Ayinla Omowura

He was however discovered by Adewole Alao Oniluola, who later became his lead drummer and started an apprenticeship in Olalomi, an Apala variant.

[1] Despite being unlettered, Omowura was enlightened about current events and had a command of puns, proverbs, innuendos, and metaphors.

[5][6][7] He had many aliases and earned the moniker, Hadji Costly because of his flamboyant dressing in agbadas made of high quality Swiss lace and gold jewellery.

[1] His other aliases include Egunmogaji, Anigilaje and Alujannu Elere which demonstrated his status as the enfant terrible in music of the time.

New school Nigerian musicians, Terry Apala, Mayolee[10] and Q-dot Alagbe have made music influenced by Omowura's style.

[11] Ibikunle Amosun, a former governor of Ogun State renovated Omowura's Itoko, Abeokuta residence in anticipation of the 40th year anniversary of his death.

[4] Lawyer and journalist, Festus Adedayo published a biography titled Ayinla Omowura: Life and Times of an Apala Legend in 2020.

That lacuna cannot and has yet to be filled by any other musician.” Director and producer, Tunde Kelani, also an Abeokuta native who as a child, caught a glimpse of Omowura in his neighbourhood, made a film eponymously titled Ayinla that was released on June 18, 2021.