Legendary juju musician Ahuja Bello has died at the age of 83.
His son, Adetunji Bello, confirmed the news to Vanguard, revealing that the veteran musician passed away in the early hours of August 24, just a day after marking his birthday.
Adetunji Bello said …
“Yes, my dad is dead. He had been sick for some time. He was loved by everybody, and we will greatly miss him.”
Born Ismaila Dele Bello on August 24, 1942, in Iseyin, Oyo State, Ahuja Bello became a celebrated guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader who gained prominence in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Though he started out as an electronic technician, he eventually followed his passion for music and founded the Ahuja Bello and His Golden Eagles Band in 1976.
He earned acclaim for his vibrant stage performances and popular albums such as Awa ti Danfo and Ariya ti de. In 1979, he traveled to London to record Ahuja in London, during which he also connected with international icons, including reggae legend Bob Marley.
Bello’s flourishing career was cut short by an accident in July 1982, yet his influence on Nigerian juju music remains profound. According to music historian Ayọ̀délé Ìbíyẹmí, Bello’s songs often carried storytelling and folk-inspired lyrics, echoing Yoruba praise-singing traditions that stemmed from his early years as a drummer in Iseyin.
Throughout his career, he was signed to notable Nigerian record labels such as Afrodisia and Ibukun Orisun Iye, cementing his place as one of the enduring figures in the country’s musical heritage.
