Renowned Juju music icon of the 1970s, Ahuja Bello, has passed away. His son, Adetunji Bello, confirmed the news in a statement on Sunday, revealing that the celebrated musician died in the early hours of the day, just a day after marking his 83rd birthday.
Born Ismaila Dele Bello on August 24, 1942, in Iseyin, Oyo State, Ahuja Bello initially worked as an electronic technician before fully embracing music.
In 1976, he founded Ahuja Bello and His Golden Eagles Band, a group that went on to dominate Nigeria’s Juju music scene in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Bello became widely admired for his vibrant stage performances and evergreen songs such as Awa ti Danfo and Ariya ti de.
In 1979, he travelled to London, where he recorded Ahuja in London, a project that exposed him to global audiences and brought him in contact with music greats, including reggae legend Bob Marley.
His flourishing career suffered a setback after a ghastly accident on July 24, 1982, just weeks before his 40th birthday.
Despite the disruption, Ahuja Bello’s contribution to Juju music secured him a revered place in Nigeria’s cultural history, with fans remembering him as one of the pioneers who helped popularise the genre.
