By Ghazali Ibrahim
Reports circulating in Nigeria’s entertainment circles indicate that veteran juju musician Prof. Y.K. Ajao has died.
Though the family hasn’t issue statement regarding the cause of his death but colleagues in the industry like Sir Shina Peters had already confirmed it.
Ajao, widely regarded as the originator of the “Juju Makosa” sound, was a prominent figure in Nigeria’s juju music scene for decades.
He was born in Iseyin, Oyo State, and began his music journey at a very young age, reportedly starting to play music around the age of nine before going professional in the early 1970s.
Over the years, he built a reputation as a creative musician who blended traditional juju with faster Makosa rhythms, helping him carve out a distinct style in the industry.
His breakthrough came with the release of Makosa Series 1, which brought him into the spotlight after years of struggling to gain recognition.
Ajao also led his own band and produced several albums, contributing to the growth and spread of juju music within and beyond southwestern Nigeria. He was at one point honoured within the music community, including being described as a “professor of music,” a title that became part of his stage name.
The late musician was known to have been influenced by legends such as Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade, and he remained active in the industry for many years.
As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding his death, including the cause and date, remain unclear.
The news has, however, sparked reactions online, with fans and followers describing him as one of the notable contributors to Nigeria’s juju music heritage.
