View source for Yinka Ayefele

{{pp|type=semi}}
{{BaseArticle
 | shortdesc = Nigerian fuji musician
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}}
{{Infobox Per
| name         = Yinka Ayefele {{Verified}}
| verified        = yes
| image        = Yinka Ayefele performing at a function in Ogun State -Nigeria.jpg
| caption      = 
| birth_name   = Olayinka Joel Ayefele
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1968|02|01|df=y}}
| birth_place  = Ipoti-Ekiti, Nigeria
| occupation   = Musician
| parents      = 
| relatives    = 
| years_active = 1998–present
| spouse       = Temitope Titilope<ref name="ourcorrespondent">{{cite web|url=http://newtelegraphonline.com/how-yinka-ayefeles-father-died-after-birthday-celebration/|title=New Telegraph – How Yinka Ayefele's father died after birthday celebration|author=Our Correspondent|work=newtelegraphonline.com|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211131800/http://newtelegraphonline.com/how-yinka-ayefeles-father-died-after-birthday-celebration/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| known_for    = 
| website      = {{URL|https://yinkaayefelemusic.com}}
| children     = 3 
}}

'''Olayinka Joel Ayefele'''[[Order of the Niger|MON]] is a Nigerian music producer, gospel singer, radio presenter, and founder of [[Fresh FM (Nigeria)|Fresh]] and Blast FM network of radio stations across south-western Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-27|title=Nigeria's Fresh FM radio station partially demolished following critical reporting|url=https://cpj.org/2018/08/nigerias-fresh-fm-radio-station-partially-demolish/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=Committee to Protect Journalists|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Yinka Ayefele's travails|url=http://www.punchng.com/spice/society/yinka-ayefeles-travails/|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211141504/http://www.punchng.com/spice/society/yinka-ayefeles-travails/|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[The Punch]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Yinka Ayefele celebrates|url=http://www.punchng.com/spice/society/yinka-ayefele-celebrates/|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211141116/http://www.punchng.com/spice/society/yinka-ayefele-celebrates/|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[The Punch]]}}</ref>

==Early life==
Ayefele was born in Ipoti-Ekiti, a town in [[Ekiti State]] in [[Points of the compass|southwestern]] [[Nigeria]] to the family of Joshua Taiwo Ayefele<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://dailypost.ng/2014/10/15/shock-yinka-ayefeles-father-dies-birthday-party/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Shock as Yinka Ayefele's father dies at birthday party – DailyPost Nigeria|date=15 October 2014|access-date=11 February 2015|newspaper=[[Daily Post (Nigeria)|Daily Post]]}}</ref>

