learning to speak right now. All he does right now is to repeat every thing he hears.
quite educative blog…who wld av thot dt “Dr.” title is an honorary doctorate degree in music!all d while i was finking it was jst 1 of those imaginary titles these musicians pick up 4rm anywhere. thumbs up 4 “alaji agba” who has always been my favorite of d 2.i “gbadun” d man n his style of fuji;quite mature unlike d crap u hear these days…
Thank you for your explanation on yam chopping. Would have asked. lol.
Nice trip down Naija music memory lane. My household was anti Fuji so my exposure was indirect from birthday parties etc. I remember the songs all too well, I also wondered if the battles for Salawa would feature in your write up. Salacious details make for vivid reading you know!
Your analysis is quite on the money. However there are a few undeniable fact about Fuji. 1 Barrister created this version of fuji music they all play. 2 he is also the only one playing commercial fuji till 74 when Kollinton came in. 3 he is recognised home and abroad as the face of fuji hence the national award of MFR by the govt
GKB, didnt even know the Doctor got a MFR…thanks for the update!
GOOD ADDITION FROM KGB.ALSO,REMIND THEM THAT BARRISTER WAS THE FIRST FUJI MUSICIAN WHO TAKE THE FUJI SOUND TO THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND AMERICA.LONG LIVE ALH. AGBA
Long life mfr,
long life fuji,
long life musician,
long life FRN
alabi4real1@myahoo.com
Kollington’s quest for equality with barrister has been on for a long time but the truth is there for everybody to see, Barrister is never on the same level with Kollington. Barrister created Fuji music and gave the meaning for it as “combination of musics consisting of sakara, apala, juju, afro, aro gudugudu, highlife”. He defended the work of his haand when people were labelling Fuji as a local sound. He took Fuji out of the shores of Nigeria to europe, usa, asia and the rest of the world before others followed him. He is the Supreme Fuji King, King of all Fuji kings, Grand Master of Fuji, Baba a baba. Let Kollington, Wasiu and other give honour to whom it is due. “Ema fote ba ohun to ba dara je, eni Olorun fe ni Olorun yan, Ayinde layanfe Olodumare”
I AM PROUD TO BE FUJI FANS, AFTER BARRY; BABA BABA BABA, NEXT IS KING OF MUSIC OLUFIMO 1 MATAGBAOLE 1 SAHEED OSUPA. BUT BARRY & KOLA ARE BEST OF FRIEND FROM BEGIN OF THERE CAREAR THEY JOIN NIGERIA ARMY ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME, BARRY NAME KOLLINGTON SON & KOLLINTON NAME BARRY SON. Ija lo delorin dowe.
They have both tried their best,bt i think Barrister is more celebrated as the fuji originator than kollington.Barrister seems 2 be more phillosophical than kollington which makes him 2 be more acceptable by the people.Osupa is typically taking the footstep of barry.WATCH OUT 4 DIS GUY.
Thanx for this educating article, I’m an ardent lover of Sikiru Ayinde Balogun , omo obinja aralodo olubisi MFR. long live Alhaji Agba, Mr Fuji,Baala of Lagos.
Pls can anybody tell me the title of Barrister’s album on Disney world, Florida?
I think Barry mentioned Disney world in Aiye, where he was saying he and Buhari Oloto, saw mermaid and big fish. He also mention Disney World in Okiki, where he said ” Disney world lojo ojosi Mo gba Dr of Fuji wa si ile.” But the real album on it was Aiye.
Please my brothers and sisters,when Barry started making money(70s) from fuji music he created with due respect to kollinton, he will travel from Abeokuta to Lagos to come and watch Alhaji Agba singing. The facts still remain that Kollinton and K1 were destined to be great fuji musicians but their stories were not completed without Mr. Fuji because two of them passed through MFR one way or the other. (e je kia fi ote sile) this man is a great musician both home and abroad. Rev Obe commander and King Sunny Ade were still alive ask them if you are not sure.
good day,
From all angles it seems your write up is biased in favour of barrister, so also most of the comments I’ve read on this subject.
