Ayangbenle, popularly known as ‘Baba Onilu,’ a skilled elderly drummer in Ibadan, has passed away.
The renowned drummer, who was a special performer at the Osun Osogbo Festival and a native of Ede, Osun State, was confirmed dead by his son.
“Baba Onilu has passed away overnight. May Almighty Allah grant him Aljanah Firdaus,” his son said, adding that his last words were, “La Ilaaha Ila lahu.”
Ayangbenle was well known for entertaining students at the University of Ibadan during convocations and performing for corps members in Ibadan.
In April 2022, Baba Onilu gained widespread recognition when Adisa Olashile, a corps member and phone photographer, captured and shared his pictures on Twitter. The photos quickly went viral.
Olashile minted two of the pictures as NFTs, which were collected on OpenSea for 0.3 ETH each—approximately one million naira in total.
Staying true to his word, Olashile gave Baba Onilu 50% of the proceeds, presenting him with ₦500,000 and an additional ₦100,000 from donations.
A framed picture of his viral image was also gifted to him, leaving the elderly drummer in shock and gratitude.
In a past interview, Ayangbenle shared that he inherited his drumming talent from his father, never attending any formal training.
“Drumming is the profession of my paternal grandmother’s lineage. I started drumming in Ibadan,” he once said.
His passing marks the end of an era, but his rhythm and legacy will live on.
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