== Education ==
He attended Our Saviours Anglican Primary School in Ipoti-Ekiti for his primary and secondary education before he later proceeded to Ondo State College of Arts and Science in [[Ikare|Ikare Akoko]], Ondo State, [[Nigeria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailystar.com.ng/2013/10/17/yinka-ayefele-discusses-accident-marital-life-patience-jonathan-rally-music-new-interview/|title=Yinka Ayefele discusses his accident, marital life, Patience Jonathan rally and music in new interview|work=dailystar.com.ng|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-date=23 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023011925/http://dailystar.com.ng/2013/10/17/yinka-ayefele-discusses-accident-marital-life-patience-jonathan-rally-music-new-interview/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Career==
Ayefele worked briefly as journalist and broadcaster at the [[Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria]], [[Ibadan]], where he also produced jingles and musical works on radio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/29520/54/yinka-ayefele-bereaved-as-late-father-wanted-him-t.html|title=Yinka Ayefele Bereaved As Late Father Wanted Him To Be A Banker|work=nigeriafilms.com|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211145206/http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/29520/54/yinka-ayefele-bereaved-as-late-father-wanted-him-t.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He began his music career in 1997 after he was involved in an automobile accident which damaged his spinal cord and made him reliant on a wheelchair.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/incredible-lifestyle-entertainer/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=The incredible lifestyle of an entertainer|date=24 August 2014|access-date=11 February 2015|newspaper=[[Vanguard (Nigeria)|Vanguard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j6a8BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA77|title=When Reasoning Is on Vacation|author=Emokpae Odigie|publisher=Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Agency|year=2015|isbn=9781631351914|page=77}}</ref> While in the hospital where he spent about 9 months, his friend, Kola Olootu, visited and advised him to put some songs together.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/yinka-ayefele-what-the-president-s-handshake-did-to-me/138188/|title=Yinka Ayefele: What The President's Handshake Did To Me, Articles – THISDAY LIVE|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211131059/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/yinka-ayefele-what-the-president-s-handshake-did-to-me/138188/|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[This Day]]}}</ref> This suggestion resulted in the release of his debut album titled, ''Bitter Experience'' in 1998 which brought him into limelight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.modernghana.com/movie/6075/3/people-take-advantage-of-my-condition-yinka-ayefel.html|title=People Take Advantage of My Condition----Yinka Ayefele|work=modernghana.com|access-date=11 February 2015}}</ref> The release of ''Bitter Experience'' was followed by the release of ''Sweet Experience''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thenet.ng/yinka-ayefele-to-release-new-album-in-january-2015/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Yinka Ayefele to release new album in January 2015|access-date=11 February 2015|newspaper=[[The Netng|The NET]]}}</ref> Other albums released by the gospel musician are ''Something Else'', ''Divine Intervention'' and ''Life after death'', released in honor of [[Gbenga Adeboye]], a Nigerian radio presenter, musician and comedian.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.last.fm/music/Yinka+Ayefele/_/Gbenga+Adeboye+Life+after+death|title=Yinka Ayefele – Gbenga Adeboye Life after death|work=Last.fm|access-date=11 February 2015}}</ref> The title ''Bitter Experience'' reflected his ordeal and ''Sweet Experience'' was the sweetness after a "Bitter Experience".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ayefeleradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109&Itemid=191|title=About Yinka Ayefele|author=Administrator|work=ayefeleradio.com|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211145017/http://ayefeleradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109&Itemid=191|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ayefele's music has been published by different outfits, including API Music (Alloy Production International) 1998 - 2009, Galaxy Music (2008–2018), and Role Model Entertainment (2019).
[[File:Yinka Ayefele music house ado ekiti.jpg|thumb|Yinka Ayefele music house ado ekiti]]

==Awards and honours==
Ayefele has received over 200 awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nigeriastandardnewspaper.com/ng/historic-honor-night-in-toronto-ayefele-bags-200th-award-in-canadareceives-special-lifetime-achievement-award-nigeria-embassy-officials-to-witness-ceremony-sir-shina-peters-as-special/|title=HISTORIC: HONOR NIGHT IN TORONTO! Ayefele Bags 200th Award in Canada...Receives Special Lifetime Achievement Award * Nigeria Embassy Officials to witness Ceremony * Sir Shina Peters as Special Guest!|work=nigeriastandardnewspaper.com|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211131859/http://nigeriastandardnewspaper.com/ng/historic-honor-night-in-toronto-ayefele-bags-200th-award-in-canadareceives-special-lifetime-achievement-award-nigeria-embassy-officials-to-witness-ceremony-sir-shina-peters-as-special/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Among other awards are:
*Member of the [[Order of the Niger]] awarded by [[Goodluck Ebele Jonathan]], the president of the [[Nigeria|Federal Republic of Nigeria]] (2011)
*[[Ekiti State|Ekiti]] cultural ambassador award

== Radio station ==
'''Yinka Ayefele''' owns a network of radio stations across southwestern Nigeria called Fresh FM. The Ibadan arm of the network was established in 2015 and licensed by the Nigerian [[National Broadcasting Commission]] on 30 April 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sanusi|first=Sola|date=2015-07-25|title=Yinka Ayefele Gets A Fresh Start, Read How|url=https://www.legit.ng/498451-yinka-ayefele-gets-fresh-start.html|access-date=2021-10-10|newspaper=[[Legit.ng]]|language=en}}</ref> Other arms of Ayefele's radio stations have, at different times since then, been opened in [[Abeokuta]], [[Ado Ekiti]], [[Akure]], [[Osogbo]] and [[Lagos]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=People |first=City |date=2022-07-07 |title=AYEFELE'S FRESH FM BEGINS TRANSMISSION IN LAGOS |url=https://www.citypeopleonline.com/ayefeles-fresh-fm-begins-transmission-in-lagos/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=City People Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:AYEFELE MUSIC HOUSE, Challenge Ibadan 3.jpg|thumb|Ayefele's Music House, Challenge Ibadan]]