Take notice that it is natural to have preference on any issue but you did not impress me as a good researcher who is out to be objective.
Basically both musician have contributed to the development of Fuji which is now a big factor in Nigeria music today,the issue of who creates what can only be further substantiated by the original “were practitioners” if they are still alive and not the hearsay comments you are promoting.I want you to re-strategies by finding out from the real actors then if indeed you want to contribute meaningfully to the cause of humanity as far as Fuji is concerned.
Finally, i must state that even though Alhaji Agba is mostly Philosophical in his songs of which i enjoyed listening to, but personally i prefer General Kollington for his instrumentality and social/current affairs messages in his albums,this is incontrovertible.
stay blessed
Its true that Barrister started commercial fuji before kollington but in all honesty, Barrister didnt create Fuji both modified it.Barrister was fisrt fuji musician that took fuji to europe and brought fuji to limelight. But, we still need to give Kollingto is own accolade as he brought bata, Jazz, piano etc into fuji which they’re still part of fuji instruments today.No doubt,Kollignton contributes in rebranding fuji through instruments than any other fuji star.
History can never be re-written. If Barry did not create Fuji music, who did?. Saka Olayigbade; like many other WERE/AJISARI pioneers NEVER played fuji music but WERE/AJISARI, many of them played Sakara music afterward. Barry created fuji music and gave meaning for it. Alhaji Azeez, Afo and their likes are advised to visit “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_music” for clarity and better understanding. There is no comparison between Barry and Kola. God has chosen him (Barry), He who God loves He chooses for whatever cause He wants to do. Concerning Fuji music, it is none other but Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. Honour must be given to whom it is due. Barry created Fuji, exposed it to the whole world. He is the prophet sent by God into this world to bring Fuji music to us for entertainment and enjoyment benefits.
I think all is well 4 both of them, they both achieve well in the name of fuji music. Good friends for God sake, they both love entertainment. I give it 2 both of them, long life barrister, long life kollington, long life k1. May God bless them all, & the others dat follows them. I only know them as messengers 4 d job they were doing. Thanks!
As one who grew up on the streets of the island following the “were” singers during awe(Ramadan) A lot of folks are being left in the dustbin of history. People like Bokos, I used to follow him from the Onola area back in the days. For my money, the best Fuji or Sakara musician out there was Saka Olayigbade, even better than Ayinde Barrister.
Please saka laigbade did not play fuji music for God sake. They were all play (were) and Epo Akara (Awurebe) but not Fuji. History can never be re-writing. and if you are not sure of what you are saying Saka Olaigbade records are still awailable in the market sir. We were all grew up in Lagos.
gud write up,i may be biase to some people in their own opinion everybody is entitle to his/her own opinion but the fact still remains that barry is the father if you want to talk of phylosophy give it to barry or you want to talk about current affair you still have no choice than to give it to barry,or you want to talk about bringing story into music to educate?you still have no choice than to give it to barry.
but i will also want to add that who create fuji is not important but the success of fuji itself C.Ronaldo is world foothballer now he has only contributed his own quarter to foothball,all other fuji musician has only contributed their own quater to fuji.
thank God that the fuji creator is ripping the his work while he is still alive that is why he was accorded with MFR honor.(eje kafile be ko wa be forever)
Yah i read all 27 commet 24 ppl vote for mr fuji 3ppl vote for kebe kola can never ever be creator of fuji and he aiready aceapt if not k1 that he forgot when is working with mr fuji as parker now k1 started to taik about history of fuji against barry that why kollinton get chance to taik to mr fuji but for me l learn a lot from barry music and king saheed osupa finally barry is creator of fuji music
There’s no controversy about who the Fuji Creator is, it is none other than Mr Fuji - Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. Histrory can never be re-written. Everyone who grew up in Lagos will tell you that Saka ‘Layigbade never played Fuji, he played Sakara immediately he stopped playing Were/Ajisari. The ungrateful Wasiu who started telling rubbish story about the origin of fuji is responsible for Kollington and others’ malicious onslaught against Barry; Mr Fuji. They want to rewrite history but the truth is always there.
