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Adewale Ayuba | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Mr. Johnson |
| Born | 25 March 1965 Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, drummer, dancer, writer, artist, actor |
| Years active | 1983–present |
Adewale Ayuba (born 25 March 1965), professionally known as Mr. Johnson, is a Nigerian Fuji singer. [1]
Ayuba was born on 25 March 1965 in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria.
At eight years old, he began singing at local music competitions and fiestas. [2]
He started pursuing music professionally after completing his education at Remo Secondary School in Sagamu. From there, he traveled from Nigeria to enroll at Queensborough Community College, New York, and went on to attain a diploma in Financial Accounting [3] before achieving a Doctor of Arts in Music from Bradley University, Illinois. [3]
In 1983 Ayuba released his first album, Ibere (Beginning), which achieved success in the Fuji music scene. [4] This led him to sign with Sony Music Nigeria, releasing Bubble in 1991. [5]
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), [6] including: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Fuji Album of the Year. [7]
In 1993 he signed with Premier Music (Nigeria) and began his first West African tour. [3] He then undertook his inaugural U.S. tour in several states, and appearing at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, and was awarded the "Key to the City" of Providence, Rhode Island. [8] 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. [7]
On 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. [9] 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. [3]
Back in 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 toured England, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium. [3]
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. [3]
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. [3] He also received the Millennium Voice of Nigerian Music award in Düsseldorf, Germany from 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, awarded 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. [3] His album Mellow (2007) won Best Fuji Vocal Performance at the AMEN Awards and topped Nigeria’s contemporary African charts.
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. [10]
| 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 |
Ayuba won two Kora Awards in 2005. [10]
| From | Award/Honor | Date |
|---|---|---|
| HEN Foundation [ citation needed ] | ||
| Kora Awards | ||
| Afro America Music Awards [ citation needed ] | ||
| Providence, Rhode Island [ citation needed ] | Key to the City | |
| Fuji Music Lifetime Awards [ citation needed ] | ||
| Nigerian Music Awards [11] | Artist of the Year | 1993 (?) |
| Nigerian Community Association, USA [ citation needed ] | ||
| AMEN Awards [ citation needed ] | ||
| CEPAN Awards [ citation needed ] | ||
| The Headies [12] | Performer | 2016 |
| New Koko Dome Honor [ citation needed ] | ||
| CBS Platinum sales [ citation needed ] | ||
| Floating World Honor [ citation needed ] | ||
| Golden Sony Awards[ citation needed ] | ||
| M. A. A. N.[ citation needed ] | ||
| Learning and Culture Awards [ citation needed ] | ||
| Arise and Shine [ citation needed ] | ||
| WorldWide Superstar Awards[ citation needed ] | ||
| Gathering Of Africa's Best [ citation needed ] | ||
| Osab Awards For Excellence[ citation needed ] | ||
| City People Entertainment Awards [ citation needed ] | ||
| Yoruba Music Films Awards [ citation needed ] | ||
| The Ambassadors Club [ citation needed ] | ||
| Podium International [ citation needed ] |
Ayuba is a member of the Nigerian Red Cross and was dubbed "Prince Of Peace" in 2012. [3]
He publicly confirmed his change in faith during a testimony at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David, in January 2015. [3]
Ayuba acted as a journalist in the movie Mystery of Unity, produced by Ebun Oloyede. [3]
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. [3] Ayuba aims to take Fuji music to audiences worldwide. [3] 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. [13]
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. [14]
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