Ayefele's Music House, which also houses the Fresh FM radio station and a studio, was on 19 August 2018 demolished<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fellowpress.com/entertainment/54961/what-commissioner-said-about-yinka-ayefele-buildings-demolition/|title=What commissioner said about Yinka Ayefele building's demolition - Fellow Press|last=Press|first=Fellow|date=2018-08-20|work=Fellow Press|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en-US|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820105855/https://www.fellowpress.com/entertainment/54961/what-commissioner-said-about-yinka-ayefele-buildings-demolition/|url-status=dead}}</ref> by the [[Oyo State]] Government. The reason the government gave for the demolition was that the property's location contravened the stipulations by the town planning authority. This sparked outrage from fans and sympathizers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fellowpress.com/entertainment/54968/fans-kick-as-oyo-govt-demolishes-ayefeles-radio-station/|title=Fans kick as Oyo Govt demolishes Ayefele's radio station - Fellow Press|last=Press|first=Fellow|date=2018-08-20|work=Fellow Press|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en-US|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820105747/https://www.fellowpress.com/entertainment/54968/fans-kick-as-oyo-govt-demolishes-ayefeles-radio-station/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Yinka Ayefele is married to Temitope Titilope Ayefele and the union is blessed with four children,a triplet born on the 18th January 2019 and the fourth child was born in October 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wangethi |first1=Isaac |title=Yinka Ayefele: from tragedy to triumph in Nigerian gospel music - Legit.ng |url=https://www.legit.ng/ask-legit/biographies/1661913-yinka-ayefele-tragedy-triumph-nigerian-gospel-music/ |newspaper=[[Legit.ng]]|access-date=26 February 2026 |language=en |date=14 July 2025}}</ref>

==Controversies==
In February 2026, folk singer Beautiful Nubia (Segun Akinlolu) accused Ayefele of unauthorized use of his 1997 song "Seven Lifes." The dispute centers on Ayefele's 2012 track "My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti)," which Beautiful Nubia claimed appropriated core melodies from his original work without permission or licensing. Ayefele has previously discussed his views on melodic borrowing during interviews on Fresh FM, suggesting a more fluid approach to the use of existing tunes in the gospel genre. As of late February 2026, no official rebuttal had been issued regarding these specific allegations.<ref name="ReportersAtLarge2026">{{cite web |last= |first= |date=2026-02-21 |title=Yinka Ayefele, Beautiful Nubia Copyright Dispute |url=https://reportersatlarge.com/2026/02/21/yinka-ayefele-beautiful-nubia-copyright-dispute/ |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=Reporters At Large}}</ref>

==Discography==
*''Bitter Experience'' (1998)
*''Sweet Experience'' (1999)
*''Something Else'' (2000)
*''Divine Intervention'' (2001)
*''Fun Fair'' (2002)
*''Life after Death'' (2003)
*''Aspiration'' (2004)
*''Fulfilment'' (2005)
*''New Dawn'' (2005)
*''Next Level'' (2006)
*''Gratitude'' (2007)
*''Absolute Praise'' (2008)
*''Transformation'' (2009)
*''Everlasting Grace'' (2010)
*''Prayer Point'' (2011)
*''Goodness Of God'' (2012)
*''Comforter'' (2013)
*''Overcomer'' (2014)
*''Upliftment'' (2015)
*''Fresh Glory'' (2016)
*''Living Testimony'' (2017)
*''Favour'' (2018)
*''Beyond The Limits'' (2019)
*Ekundayo  (Exhilaration) (2020)
*Manifestation (2021)
*So Far So Good (2022)
*''Consolation'' (2023)
*Tungba Praise Pro max (2024)
*Reflections (2025)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayefele, Yinka}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nigerian male musicians]]
[[Category:Nigerian composers]]
[[Category:People from Ekiti State]]
[[Category:Yoruba musicians]]
[[Category:Yoruba-language Nigerian singers]]
[[Category:Nigerian people with disabilities]]
[[Category:Musicians from Ekiti State]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the Niger]]
[[Category:Nigerian wheelchair users]]