Global fans of the late Fuji music creator, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, have commended the Oyo State Government for bestowing on the deceased a merit award at the 2025 Egungun Festival held in Ibadan. Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, who presented the award on behalf of the government, noted that Ayinde created the Fuji genre of music, which is well accepted among other indigenous brands of music in Nigeria.
“The person we all grew to know as the catalyst that created Fuji music is Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde (Barrister) without any controversy,” he said.
Chairman, Alhaji Laide Olawumi, and Secretary, Agbaakin Ademola Adesigbin, of the Sikiru Ayinde Barrister Musical Festival Forum (BarryFest Event Organiser), in a release, appreciated the government’s sense of history and its acknowledgement of the significant role Ayinde played in the evolution of the Fuji genre, which has empowered hundreds of youths who are Fuji musicians, percussionists, instrumentalists and auxiliary service providers for bands.
“We thank Governor Seyi Makinde for counting Barrister worthy of the legendary award at such an auspicious occasion of the World Egungun Festival. We shall continue to recognise the good work the administration is doing to reposition Yoruba cultural identity among global ethnic groups. We are also glad that despite the works of the usurpers to undermine the place of Barrister in history, your administration sticks to the truth,” the statement read in part.