POPULAR tungba gospel crooner, Yinka Ayefele, has picked January 2015 to give his late father, High Chief Joshua Ayefele, a befitting rites of passage. The Ekiti born music sensation will be drawing who is who in the society to Ipoti-Ekiti
The singer’s dad died a few weeks ago shortly after the celebration of his (dad) 76th birthday party in Ekiti State.
THESE may not be the best of times for popular singer, Yinka Ayefele, following the sudden death of his 76-year-old father, Chief Joshua Ayefele, aka Baba Teacher, on Sunday, October 12, at his home town.
But even as the fans of Tungba maestro are still paying him condolence visits, the sensational singer has eulogized his father, while revealing his undying wish for him.
“My dad, an educationist and community leader in Ipoti Ekiti, until his demise, wanted me to be a banker. I, however, chose to study Political Science.”
Ayefele, the first child of the deceased, started out as a voice-over artiste. He, however, became a household name after he was involved in an auto crash in 1999. His debut album, Sweet Experience, was widely received, thereby affording him a strong pedestal on which his career has thrived in the past years.
FEW months ago, the rumour mill was agog that the entertainment enthusiast and socialite, Ayiri Emami, may be broke. But those close to the Warri-born oil magnate said he just chose to remain underground. Source close to him say he staged a superlative birthday last weekend in Houston, Texas, U.S.
Those who graced the event revealed that the birthday boy is far from being broke.
Emami is the boss of the reconstituted Delta Waterways Security Agency.
He came into social reckoning in 2011 when his carnival-like wedding was beamed on Bisi Olatilo Show. It was widely reported he spent N150 million in which the singer, Tuface, was one of his groomsmen. The wedding also had Tuface, Dbanj, Yinka Ayefele, Psquare and many other notable Nigerian artists, on the bandstane. He is reputed to be a big time businessman in Delta State – he owns the 911 Beach & Resort Ugborodo and A& E Petroleum.
Gospel artiste and creator of Tungba music, Yinka Ayefele, on Tuesday, survived an early morning inferno at his Ibadan, Oyo State home.
The fire, which started about 6.00am at his sprawling residential building, was averted by men of the Oyo State Fire Service.
Confirming the incident, David Ajiboye, publicist to the musician, said the fire incident started from one of the air conditioners at the pent house. It was, however, put out by the timely intervention of firefighters before it spread to other parts of the building.
In a release, the popular singer said: “It could have been worse than this. I thank God almighty for His grace over my life, children and other members of the family. I particularly thank my staff, friends, neighbours and well wishers for their concern. I see this as a test of my faith. I know I serve a living God who will not leave me at any point in my life.”
The gospel artiste also enjoined his fans not to blame the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company for the power surge that triggered the inferno, adding that the house was being powered by a generating set as at the time of the incident.
GOSPEL musicians are set to storm the ancient town of Alakuko next weekend as Genesis Model International annual harvest, known as Festival of Grace, holds another edition. Leading an array of musicians and prophets are Lanre Teriba and Yinka Ayefele who are expected to grace the church’s programme.
According to the organisers, the event tagged New Dawn is a prophetic and life-changing programme slated for Sunday, December 15, 2013 at the church’s ultra-modern auditorium in Dalemo-Alakuko, Lagos. The programme, which is to be heralded by a vigil on December 13, the organisers revealed, will also host other gospel artistes like Evangelist Bayo Apata and Evangelist Imole David who affirm their readiness to thrill God’s people in a night of praise and worship.
Host, Prophet Israel Oladele Ogundipe, enthused: “This year’s event is power-filled with praise songs, transforming messages and miracles. As we are about to enter a new year, it is going to be a new dawn of fruitfulness, progress, divine help, success, favour, opportunities and fulfillment of promise in Jesus name for all participants.”