I’m always trilled with this man Barry any time I heard him sing. Have you noticed that he’s one music man who can sing without instrument and you will still enjoy the song? His voice is superb for Fuji.
For me, I grew up listening to Mr Fuji at Mushin, my elder brother’s favorite.
I WILL LIKE TO READ YOUR COMMENT TO THIS WRITE UP
To me, there is no controversy. We need to give honour to whom it is due. Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barister is the authentic creator of Fuji music. I am a modern man with great passion for Fuji music and i can sing all his music from the beginning to the end. So is Kebe n’ kwara and KWAM1 music. But Mr Fuji music is very original when it comes to percussion, phillosophy, lyrics, etc. Ayinla Omowura branded his music ‘Apala’. Epo Akara branded his music ‘awurebe’ but Mr Fuji came up with Fuji music. Please let us give it to him and stop this bad belle.
K1 the ultimate is however my best Fuji musician. I love his music with a passion and wait for a day he will sing for me (when i can afford his bills)
It is interesting to read all your blog, at least you ensured me a great funs this afternoon.My contribution should be partly to remember that ‘Were’started amongst the Night music lovers in both Mushin and Ebute-Metta, which I would say emenated from people who had had good flares for music, who were majorly muslims and liked then to be in audition and after great rehersal following the melody of past muscian like Ojindo, Baba Waeed and Baba legba and host of many others.This music from ‘Were’ to Faji music, which later change to Fuji by Alaji Sikiru Ayinde, that means he created that awareness but the music had ever been. If I van juggle my memmory, the first music of this type played into studio and haard as records was made by the Late Monsuru Akande. Which goes thus: Laila Ilanlhah, Oba l;afise Alagbara, ko momo je ka bosi ku ka to de odore Algbara, Momom je ka bosku o, dodore Oluwa.Eyin elegbe mi, e se nkorin bi oloti?…….. and so on and so forth. It was later he took Alaji to record with Alji Abioro, Luck was on Alaji Barrister and he came into lime light more than his friend the Late Monsuru Akande.Meanwhile Alaji Kollington and others who were contemporary at Were music later followed in Alaji barrister’s shoes.
Hence the father, father and graet fathet is dead long time. The reamaining are just Propergators, hence the result of lively rivalry or marketing strategy. Today both Alajis have paved way for the other Alajis who have followed up in the path of Alajis, all because they are both successful and have established their music status to the extent we are all cradeling and poking funs at them.
Nice to see me blogging at this level.
Reagrds,
Omokoko yanju(Alias Fuji Santari International
Please let it be clear that Barrister has already said it that he was the one that received Monsuru Akande when he came to Lagos.Barrister was already singing before Monsuru Akande came to Lagos and it was Barrister that introduced him to Abioro to record their first albums together.But for Barrister’s picture that resembled that of King Sunny Ade who was also to release one of his albums from the same studio at the same time,Barrister’s first record would have come out at the same time as that of Monsuru Akande.Watch an interview conducted by Bayowa for Barrister (named Pioneer) to confirm this story.His first album was released a week after that of Monsuru Akande in 1966 and Kollington’s first album did not come until 1974.
As an update,the battle has shifted to Osupa and Pasuma and it seems this one na higher lebel but i love osupa just like barry for the philosophical music they sing.Pasuma is good too but not really a fuji m,usician but entertainer,the alujo type and being tush endear him to a lot of youngsters but his lack of education is a minus.
