How I reformed Fuji music
By BISI OLALEYE
Friday, April 8, 2005

Wasiu Ayinde Marshal

Photo: Sun News Publishing

Ever before he became a celebrity, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, a.k.a. K1-Ultimate could walk the length and breadth of Lagos without being noticed. Today, K-Ultimate, the highly-rated and popular Fuji crooner is now famous and can hardly move on the streets without being hailed by fans and admirers.

But Ayinde lamented how his highly treasured personal freedom suddenly evaporated in the early 1980s following the release of his hit album, Tala 84. And so, today, he has become a household name, a music icon among the youth and the ‘darling’ of all Fuji lovers, home and abroad. K-Ultimate is also a man after the hearts of many ladies, many of whom he said are dying just to see him.

The man is grateful to God for making it possible for him to break away from the vicious grip of street life. And this is why he usually shows love to street children and all those commonly known as Area Boys.

A man who truly rose from grass to grace, K1-Ultimate explained how he started fending for himself as a secondary school drop-out and how without any educational qualification, he became a public relations officer at the age of 16 when he dabbled into music and became one of the band boys of Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, the acclaimed Fuji exponent, popularly known as ‘Alhaji Agba.’ It was while serving his boss that fame, wealth and popularity smiled on him and he soon founded his own outfit called King Wasiu Ayinde and his Tala 84 band. Consequentlytly, his life transformed from obscurity into

prominence.
The Fuji maestro who recently turned 48 told Daily Sun the story of his life; stating how he missed being a lawyer, the many risks he took as well as many efforts he had made to turn Fuji music into something from nothing:

Turning
Fuji music around
First, I must thank God for empowering me with necessary resources, materially, spiritually, talent-wise, and necessary direction to be able to make something out of nothing. The position of Fuji was nothing until Wasiu Ayinde Marshal came on the scene. It is the Lord’s doing but it’s equally a credit to me, Alhamdulilai. However, I cannot claim to be the only brain behind this revolution because the elders say a tree does not make a forest. There are many people out there who have contributed something to that fantastic feat. I remain just one of the people that turned Fuji music round from obscurity to prominence through clear innovation and astounding creativity.

20 years of Tala 84
Yes, I just celebrated 20 years of the release of my first album Tala 84. The album was all about a branch of Fuji music named Talazzo Fuji, it debuted in 1984 and continues to run 20 years after. It makes me feel really good to celebrate 20 years of continuous success of that particular album and the fact that its popularity has refused to wane.
First million as a Fuji musician
Long time ago. About 29 years to be precise.

Children’s venture into music
Why not? Already, even at their tender ages, some of my children are already into music but not necessarily Fuji genre. And if they choose Fuji, the better for them, afterall, it is their father’s field and there’s this tendency for talents to be inherited by offspring. So, as long as they are able to carve a niche for themselves, I would not be a stumbling block to the aspirations of any of my children.

Love of women and Juju
Women and fetish practice? I’m not randy and I am not fetish. I am in showbiz; a make-belief world, so anything goes. However, as a person, I am not fetish and there is no point becoming one. God has blessed me abundantly and He continues to be my mainstay. Right away from the time He brought me into prominence in the music scene, up till this moment, He continues to support, guide and stay by my side. So, being fetish or seeking succour from fetish practices has never tempted me nor arisen in any way.

What I’d have done outside Fuji
I would have loved to be a practising lawyer, defending the rights of people, protecting the poor and generally, impacting on people’s lives positively.

Major achievement
My biggest achievement is my consistency and dedication to my profession. I have been able to turn Fuji around from nothing to something. Also since inception, Fuji music has been quite challenging to me - it has been useful to pull and attract people to brighter prospects, in addition to urging even the proverbial clay-footed individuals to do things in the modern way and urge them to create sweet melodies.

I consider that as one of my greatest achievements . Also, I derive a measure of joy from being a successful musician, as well as being the breadwinner of my family. Another important achievement is how the Almighty got me off the ‘street’ train and made me succeed in life. Thanks be to God for everything; that really, is a very big achievement. It is the forerunner to all other achievements.