Ayinla Omowura aka EgunmogajiNigeria |1933| YorubaWaheed Yusuf Ayinla Gbogbolowo, widely known as Ayinla Omowura, aka Egunmogaji, was a luminary in Apala music, gaining prominence in post-colonial Nigeria.
His flamboyant lifestyle and mastery of the Apala genre captured the attention of a dedicated cult following in the South-West.
Starting his musical journey as a backup singer in the early 1950s, Ayinla's fortunes changed when he was discovered by Adewole Oniluola.
Together, they formed a win-win partnership with Ayinla, the lead singer, and Oniluola, the lead drummer. leading to the band's success in the '70s and early '80s.
Unfortunately, this success was abruptly halted when Ayinla met a tragic end in a 1980 beer parlor brawl.
Despite this, his legacy remains through the surviving band members, family, and annual remembrance events.