HE WAS A MESSAGE. HE WAS A MESSANGER…HE WAS AYINDE BARRISTER

In 1948, he was born and named Dhikrulahi. According to wikipedia, ‘Dhikrullah (also spelled Zikrullah) (Arabic: ذكر الله) is an Arabic given name built on the words Dhikr and Allah, meaning Remembrance of Allah. dhikr, (Arabic: “reminding oneself” or “mention”). It is also a ritual prayer or litany practiced by Muslim mystics (Sufis) for the purpose of glorifying God and achieving spiritual perfection’.

Yoruba of Western Nigeria simple interpreted the name Dhikru (Sikiru), ‘Iranti Oluwa’.

Thus his name was the first message of his life to humanity: remember God. Keep God at the center of your existence. That exactly was the mantra of Ayinde Barrister’s life.

His first musical album titled, ‘E je ka gbo t’Oluwa’ released in 1966 on the label of African Songs and the follow up titled, ‘Waya Rabi’ were wholesomely dedicated to spreading the message of Allah. He would go on in his illustrious carrer that spanned 52 years to record several other such albums to preach, chant and adulated Allah and Muhammed his Rosulu.

His ‘hadith-like’ messages taught a lot of us some chapters of the Qur’an and the five pillars of Islam. Dhikrulahi!

He preached all through his over 120 albums. His evergreens: Oke Agba, Iwa, Suru Baba Iwa, Family planning, Ore-lope, Ise loogun Ise, Oro-Idibo, Love; to mention a few are seminal masterpieces. No Nigerian musician has more of such deep philosophical interventions.

I stand to be corrected.

And no Nigerian artiste of the secular bend serenade Allah more than Barrister.

It comes therefore as no surprise that his life ended in the peak. He celebrated his 60th, anointed his heir, K1 the ultimate, got a prestigious national award. And flew away! That in itself is a message.

His many messages to Nigerians on patriotism, nationalism and good citizenship went a long way to socially engineer attitude, mores and more.

His last album, Gratitude crowned it all. He had sufficient spiritual awareness to know his earthly journey was rounding off. He had the presence of mind and iman to dedicate everything to his Allah, his parents, fans and supporters.

What a way to round off one’s earth sojourn!

Barrister’s life was a message. Doubtlessly, he was a messanger who delivered his message full.

As we remember his transition to glory, let us reflect and reactivate our own personal trajectory of life. A life projecting his message. The life of a messanger.

Written by Seriki Kayode Adejumo-Bello