How ‘Military Experience’ Made Me Start My Singing Career-Kollington Ayinla

A veteran musician, Alhaji Kolawole Rasaq Ilori, who is popularly called General Kollington Ayinla, has disclosed that his singing career was activated during his military service.

The popular fuji musician , who said this in an interview  with Team@orientactualmags.com ahead of the  official launch  of his new album titled, ‘Anu-Nla’,  narrated how he was taught music during his  military service which later motivated him to venture into music.

‘During my period of service in the Nigerian Army, one day , a senior officer came to our company and started calling out some names of which mine was part of, I was so scared and confused upon hearing my name because I thought we were going to be punished.

We were asked to march to a place called ‘B’ company, upon getting there, they told us to go inside a hall where we saw an array of musical instruments of kinds.

We were instructed to pick the instrument each of us can play but I was left confused because I did not know how to play any musical instrument, suddenly my attention was caught by a strange flute, I tried my best to play it but I was unable to do so but I was assisted by a soldier who saw me struggle with the flute.

After some time, they started teaching us music in a class with a blackboard and as expected,  there was note-taking, it was as if we were in school and that was how we were taught the rhythm of Music’ the veteran musician said.

Alhaji Ayinla also talked about  how he joined the Army and how he almost missed the chance to get recruited because of his height.

‘I joined the Nigerian Army in the year 1967 at Abeokuta depot , Lafenwa area of the Ogun State capital.

I went there just to visit my friends who were in the Army but I was impressed when I saw the men in uniform, marching on the field, seeing this  made me become interested in joining the military.

Despite my interest I had stumbling blocks in the form of my height and my age, I was shorter than the required height and also younger than the required age , actually, my friends in the Army were not optimistic about my chances of getting recruited into the Army.

Despite the efforts to discourage me, I made an effort to get into the Army, I went to the recruiting field where we were asked to form a queue and we were interviewed one after another, the head of the recruitment team was late RSM Rasheed.

I was really anxious while I was in the queue because I knew my chances of getting into the Army were very slim especially seeing applicants that are much taller than me  being rejected, but I still remained determined and optimistic, besides I was afraid that the Soldiers might beat me up.

When it got to my turn, I was so nervous when I was asked to approach the interviewer. He asked for my name and age, I told him my name is Kolawole Ilori but I got confused while stating my age due to nervousness and besides, I’m well aware that I was too young to be in the Army.

The man said he noticed that I’m truly interested in joining the Army, so, he just said “Pass” but I was very confused about what that truly means, I was later told to go and sit under a tree where my hair was shaved and thereafter they gave me uniforms and gears.

Thereafter, we were led to the dormitory, in the course of all these, I started getting anxious, I started questioning my choice of joining the Army because I was only attracted by the beautiful and smart outfits of the men I saw on the field but I wasn’t really prepared for the stress that comes with it’ he narrated.

‘I was disappointed when I was told that I would be retained in the musical section of the Army because I wanted to be in the front line during the Civil War, I wasn’t happy with the decision by the Army.

I had no choice but to stay in the musical section, besides, the battlefield is not a pleasant place to be. Maybe the decision that made me stay in the barrack might have kept me alive till date because I could have gotten killed,” he added.

Kollington also disclosed that he played a role in making  his friend and arch rival in the music industry, the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister join the Nigerian Army.

‘When my friend (Ayinde Barrister) visited me in the Barrack, he was asking me questions on how I got into the Army and I narrated the story to him, he thereafter told me that he is also interested in joining the Army.

After he had become a frequent visitor at the Barrack, coming to visit me every week because he was fascinated by the military atmosphere, I had to encourage him to make the bold move to join the Military and he did’  Ayinla submitted.

When asked to make comparison between the impacts of music then and now, General Kollington, said, ‘there is no basis to compare the two’.

“You know when you try to put our commitments to churning our current affairs lyrics, with the mindset to correct the flaws in  society but the case is quite different now, even when you try to correct some of them, they would quickly tag you old school. Actually, things are getting worse through some of these songs’  he added.

Expressing  his appreciation, General Kollington thanked the governors of Lagos, Ogun and Kwara States for coming to his aid when he was down with sickness, not forgetting several individuals, and array of fuji and other musicians, who contributed large sums to support him.

‘I want to thank all Nigerians, particularly my governors of Lagos, Ogun and that of my home state, Kwara, who stood by me when I even thought it was over before Almighty Allah revived me by His mercy.

I can’t forget the contributions and supports of all my children in the music industry, particularly the fuji musicians, they were committed to seeing me alive for longer time.

Also, several individuals from home and abroad, were not left out in my appreciation. Thank you for your love’ he submitted.

 General Kollington Ayinla is  also set to announce his return to the music stage with the  launch of a new album titled “ANU-NLA, at an event organized in his honour called ‘Celebration of an Icon and album listening party’.

King Sunny Ade (KSA) will be the chief  host  and also be on Band Stand at  an event that will hold at Eko Club Surulere, Lagos on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will be hosting his counterparts from Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun and  Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Several distinguished Nigerians  including the Kuliyan of Ilorin Emirate, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN); Dr Kamorudeen Yusuf, GMD/CEO, Kam Holding Nigeria, among others are also expected  to attend the event-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you