Veteran Fuji musician Alhaji Kolawole Rasaq Ilori, known to fans as Kollington Ayinla, is battling illness and has been hospitalised for several days, raising concerns among his fans and the wider music community.
According to Sahara Reporters, sources close to the 75-year-old musician indicate that he has been unwell for over a week, leading to his admission to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja.
The severity of Ayinla’s condition has required him to be placed on oxygen support. While the family has chosen to keep details of his health private, it is evident that his situation is quite serious. Despite attempts to reach Ayinla directly or through his family, there has been no response.
Kollington Ayinla, born in August 1949 in Ilota, Kwara State, is known by various aliases such as Baba Alatika, Kebe-n-Kwara, and Baba Alagbado. Alongside his late friend and competitor, Ayinde Barrister, Ayinla played a crucial role in dominating the Fuji music scene for decades, significantly contributing to the genre’s popularity.
Between the mid-1970s and late ’80s, Kollington and Barrister stood out as leading stars in Nigerian Fuji music. Over time, as the Fuji genre gained popularity and the market expanded, the rivalry between the two musicians diminished.
In 1983, both Ayinla and Barrister were side by side as mourners at the funeral of Apala star, Haruna Ishola. Ayinde Barrister passed away on December 16, 2010, at St. Mary’s Hospital in London.
At this time, the family has not issued an official statement regarding Kollington Ayinla’s health. The public remains concerned about the well-being of this iconic figure in Nigerian music.
