1. Early Life & Family Background
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Real Name & Birth: Born Abdulrasaq Kolawole Ilori, on 20 August 1949 in Ilota, a village near Ilorin in Kwara State, Nigeria
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Parents: Son of Chief Ayanda Ilori, a notable kingmaker, and Alhaja Asiawu Mofodeke Ilori
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Childhood Hardships: Grew up in a traditional Yoruba-Muslim household, where early exposure to community ceremonies and oral tradition shaped his musical instincts.
2. Career Beginnings
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Military Service: Joined the Nigerian Army during the Civil War era (late 1960s). It was here he began his musical education, learning instruments and reading music after a senior officer introduced him and troop members to musical training
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Early Music: Recorded his first tracks for EMI Nigeria in 1974, emerging in the wake of “were”– the precursor to fuji
3. Rise to Stardom
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Fuji Pioneer: By the mid-1970s, alongside Ayinde Barrister, he spearheaded the fuji music movement, pioneering the use of bata drums in 1978, which transformed the genre’s sound
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Entrepreneurial Move: Founded Kollington Records in 1982, going on to release over 30 albums in five years—a prolific output that secured his fame
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Nicknames: Known affectionately as Baba Alatika, Kebe-n-Kwara, and Baba Alagbado, reflecting his leadership in the fuji scene
4. Ups & Downs
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Rivalry: His rivalry with Barrister captivated fans, though they later reconciled publicly (e.g., at Haruna Ishola’s funeral in 1983)
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Personal Lives: Married waka queen Salawa Abeni in 1986, fathering three children before their separation in the 1990s
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Health Scares: In early 2024, misleading rumors about his death swirled. Hospitalized at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, he recovered and publicly debunked the rumors
5. Later Years & Legacy
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Enduring Influence: Continues performing since 1962, remaining a fuji elder and mentor. He passionately promotes fuji’s roots and maintains the title “King of Fuji”—even critiquing K1 De Ultimate’s claim to leadership
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Cultural Icon: Revered for preserving and evolving fuji music. While age slowed releases, his legacy is cemented, and he’s honored by peers like Pasuma and Saheed Osupa
6. Personal Profile
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Residence | Divides time between Ilorin and Lagos |
| Profession | Fuji Musician, bandleader, record exec |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Partner | Ex-wife: Salawa Abeni; rumored other relationships |
| Father | Chief Ayanda Ilori |
| Mother | Alhaja Asiawu Mofodeke Ilori |
| Horoscope | Leo (born 20–31 August 1949) |
| Age | 75 (as of June 2025) |
| Body Measurements | Not publicly documented |
| Height / Weight / Body Type / Eye & Hair Color | No reliable sources; likely typical build, dark eyes, grey hair |
🔍 Summary
Abdulrasaq Kolawole Ilori—better known as Ayinla Kollington—rose from a kingmaker’s household in Ilorin, through military service, to become one of fuji’s founding titans. From his EMI debut in 1974 to founding Kollington Records in 1982, his innovative use of bata drums and prolific output made him unforgettable. Rivalries and personal turbulence shaped his path, but his dedication to fuji, coupled with comparisons to peers like Barrister and K1, have anchored his legacy. Today, at 75, he remains a revered icon—still active, still vocal, and still rightfully hailed as the King of Fuji.