Agreed, Sulaimon Adio Atawewe might not be the in-your-face popular kind of Fuji musicians but he is as consistent, enduring and relevant as the leading figures in that bristling and bustling genre. In an industry with a history of perennial leadership tussle (for instance, the age-long rivalry between Wasiu Ayinde Marshal popularly known as K1 De Ultimate and Abass Akande Obesere on one hand; and Wasiu Alabi Pasuma and Saheed Osupa on the other hand), you will never hear Atawewe getting involved in such.
However, he brought a new twist to the drama when he told this writer during a chance encounter recently, “I am the Kingmaker in Fuji music. The King of Fuji is none other than K1 De Ultimate. And I’m aware that there is also a King of Music. For me, I can never gain anything, whether fame or fortune from the controversy that is why I’m always aloof and indifferent to the whole Fuji music crisis. But my fans, especially the intellectuals among them, are the ones who started calling me the Kingmaker, knowing that I will never be involved in any kingship controversy, rather, I’m the one everybody comes to, to help resolve their crises.”
Frail-looking, not for lack of food or the means; Atawewe, over the years, has maintained his clean, no-controversy image, preferring his music to make the headlines, not his off-stage deeds or misdeeds. Atawewe revealed further, “I have a cordial relationship with my seniors, contemporaries and juniors in the industry, we are all one. Honestly, in my reckoning, we don’t need the bickering and hurling of invectives at one another. Music has grown past that. There are too many things to sing about in this country; too many themes and contents for our music.”
More than a decade after touring several parties and local jumps, the Ogun State native released his debut album, Facility, in 1996. “Things were very tough in those early days because the industry was not too friendly and no label was ready to sign on a new artiste but I kept faith in God and my talent. When I was able to drop my first album, I knew from that time that nothing would stop me from making a career out of Fuji music because it was what I was weaned on; what I grew up aspiring to be, thanks to the late Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister who would later become a father figure for me until his death in 2010.” Atawewe, an unabashed teetotaller, has 11 albums now, the last being Public Figure, with a second installment nearing completion. He credits himself as not only well-traveled but, “I have played at virtually all the continents of the world except Australia but I know I’d get there one day.”
Atawewe is also one of the most consistent performers at the annual Africa Music Awards pre-concert. The 2019 AFRIMA Music Village, billed to hold Thursday, November 21st, at the Agege Stadium will see Atawewe lining up with over 30 music stars including 2Face, Teni the Entertainer, Ycee, Pasuma Wonder, Rudeboy, Small Doctor, Skiibi, Niniola, Falz, DJ Spinall, Mr. P, 9ice, Fireboy, Harrysong, Q.dot, Obesere, Slimcase, Mr. Reel, Mayorkun, Reminisce, DJ Neptune.
