Adewale Ayuba
Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Multiple issues Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Adewale Ayuba (born 25 March 1965), professionally known as Mr. Johnson, is a Nigerian Fuji singer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Early life and education
Ayuba was born on 25 March 1965 in Ikenne Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
At eight years old, he started singing at local music competitions and fiestas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He started pursuing music professionally after completing his education at Remo Secondary School in Sagamu. From there, he traveled from Nigeria to enrol at Queensborough Community College, New York, and went on to attain a diploma in Financial Accounting<ref name="auto" /> before achieving a Doctor of Arts in Music from Bradley University, Illinois.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
In 1983, Ayuba released his first album, Ibere (Beginning), which achieved success in the Fuji music scene.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This success eventually led him to sign with Sony Music Nigeria, releasing Bubble in 1991.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Bubble was one of the first Fuji songs to gain widespread popularity, topping music charts for six consecutive months and winning multiple Nigerian Music Awards (NMA),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> including: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Fuji Album of the Year.<ref name="thenigerianvoice.com">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1993, he signed with Premier Music (Nigeria) and began his first West African tour,<ref name="auto" /> and then undertook his inaugural U.S. tour, performing in over ten states, including Louisiana, plus appearing at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He was awarded the "Key to the City" of Providence, Rhode Island.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His Los Angeles debut received praise from Los Angeles Weekly, with C.C. Smith describing his music as “compelling, enchanting, and powerful,” and noting his vibrant costumes, dancing, and percussive instrumentation.<ref name="thenigerianvoice.com" />
Upon returning to Nigeria in 1993, Ayuba released Bubble D through Premier Music, which also earned success at the Fame Music Awards and charted for several months. In 1995, he recorded in the U.S. and performed at the 1996 SummerStage Concerts in New York, Africa Mondo Concerts (1996–1997), New Orleans Jazz Festival (1997), the International Festival in Houston (1997), and BET’s Jazz USA Concert.<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite web</ref> Ayuba later signed with the U.S.-based Q-disc Record Company, after which he released Fuji Time in 1996, followed by Fuji Dub on London's Agogo Music label in 1997.<ref name="auto" />
After returning to Nigeria in 1998, he released Acceleration (Corporate Music) and followed with Turn Me On in 2000, earning Best Fuji Album of the Year at the Awards for Musical Excellence in Nigeria and Best Song of the Year at the Nigerian Song Festival 2000. The same year he also did a European tour of England, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.<ref name="auto" />
In 2001, Ayuba was honoured as the "Distinguished Son of Ikenne-Remo" and headlined a concert titled “The Return of Ayuba,” in Lagos which was attended by state governors and dignitaries. He toured Austria (Graz and Vienna) the same year. In 2002, he toured Europe again (England, France, Belgium, Austria, and the Netherlands) and released Formula, which won Best Fuji Album of the Year. He was also named Best Artiste of the Millennium by the Music Advertisers Association of Nigeria.<ref name="auto" />
In 2003, Ayuba embarked on a tour of Europe and recorded the collaborative album Fuji Satisfaction with German Afro-centric group BANTU, winning Best Group in West Africa and Best Group in Africa at the Kora Music Awards in Durban, South Africa.<ref name="auto" /> He also received the Millennium Voice of Nigerian Music award in Düsseldorf, Germany, the Pan-Yoruba group Omo Oduduwa Association in recognition of his valuable contributions to the growth of the music industry.
In 2004, he released Ijo Fuji, earning Entertainer of the Year by the Nigerian American Community Association, and Best Fuji Album of the Year at the Awards for Musical Excellence in July 2005. He also received the Ogo-Irawo award from the Ikenne Development Association in Chicago.<ref name="auto" /> His album Mellow (2007) won Best Fuji Vocal Performance at the AMEN Awards and topped Nigeria’s contemporary African charts.
