By Olawale Lamina
One of Nigeria’s frontline artistes of the Fuji music genre,Wasiu Ayinde,popularly known as King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall,KWAM 1 has emerged one of the recipients of the 2022 National Honours Awards,in the rank of Member of the Order of Niger,MON.
President Muhammadu Buhari,GCFR approved the conferment,in a letter conveyed to the honoree through the office of the Hon. Minister Federal Ministry Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs,Senator George Akume.
This was contained in a copy of the letter ( Ref: FMSDIGA/NHA/001/T/98),addressed to the Fuji icon informed the recipient of the award and investiture, made available to The Explainer,on Sunday evening,in Abuja.
” I have the honour to formally inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari,GCFR, has approved the conferment of the National Honours on you,in the rank of MON ( Member of the Order of the Niger),”the letter red in part.
The investiture ceremony is expected to take place in the Federal Capital Territory,Abuja on Tuesday 12, October at the International Conference Center ICC by 9:00 am.
By the same token,all award recipients in this category “are requested to forward a one-page citation” for the ceremony .
By this award ,KWAM 1 would have added a towering feather to his many awards and recognitions. Wasiu Ayinde appeared on the Fuji music scene in the early 80s,having worked under a mentor acclaimed to be Fuji Creator, Late Chief Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.Wasiu Ayinde has to his credit copious number of labelled albums spread nationwide among his fans and besides his tour of Europe his band members.
KWAM I music is characterized by moral instructions, creativity and innovations which he used in promoting Nigeria’s unity through different Nigerian languages and, this in turn, helped shape his mass appeal across ethic divides in the country,despite rendering his songs mainly in Yoruba Language.
