Tunde Kelani to produce movie immortalising Ayinde Barrister

BY AFOLABI GAMBARI

Tunde Kelani, the ace filmmaker, has announced plans to produce a new movie immortalising Ayinde Barrister, the late music icon.

Kelani broke the news in Ibadan on Sunday during the grand finale of a festival organised to celebrate the life and times of the singer.

Speaking at the event, the movie producer, said the forthcoming project — which is tentatively titled ‘Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’ — would further spotlight the late musician’s contributions to the growth of Fuji music.

“My decision is irreversible. Barrister deserves to be so immortalised because of his numerous works which still set the pace for living fuji musicians in the market,” he said.

The three-day festival, titled Barrister Festival (BarryFest 2022), started on Friday with the unveiling of the Fuji Music Hall of Fame at the Fuji chamber residence of the singer in Isolo, Lagos.

This was followed by visits to underprivileged homes, Gala night and the musical carnival which featured presentation of awards to top fuji musicians, including Ayinla Kollington and K1 De Ultimate who were absent at the event.

The event’s finale took place at the Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort in Ibadan and was graced by several fans of the musician, born Sikiru Ayinde Balogun.

Ayinde Barrister passed away on December 16, 2010 in the United Kingdom after battling an undisclosed ailment for some months.

Commenting on the festival, Rasak Balogun, the late singer’s first son, lamented the absence of top Fuji musicians at the event.

Rasak said his father deserved more respect as the pioneer of Fuji genre in Nigeria, which he said has become source of livelihood to them.

Kelani’s announcement comes after the success of ‘Ayinla’, a biopic on Ayinla Omowura, late Apala singer.