By Jaiyeola Ajasa
It was hate at first sight. It began during the bitter feud between Ayinla Kollinton and Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. Popular fuji crooners took sides. You had to or your records will not sell. It was the beginning of live plays becoming commercially viable.
You wanted to hear what Barry Wonder will sing about Kebe Kollinton. Not one to hold his tongue, the Kwara born crooner was sure as the sun will set, would give a nasty reply. It was all encrypted in those live plays that sold thousands. Wasiu Ayinde Barrister, now KWAM 1 and many budding fuji artiste were all involved in the war. It was messy and lots were said and sang about that was very unpleasant. The most awful was what Ayinla Kollinton sang about Salawa Abeni. It was rumored then that Barry was having an affair with Salawa. But Kollington came out with his own mix live tape. He reveled to the world that he was the first to have sex with Salawa. And the reason he dumped here was because she was a stark illiterate. It sold the most of all the dissing live tapes during that time.
Then the news broke that shocked us all. Salwa Abeni had dumped her husband and record label owner Lati Alagbada. He was the one responsible for turning her into a superstar. The real shocker was who she was now dating. Salawa,had moved into Kebenkwara’s house in Alagbado. To become one of his wives. Remember the derogatory things Kollinton has said about her in the dissing tape. The description of how dark her private part was. Now it was official. That was the past. A celebrity couple was born. The very first of its kind then in Nigeria. Salawa, went on to have her best career under the tutelage of Kollinton. She made her best records when she infused the Fuji percussions to blend it with her Waka genre. Their relationship lasted as long as ice in the sun. But it gave us an history and good music.