Music career
Ayuba started his music career under the guidance of his father, who helped him balance education alongside music. Since signing his first recording deal in the 1980s, he has released approximately 15 albums in Nigeria and four internationally. <ref name="ogtv">Template:Cite news</ref>
| Ibere (Beginning) | 1986 |
| Igida (Tribute to Obafemi Awolowo) | 1987 |
| Bonsue Knockout Ife Love | 1988 |
| Olorun ni gbe niga | 1989 |
| Bonsue Gold | 1990 |
| Bubble | 1991 |
| Mr Johnson Play For Me | 1992 |
| Buggle D (Dance) | 1994 |
| Move Up | 1995 |
| Fuji Music | 1995 |
| Fuji Time | 1996 |
| Fuji Dub | 1997 |
| Back Head Bound (BHB) | 1998 |
| Acceleration | 1999 |
| Turn Me On | 2001 |
| Formula | 2003 |
| Gun Shot | 2003 |
| Ijo Fuji | 2004 |
| Fuji Satisfaction | 2005 |
| Mellow | 2009 |
| Ariya | 2011 |
| Bubble | 2012 |
| Play For Me | 2012 |
| Sugar | 2013 |
| Ijo Fuji A | 2013 |
| Happy People Remix | 2015 |
| Bonsue Fuji from Africa | 2016 |
| Koloba Koloba | 2023 |
| Fujify Your Soul | 2023 |
| Jekarira | 2023 |
| Uncommon | 2023 |
| Jafo Authority | 2024 |
| Awede Orisa | 2024 |
Awards and Honors
Ayuba won two Kora Awards in 2005.<ref name="ogtv" />
| From | Award/Honor | Date |
|---|---|---|
| HEN Foundation Template:Citation needed | ||
| Kora Awards | ||
| Afro America Music Awards Template:Citation needed | ||
| Providence, Rhode Island Template:Citation needed | Key to the City | |
| Fuji Music Lifetime Awards Template:Citation needed | ||
| Nigerian Music Awards<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Artist of the Year | 1993 (?) |
| Nigerian Community Association, USA Template:Citation needed | ||
| AMEN Awards Template:Citation needed | ||
| CEPAN Awards Template:Citation needed | ||
| The Headies<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Performer | 2016 |
| New Koko Dome Honor Template:Citation needed | ||
| CBS Platinum sales Template:Citation needed | ||
| Floating World Honor Template:Citation needed | ||
| Golden Sony AwardsTemplate:Citation needed | ||
| M. A. A. N.Template:Citation needed | ||
| Learning and Culture Awards Template:Citation needed | ||
| Arise and Shine Template:Citation needed | ||
| WorldWide Superstar AwardsTemplate:Citation needed | ||
| Gathering Of Africa's Best Template:Citation needed | ||
| Osab Awards For ExcellenceTemplate:Citation needed | ||
| City People Entertainment Awards Template:Citation needed | ||
| Yoruba Music Films Awards Template:Citation needed | ||
| The Ambassadors Club Template:Citation needed | ||
| Podium International Template:Citation needed |
Ayuba is a member of the Nigerian Red Cross and was dubbed "Prince Of Peace" in 2012.<ref name="auto"/>
Personal life
He publicly confirmed his change in faith during a testimony at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David, in January 2015.<ref name="auto"/>
Filmography
Ayuba acted as a journalist in the movie Mystery of Unity, produced by Ebun Oloyede.<ref name="auto"/>
Artistry
Ayuba is the primary songwriter and collaborates closely with his fifteen-member ensemble, Ayuba and the Bonsue Fuji Band, in which he serves as the lead vocalist. His style blends traditional Yoruba talking drums with elements of American percussion.<ref name="auto"/> Ayuba aims to take Fuji music to audiences worldwide.<ref name="auto" /> On 25 March 2025, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, joined other well-wishers around the world to celebrate Adewale Ayuba on his 60th birthday.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Other ventures
In 2013, Ayuba enlisted his longtime stylist and fashion designer, to launch Bonsue Wears. Ayuba has long shown an affinity for traditional Yoruba attire, particularly the shokoto and bubba ensemble. These outfits have come to define his on-stage look. The Bonsue Wears collection features a two-piece design, consisting of a shirt-like top with wide, open sleeves and matching pants that gather at the knees. The line merges traditional Yoruba fashion with contemporary urban influences.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Nigerian singer-songwriters
- Living people
- 1966 births
- University of Lagos alumni
- Musicians from Ogun State
- 20th-century Nigerian male singers
- Yoruba musicians
- Yoruba-language singers
- Moshood Abiola Polytechnic alumni
- Nigerian expatriates in the United States
- 21st-century Nigerian male singers