In an emotional conversation with GRACE EDEMA, Ayinla’s son, Samshudeen Omowura, reflected on growing up without a father, the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding the singer’s death, and the difficult realities facing the family despite the continued popularity of the late musician’s songs.
Samshudeen, now in his 40s, revealed that he was only three years old when his father died on May 6, 1980.
“Yes, I was about three years old when he died,” he recalled quietly.
The granite supplier based in Saje, Abeokuta, said most of what he knows about his father came from stories shared by family members, neighbours and admirers who still speak passionately about the late Apala legend decades after his passing.
“I heard a lot about him from my mother and other people. They said he was kind and generous, a cheerful giver. Even till today, many people still speak well about him,” he said.
According to him, Ayinla’s impact remains astonishingly strong, particularly among older fans who still become emotional whenever his name is mentioned.
“Sometimes people from places like Canada, the UK, and America come to our house and start crying, saying, ‘Ah, why did Ayinla die?’” he revealed.
“One man who came recently from Canada kept saying, ‘Ayinla, why did you die?’ almost 40 times. That showed me how deeply people still love him.”
Music That Refuses to Die
Though Ayinla Omowura died over 40 years ago, Samshudeen believes the depth of wisdom embedded in his father’s music is what has kept the songs relevant across generations.
“Even young people still use my father’s songs to learn wisdom and advise their wives,” he explained. “His songs are filled with proverbs and deep teachings.”
He described the late singer’s sound as timeless, insisting that no matter where he travels in Nigeria, people still celebrate Ayinla’s music passionately.
“None of his tracks is dull or uninteresting. Every song carries energy, wisdom and meaning,” he said proudly.
The Tragic Death That Shocked Nigeria
Samshudeen also revisited the shocking incident that led to his father’s death — a tragedy that remains one of the most talked-about stories in Nigerian music history.
According to him, family accounts revealed that Ayinla was allegedly killed by his manager and close associate, Fatai Bayewu, during a dispute at a beer parlour.
“From what I learnt, his manager killed him by hitting him on the head with an object; I heard it was a mug,” he said.
He explained that Bayewu and Ayinla had been extremely close, with the manager reportedly supporting the musician financially at some point.
However, tensions allegedly arose after Ayinla attempted to retrieve his Honda motorcycle from Bayewu.
“Someone informed my father that they had seen Bayewu at a beer parlour. My father went there to collect his motorcycle back,” he narrated.
“When Bayewu saw Ayinla coming, maybe he thought my father wanted to attack him. So, he picked up a mug and struck him on the head.”
Samshudeen said doctors later discovered that a broken piece of bottle had lodged in the middle of the singer’s head.
“Immediately they confirmed Ayinla was dead, the doctors had to leave the hospital quickly because they feared angry fans could attack the hospital,” he added.
Bayewu reportedly fled after the incident but was later arrested, prosecuted in Ibadan and sentenced to death by hanging.
Choosing Peace Over Hatred
Despite the painful history, Samshudeen revealed that he deliberately chose forgiveness instead of bitterness toward Bayewu’s family.
He recalled personally visiting one of Bayewu’s children in Abeokuta after learning the person lived nearby.
“I told him there was nothing to gain from becoming enemies because his father killed my father,” he said.
“Only God truly knows everything that happened that day. I believe the devil might have orchestrated everything.”
Family Battles Over Legacy and Royalties
One of the most emotional parts of the interview came when Samshudeen spoke about the family’s struggles with royalties and the management of Ayinla’s music catalogue.
According to him, despite the singer’s legendary status and the continued streaming of his songs online, family members reportedly receive extremely small annual royalty payments from Ivory Music, formerly EMI Nigeria.
“The amount is very small,” he lamented.
“Individually, nobody receives up to N45,000 in a whole year.”
He added that some children receive barely over N30,000 annually after the payments are shared among siblings.
“That is ridiculous,” he said.
Samshudeen expressed frustration that the family has allegedly never been shown the original contract Ayinla signed with the record label.
“Nobody has ever shown us the contract or explained the exact arrangement between my father and the label,” he stated.
He believes the family deserves more considering the continued popularity of Ayinla’s music on digital streaming platforms.
“Somebody somewhere must be making money from those songs,” he said.
The family, however, lacks proper legal representation to investigate the royalties or track online streaming income.
“A lawyer is the major solution to this problem,” he admitted.
Mixed Feelings Over Ayinla Biopic
Samshudeen also addressed the biopic inspired by his father’s life, which featured Lateef Adedimeji and was produced by acclaimed filmmaker Tunde Kelani.
While he appreciated efforts to immortalise the music icon, he disclosed that some family members felt dissatisfied with how agreements surrounding the film were handled.
“At the end, we were told the family was given N1m, but only about N800,000 eventually got to us,” he said.
“Personally, I was not satisfied with the amount.”
He further claimed that some signatures on the family agreement were allegedly removed later, despite initial approvals.
Still, he maintained that there would be no hostility if further support eventually came from the proceeds of the film.
The Pain of Growing Up Without Education
Samshudeen also spoke candidly about his personal struggles, including his inability to continue his education beyond secondary school — something he still regrets deeply.
“It pains me deeply too that I could not continue my education,” he admitted.
He believes the absence of his father contributed greatly to the hardship he experienced growing up.
“When both father and mother are not together to care for a child, life becomes more difficult,” he said.
Despite this, he remains determined to ensure the younger generation in the family receives quality education.
“Education is one of the best legacies any parent can give,” he added.
Preserving the Omowura Legacy
Several of Ayinla Omowura’s children have continued in music, helping preserve the legendary Apala sound.
According to Samshudeen, Haruna Omowura performs traditional Apala music in his father’s style, while Halimotu Omowura explores modern Apala sounds. His younger brother, Babatunde, is also active in Fuji music.
Even with the years gone by, Samshudeen says the memory of Ayinla Omowura remains deeply alive in Abeokuta and beyond.
“Anywhere they play Ayinla’s songs, people dance from beginning to end,” he said.
For him, the legendary singer was more than a musician — he was a symbol of generosity, wisdom and cultural pride whose influence still resonates decades after his death.