I’m alive, legendary fuji musician Kollington Ayinla refutes death rumour

Legendary Fuji musician, Kolawole Rasaq Ilori, famously known as Kollington Ayinla, has refuted death rumours circulating about him on social media.

The 75-year-old Fuji musician on Tuesday addressed his health status at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos.

Reports that Kollngton Ayinla was battling undisclosed ailments and in critical health conditions have been making the rounds on social media on Tuesday.

However, in a two-minute nineteen-second video shared by LagosGist (@LagosGist) on Tuesday, Kollington expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his support during his recent illness.

Additionally, he thanked the CMD of LASUTH, Adetokunbo Fabanwo, and the hospital management for their care.

Above all, he thanked God for divine healing and thanked all his fans who have assisted him.

He said he is alive because of God, the governor, LASUTH and others.

“I want to thank Lagosians. I want to thank the government of Lagos State Government and the management of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and the team under the leadership of Adetokunbo O. Fabanwo. It is only God that can save life but I want to appreciate him and the team because I would have gone to the great beyond.

I give it to the LASUTH. They are king for taking care of me. They deserve my salutations. LASUTH LASUTH LASUTH, you are king. They said I was dead, but I’m here speaking alive from the LASUTH now,” Kollighton Ayinla speaks in Yoruba in the short video clip.

Kollington, born August 1949 hailed from Ilota, a town on the outskirts of Ilorin, Kwara State, and he is also known by the aliases; Baba Alatika, Kebe-n-Kwara, and Baba Alagbado.

Kollington and his late friend and competitor, Ayinde Barrister dominated the Fuji music scene for decades, helping to popularise the genre.

Between the mid-1970s and late ’80s, Kollington ranked with Barrister as the leading star of Nigerian Fuji music.

As the popularity of Fuji grew, the market became big and the competition between Kollington and Barrister waned.

In 1983, both men stood side by side as mourners at the funeral of Apala star, Haruna Ishola.

Barrister died at St. Mary’s Hospital in London on December 16, 2010.