21/11/2023
Ayinla Omowura(Egunmogaji) & Haruna Ishola (Baba n Gani)
They were the greatest Apala musicians in their primes. From the 40s through late 70s. Ayinla and Haruna were best of friends and they both hailed each others in their records.
In Ayinla’s record “Mo bawon soro” and “Orin owo ile eko” he personally hailed Baba n Gani in both records saying Haruna Ishola is the only musician in the Apala genre that he gives full credit to for his crafts.
Ayinla hails from Abeokuta while Haruna from Ijebu Igbo both from Ogun State. They were both awesome with their crafts and their band members were on point, when it comes to singing for Social groups, happenings in Nigeria and making records for people of timber and caliber they were in the fore front of the Apala genre.
In 1971, Haruna Ishola released OROKI SOCIAL CLUB a record which would go on to become his best selling record and was released under Decca Records, it sold over 5million copies. Ayinla on the other hand sold at least 50,000 copies on first day of release in most of the songs that were released under EMI records People referred to Ayinla Omowura as a “Social Commentator” he might not be lettered but he’s blessed with knowledge. He was like a journalist or say a press man who deliver news of what’s happening in the government to the populace using his music.
After the death of General Muritala Muhammed in February’76 both Ayinla and Haruna recorded a song paying tribute to the Head of State in a soul inspiring way. The record went far and wide across the country.
Some of the elites these great musicians hailed in their records remains Haruna Ishola
TOS Benson, Mary Awolowo, Alhaji Lamidi Arowolo, Late Owonifaari, Rufai Balogun, S. Aka, Late Oba Adeboye (Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo)
Ayinla Omowura
Danjuma(Agege), Captain Eweje, Mobolaji Johnson, Mumini Adio, Rauf Adeola, Ojelade Salisu, Buari oloto. These men also made records for social groups.
Haruna Ishola; oroki social club, egbe owokoniran, egbe oredegbe.
Ayinla Omowura; egbe bomodeoku, egbe ajisafe kanduna-ile, egbe iwajowa mushin, egbe soredegbe(Itoko). Etc. Haruna Ishola & Ayinla Omowura both passed on in 1983 and 1980 respectively, but their music still lives.