Nigeria: How Nigerian Army Forced Me Into Music – Kollington Ayinla

The legendary Fuji Musician, Kolawole Rasaq Ilori, popularly known as General Kollington Ayinla, has described how the Nigerian Army forced him into music.

He disclosed this in Ilorin, Kwara State, in the build up to the release of his new album titled, “Anu-Nla”, scheduled for Lagos, in November.

According to the ex-soldier turned musician, after his enlistment into the Army, “A senior officer called us out. I was so scared and confused because I thought we were going to be punished.

“But we were marched to ‘Hall ‘B’ and requested to pick any musical instrument we could play but I don’t know any.

“I tried unsuccessfully to play a strange flute until a soldier who saw me struggling assisted. Later, we were taught music in the army.”

Kolington said he was motivated to join the Nigeria Army in 1967 in Abeokuta when he went to visit a friend and saw them marching in uniforms.

“Despite my interest, I was shorter than the required height and younger than the age of requirement.

“There were efforts to discourage me but I stormed the recruiting field for interview and was anxious because of my slim chances, especially seeing applicants much taller than me rejected.

“The interviewer noticed my interest despite my disadvantages and just said “pass”. They later shaved my hair under a tree and gave me uniforms and gears.

Kolington said he received his enlistment with mix feelings.

“I started questioning my choice because I was only attracted by the beautiful and smart outfit of the men I saw on the field, I wasn’t really prepared for the stress that came with it,” he narrated.

He, however, said he was disappointed when he was not allowed to fight the civil war and retained in the musical section. “Maybe I would have been killed,” he said.

He said he influenced his late friend anad arch rival Sikiru Ayinde Barrister to join the Army when he visited him in the barracks.

On his upcoming album, the Fuji maestro thanked the governors of Kwara, Lagos and Ogun states for reviving him when he was down with illness among several individuals and array of musicians, who contributed large sums to save him.

“I thought it was over before Almighty Allah revived me by His mercy,” the leader of the Fuji musicians said.