Fuji musician, Ayinla Kollington, in a recent interview, said he regretted not having tertiary education.
While advising youths to take university education seriously, the legendary singer said if he has the chance in another lifetime, he would not hesitate to prioritise university education.
“Many youths who have the opportunity to acquire university education but are taking it for granted, completely opting for music or sports, thinking fame and fortune is all there is to life only don’t know anything. I really have no regret being a musician but I regret that I don’t have a university education. But thank God all my children are educated and some have even ventured into music; only that they are into hip hop. I may be privileged in another lifetime to go to university but not here on earth,” Vanguard quoted him as saying.
On how he started music, Kollington said he was encouraged to venture into it by Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, whom most people regard as Fuji music pioneer.
“I started with weere music in 1965 at 10. My late friend, Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister encouraged me to take my musical career to the next level. We were soldiers and Barrister would come all the way to Abeokuta, Ogun State to convince me. He believed we needed to quit and go back to music. He used to say ‘for how long shall we be earning 18 pounds 5?’ I was a bit reluctant because I didn’t know what might happen to us if we were caught rehearsing.
“Army was very tough back then, I mean in the ’70s. Barrister started rehearsing and would often say to me: ‘Kola, I have started rehearsing; when will you start yours?’ I later gave in and the rest is history.
“Bashiru Abinuwaye, Zaka Olayigbade, and some others actually started Fuji music. Fuji music started on the Island. I and Barrister came up to sing Fuji after the pioneers,” he added.