Fuji Icon Kollington Ayinla Is Alive, Not Dead — Mgt Debunks Death Rumours

Fuji Icon Kollington Ayinla Is Alive, Not Dead — Mgt Debunks Death Rumours

The management of veteran Fuji musician, Kollington Ayinla, also known as Kebe-n-Kwara, has dismissed reports circulating online claiming that the music icon has died, describing the information as false, malicious, and misleading. In a statement issued on Saturday, signed by Shamsudeen Ilori on behalf of the family and the HSKA Foundation, the singer’s organisation said the reports of Ayinla’s death were fabricated by individuals seeking attention and online traffic. “Our attention has been drawn to a malicious and unfounded rumor circulating all over the Internet claiming that Kollington Ayinla Fuji Authority has passed away,” the statement read. The management stressed that the veteran artiste remains alive and in good health, adding that the rumour was deliberately designed to cause distress to the musician’s family, fans and associates. “Alhaji Kollington Ayinla is ALIVE, WELL, and IN GOOD HEALTH. Baba is currently enjoying himself, surrounded by family and close associates, and still blessing the world with his unmatched Fuji music dexterity and wisdom,” the statement added.

Describing the report as the handiwork of “heartless people,” the management accused those behind the claim of attempting to disrespect a living legend and create unnecessary confusion. The organisation also warned social media users and content creators against spreading unverified information, urging the public to verify claims before sharing them, threatening legal action against anyone found to have originated or deliberately circulated the false report. “Spreading false death news is not content — it’s wickedness. The family, management, and legal team of Alhaji Kollington Ayinla will not let this slide. Anyone caught creating or spreading this falsehood will face the full wrath of the law,” it stated. Reassuring supporters across the world, the organisation urged fans, friends, and family members to disregard the rumour entirely, saying the Fuji star remains healthy and appreciative of the goodwill shown towards him.

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This is not the first time the Fuji legend has been plagued by false death reports. In January 2024, Kollington Ayinla was forced to address similar rumours after speculation about his health circulated widely on social media. At the time, the 74-year-old musician released a video from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he was receiving treatment, to prove he was alive and recovering. “It is only God that can save a person but they really tried for me because I could have died but due to their efforts, I was saved,” the septuagenarian said in the video, expressing gratitude to the hospital management and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Born Abdulrasaq Kolawole Ilori on 20 August 1949, Kollington Ayinla hails from Ilota, a town on the outskirts of Ilorin, Kwara State. He ranks alongside his late friend and competitor, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, as one of the two most important artists to dominate Fuji music from its inception in the 1970s through to the 1990s. Kollington began recording for Nigerian EMI in 1974 and achieved a pronounced lead over Barrister in 1978 when he introduced the powerful bata drum into his sound, a departure from the talking drums that Fuji had relied upon until that time. In 1982, he set up his own label, Kollington Records, through which he released no less than 30 albums over the next five years. To date, he has recorded more than 100 albums and remains one of the most prolific artists in Nigerian music history. The rivalry between Kollington and Barrister was legendary, but the two eventually reconciled before Barrister’s death. Kollington was also involved in a public feud with “Queen of Waka” star Salawa Abeni, whom he married and had three children with, including popular rapper Big Sheff.

Fuji Icon Kollington Ayinla Is Alive, Not Dead — Mgt Debunks Death Rumours