Sad! Sad!
Sad news! As One of Nigeria's most popular 90s musicians Olufemi Mayomi, aka
Father U Turn, is dead
The dancehall
artiste who rose from poverty as an orphan, to build a successful and inspiring
career as a songwriter, recording artiste, TV presenter and performer, passed
on in Lagos today, following a brief illness. He was 36 years old. May his soul
rest in peace...Amen. Read more about him after the cut...
The late
U Turn was from Kabba-Bunu in Kogi State where he first tried his hands on
entertainment, working as a radio and TV presenter. He had a brief stint at NTA
in Lagos, after relocating here, before signing a deal with Ultima Records
which released his early albums.
He was a
little boy, with braids and a charming personality. And his signature intro
'Apoola Berekete' was far beyond his stature. But he got the industry's
attention and got a leg in the door before long. After years of club
tours and free gigs, he got his first break when he was signed to one of the
biggest record labels of the time, Ultima Records.
Ultima
engaged Nelson Brown to work on his first album which proved to be a huge
success.
The hits
'African Culture' and 'Shakara' threw him into national limelight, instantly
putting him in the league of bonafide ghetto stars like Daddy Showkey and Daddy
Fresh.
He
espoused Okokomaiko where he resided, with many songs dedicated to the Lagos outskirt.
His
second album 'Padlock Ur Mouth' produced the smash hit 'Yetunde' a
collaboration with Pasuma Wonder.
With
dozens of awards confirming his exploits, including multiple decoration by
Awards for Musical Excellence in Nigeria (AMEN), Youths Awards for Excellence
in Music (YAFEM), amongst many others, U Turn lead a generation of alternative
dancehall cats by the hands. And in Okokomaiko where he spent the last two
decades of his life, he was like a king. His success encouraged many children
in the area to embrace music, and he supported many of them.
Although
his later years were troubled by label issues with Bayowa Music, and career
challenges that came with unsuccessful albums, Father U Turn remained dedicated
to his art - recording endlessly and refusing to let go of his passion and
dedication to reggae/dancehall. He also vehemently refused to relocate from
Okokomaiko, despite constant pleas from friends and family.
He died
in a hospital around Okokomaiko today, after suffering a liver related illness.
A family member confirmed he had been in and out of hospital for many weeks. He
had been on admission at the last hospital for 10 days before he passed on.
He is
survived by his siblings, wife Ajimoh and five children.
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