Ilove Barry music anyday,he is damn good and Kebe is good too but too abusive and brash but they are both icon.I love Osupa for the same reason though he need a good PR person to manage his image cos music need hype and being an educated person,he has an advantage which he can use like Ayuba.
naija was agog wen kollinton unleash yoyo album;belief me wit my 2ice barrister was dancing yoyo in d coner to avoid praing eyes
Greetings to all. Admin I like what you are doing here. Keep up the good work.
It is important to correct some of the incorrect statements made by “Aro Omo Oba November 19th, 2009 5:05 pm”. Some of his comments was as a result being uninformed or misinformed of the facts of the origin of Fuji. Althogh with some credits to him because he got some facts right, some of which is “Meanwhile Alaji Kollington and others who were contemporary at Were music later followed in Alaji barrister’s shoes”. The real fact of the matter is this: Monsuru Akande truly recorded the first album but it wasn’t labelled fuji but Ajisari. The album was titled “MONSURU AKANDE AND HIS AJISARI GROUP”. The album in question was supposed to be recorded on the same day as Barrister and King Sunny Ade, Barry’s recording was postponed till 5 days later because his photo for the album was identical to that of Sunny, this is the reason his was postponed for 5 days. King Sunny Ade is still alive today to confirm this. It is important to establish here that although Monsuru Akande was a contemporary of Barrister during WERE time, but Barry was his senior in the sense that Barry has been singing WERE 5 years ahead of him (Monsuru) before he (Monsuru) started singing WERE. Let everyone be informed that even Barry’s first few albums were all titled “Ajisari Group” until he changed it to Fuji. It was Barry who first titled his music and album Fuji before Monsuru Akande and others joined him to do the same. Barrister has has been already started calling his music before Kollington recorded his first were/ajisari album.
There’s so much confusion being displayed by Fuji musicians about who created Fuji Music. Some, out of maliciousness & envy, some out of revenge and some out of ignorance. Let’s examine some of them. Kollington said in a recent album thet it was Saka ‘Laigbade who created Fuji but later said in an interview making rounds on youtube said fuji has been sung during WERE. Pasuma once said that fuji was created by twins (Barry and Kollington) and Wasiu Ayinde came up with a story that fuji has been sung long long ago since the inception of WERE. The question we 1st need to ask and answer is “Is WERE FUJI” The answer is NO. Let’s remember that many have sung that “WERE lo di Fuji”, if “WERE lodi Fuji” how then can WERE be FUJI. With this, wise people will agree that Wasiu’s story especially; is nothing but crap but out of bitterness.
Face4babe, you are correct. Saka ‘Laigbade himself never sang fuji music other than WERE/AJISARI and SAKARA afterwards. Many of the people Wasiu mentioned in his album were not Barry’s contemporary during WERE, they only joined him after Barry harry created Fuji out of WERE. It is sad that many do not know that Barry and this Saka ‘Laigbade everyone is talking about were contemporaries during WERE although ‘Laigbade was his senior in that he had been singing WERE before Barry. But when Barry and ‘Laigbade competed at Isalegangan in Lagos during WERE, Barry defeated him. (See Barry’s album where he sang “Isalegangan na la lo pade lojosi, kewu la fi sowon dolorin esi o”)
Alhaji Barrister,is the one that modernise fuji.and without saying much,General kollignton Ayinla has said it all that 19 to become 20,it must have much to do with 1.without Alhaji Agba,Barrister.1.there will never be fuji,2.without kollignton,Barrister will not be what he is,and without Barrister,Kollignton will not find himself as second in command.ever since God created the world,there is 12345 and so on.in conclution,Barriste PLUS Kollignton is FUJI,FUJI,FUJI.Ise wa ko ni baje.The two must see themself as one,my advise is that Barrister should carry Kollignton along when taken decision in FUMAN HOUSE.example,when Osupa was to be made king in Ibadan,he need to say I and my friend has decided or whatever i say here is what my conteporary,my friend,kollignton will agrred upon,so i made osupa the king of music.