Saibu Ayan was a drummer and band leader, who employed the service of Ambali as the band lead singer as it was the practice in those days, the drummers were always boss for lead singers.
Young Yekini Kolade Ajadi dropped out of school because of his interest in music. He joined the Saibu Ayan band in 1955 at the age of 12 when many of his mates were sitting for the common entrance to the secondary school, becoming the youngest in the band. Sefiu Ayan joined the band later. Ambali was the uncontested lead singer during the band's early years. On a fateful day when the band went to perform in Ijebu Ode, Sefiu begged the boss to allow him to sing, the boss was reluctant because Sefiu was never a singer in the band, but he was eventually given the chance to sing, he was able to demonstrate his singing talents and many were impressed, ever since he would sometimes be allowed to sing and Ambali became jealous and frustrated, he left the band to form his band and Sefiu became a successor to Ambali as the band lead singer. Sefiu was key to the band's early success, he later demanded that his name should be included in the band's name and the band name was changed to Saibu and Sefiu Ayan Apala Group and a musical partnership began, the group became very popular and successful, but it was shortlived. Sefiu died in 1962, he was less than 40. When a replacement was being sought, the young Ajadi who was on Agidigbo came out and said he would take over as a lead singer, he was overlooked and underestimated because two other older members of the band also showed their interest in becoming the band frontman, so a singing competition was organised for the trio and many people were invited to judge, the crowd were impressed and many were saying 'This young boy sounds pretty good and he should be declared the winner' Ajadi was declared winner and became the lead singer, the other two breakaway from the band to form a new band.
A year later, Saibu Ayan called a meeting with the band and declared that he wanted to disband the group to join his wife Sikiratu Ayan Waka's band, the band pleaded with him not to do that, but Ayan was determined to join the wife band, the band instruments was sold for £50 and the money shared amongst all the band members.
Ajadi teamed up with the rest of the band to form his band and named it YK Ajadi and his Apala Group. They contributed money to buy their old instruments from the buyer, but they were only able to raise £20 out of the £50 needed for the old instruments. They borrowed money to buy the instruments, they washed and painted it and they organised for the instruments lunching and one Ashamo Leader a wealthy man from Ibadan was the chief launcher who donated the sum of £50 which was enough to repay the Instruments loan. Ajadi became a prominent and successful Apala singer, junior to only the legendary Alhaji Haruna Ishola.
Saibu Ayan's wife Sikira sadly died not too long after her husband joined her waka group and his musical career ceased. Ajadi never dismissed his former boss when he became a rich artist, he would buy the old man the ileya ram every year till he breathed his last breath in 2010. He had enormous respect for Alhaji Haruna Ishola and he naturally became his musical father.
On a fateful day, Alhaji Haruna Ishola called for him, and on getting to his house he met some individuals, Alhaji Haruna told him the people were customers from Cotonou, they wanted him for some performances in Cotonou but he had so many engagements and he would want Ajadi to go and play in his stead. The arrangement was that Alhaji Haruna Ishola's van would take them from Ijebu Igbo to Lagos while the Cotonou patrons would take them from Lagos to Cotonou. They went to Cotonou and the people enjoyed their shows, it was quite a successful trip. Unfortunately, they had an accident on their way back to Lagos from Cotonou and two key members died in the accident. The circumstances of the accident remained a mystery and were not explainable.
Alhaji Haruna already sent his Van to Lagos to pick up the band as planned, but after waiting for a lengthy period without the band arriving the Van returned empty to Ijebu Igbo. YK Ajadi chartered a Taxi from the accident scene to Ijebu Igbo, a few miles after Ikorodu, he saw Alhaji Haruna Ishola and his band members heading to Lagos for a performance, he waved them down and explained to him that the band had had an accident and two members had died. It was the time Alhaji Haruna Ishola and IK Dairo were sharing an office in Lagos The band suffered a serious decline and the band were afraid to continue because they believed the accident was a spiritual attack, even if they wanted to continue there was no instrument for them to use, so all the band members went their separate ways.
Ajadi went to Alhaji Haruna Ishola more than twenty times to seek assistance in getting some musical instruments but all his attempts ended in a fiasco. He even claimed to have lost the hospital receipt they could have used to claim some compensation. He got fed up and wanted to call it quits and look for something else to do. But as fate would have it, M Ola Kazeem another Ijebu Igbo-born was in town and he told Ajadi that Egbon IK Dairo had been asking of him because he saw the damaged instrument stored in his office. IK Dairo was a shining star and hugely successful artist at the time and Ajadi went to Lagos the very next day to see him. IK Dairo gave him a big loudspeaker which he took to Ijebu Igbo. He later came to Ijebu Igbo to persuade and encourage the old members to regroup to continue with their band, he told them they should never be deterred from playing music because of an accident that can happen to anyone including non-musicians. The band came back together afterwards.
YK never forgave Alhaji Haruna because of the way he was treated after the accident. Ojubanire pictured with Ajadi below, Alhaji Haruna's lead drummer came to Ajadi and told him he planned to leave Haruna band because he was not getting the deserved treatment, a lead drummer with a successful singer like Alhaji Haruna Ishola should not be using just a Vespa motorcycle. It was the time Ajadi wanted to go to the studio to record a song, Ojubanire went with him and beat the drum in the album which was unknown to Alhaji Haruna. He eventually left Haruna's band to join Ajadi. Ajadi took a car loan and bought him a Peugeot and the entire western Nigeria were all amazed and were hailing Ajadi saying Ishola whom he had worked with for 30 years never bought him a car. Haruna was not happy about the development as Ojubanire's departure affected his band. After the death of Alhaji Haruna Ishola, his children pleaded with Ojubanire to come back to team up with one of Alhaji Haruna Ishola's junior brothers who claimed he had a singing talent, they promised to buy him a new car. The offer was tempting, he left Ajadi's band and Ajadi took back the car he bought for him. Unfortunately, instead of the promised new car, a fairly used Gallant was bought for him. The memorial band failed and he went back to Ajadi, Ajadi said he did not have a car for him this time around but he would always go and pick him up from his house each time they had a performance as a sign of respect.
YK Ajadi died about ten years ago and had many long- play Album to his credit.
By SOA Olaribigbe
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