Adewale Ayuba
Adewale Ayuba, professionally known as Mr. Johnson, is a Nigerian Fuji singer.
Early life and education
Ayuba was born on 25 March 1965 in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria. At eight years old, he began singing at local music competitions and fiestas.After completing his education at Remo Secondary School in Sagamu, Ayuba began pursuing music professionally. He enrolled at Queensborough Community College in New York and received a diploma in Financial Accounting before earning a Doctor of Musical Arts from Bradley University.
Career
In 1983, Ayuba released his first album, Ibere in the genre of Fuji music. In 1990, he signed with Sony Music Nigeria. The next year, in 1991, he released his second album Bubble. The single of the same name was one of the first Fuji songs to gain widespread popularity. It topped music charts for six months and won several awards at the Nigerian Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Fuji Album of the Year.In 1993, Ayuba signed with Premier Music and began his first West African tour. He also went on a U.S. tour in several states, including an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He was also awarded the "Key to the City" of Providence, Rhode Island. His Los Angeles debut received praise from Los Angeles Weekly, which described his music as having a "compelling, enchanting, and powerful sound".
On returning to Nigeria in 1993, Ayuba released Bubble D through Premier Music, which also earned success at the Fame Music Awards and charted for several months. In 1995, he recorded in the U.S. Notably, he performed at the 1996 SummerStage Concerts in New York, the Africa Mondo Concerts, the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the International Festival in Houston and during BET's 1997 Jazz USA Concert. Ayuba later signed with the U.S.-based Q-disc Record Company, after which he released Fuji Time in 1996, followed by Fuji Dub on London's Agogo Music label in 1997.
In 1998, he released Acceleration, followed by Turn Me On in 2000. The same year he toured England, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Ayuba was named the "Distinguished Son of Ikenne-Remo" in 2001. He headlined a concert titled "The Return of Ayuba" in Lagos which was attended by state governors and dignitaries. He toured Austria the same year. In 2002, he toured Europe again and released Formula, which won Best Fuji Album of the Year. He was also named Best Artist of the Millennium by the Music Advertisers Association of Nigeria.In 2003, Ayuba embarked on a tour of Europe and recorded the collaborative album Fuji Satisfaction with German Afro-centric group BANTU, winning Best Group in West Africa and Best Group in Africa at the Kora Music Awards in Durban, South Africa. He also received the Millennium Voice of Nigerian Music award in Düsseldorf, Germany, from the Pan-Yoruba group Omo Oduduwa Association in recognition of his valuable contributions to the growth of the music industry.
In 2004, he released Ijo Fuji, earning Entertainer of the Year, awarded by the Nigerian American Community Association, and Best Fuji Album of the Year at the Awards for Musical Excellence in July 2005. He also received the Ogo-Irawo award from the Ikenne Development Association in Chicago. His album Mellow won Best Fuji Vocal Performance at the AMEN Awards and topped Nigeria's contemporary African charts.
Ayuba is a member of the Nigerian Red Cross and was dubbed "Prince Of Peace" in 2012.
Personal life
Ayuba is married to Azukaego Kwentoh and has seven children. He and Azukaego Kwentoh met at Queensborough Community College, where Ayuba studied, and then got married in 1989.Artistry
Ayuba is the primary songwriter for and collaborates closely with his fifteen-member ensemble, Ayuba and the Bonsue Fuji Band, in which he serves as the lead vocalist. His style blends traditional Yoruba talking drums with elements of American percussion. Ayuba aims to take Fuji music to audiences worldwide. On 25 March 2025, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, joined other well-wishers around the world to celebrate Adewale Ayuba on his 60th birthday.Ayuba acted as a journalist in the movie Mystery of Unity, produced by Ebun Oloyede.
Other ventures
In 2013, Ayuba enlisted his longtime stylist and fashion designer to launch Bonsue Wears. Ayuba has long demonstrated a preference for traditional Yoruba attire, especially the shokoto and bubba ensemble. These outfits have come to define his on-stage look. For example, the Bonsue Wears collection features a two-piece design, consisting of a shirt-like top with wide, open sleeves and matching pants that gather at the knees. The line merges traditional Yoruba fashion with contemporary urban influences.Discography
Since signing his first recording deal in the 1980s, he has released approximately 15 albums in Nigeria and four internationally.Honors and awards
Ayuba won two Kora Awards in 2005.| From | Award/Honor | Date |
| HEN Foundation | ||
| Kora Awards | ||
| Afro America Music Awards | ||
| Providence, Rhode Island | Key to the City | |
| Fuji Music Lifetime Awards | ||
| Nigerian Music Awards | Artist of the Year | 1993 |
| Nigerian Community Association, USA | ||
| AMEN Awards | ||
| CEPAN Awards | ||
| The Headies | Performer | 2016 |
| New Koko Dome Honor | ||
| CBS Platinum sales | ||
| Floating World Honor | ||
| Golden Sony Awards | ||
| M. A. A. N. | ||
| Learning and Culture Awards | ||
| Arise and Shine | ||
| WorldWide Superstar Awards | ||
| Gathering Of Africa's Best | ||
| Osab Awards For Excellence | ||
| City People Entertainment Awards | ||
| Yoruba Music Films Awards | ||
| The Ambassadors Club | ||
| Podium International |