Fans who had expected to see gospel singer, Yinka Ayefele, at the album launch of Femi Solar, his ‘anointed son’, he usually told people, on Thursday, were disappointed as he never showed up for the event. About 20 other artistes attended though.
The Genesis Hall venue of the event was filled to the brim.
Femi Solar, the celebrant, was full of joy as he walked into the venue in company with his wife and mother. He had just returned from a tour of the United States and it was a double-packed event that was put together by the City People Media group to launch his new album entitled Ore-Ofe (Grace) and also a welcome back party.
Femi said he would not have been successful without the grace of God and the support of the media.
On Ayefele’s absence, he declined to comment.
Prior to the event, there had been rumour that Ayefele might not grace the event as people believe that the hitherto father and son relationship between Femi and Ayefele was heading for the rocks.
Though it could not be established what could have been responsible for Ayefele’s absence at the event as he was said to have got his invitation weeks before the event, R authoritatively gathered that Ayefele’s conspicuous absence may have been deliberate.
One of the anchors of the event, Wale Dada, otherwise known as Baba Promo, who almost revealed the truth to the audience about Ayefele’s absence when he was asked to make an announcement about the arrival of Lanre Teriba and Pasuma, was hurriedly joined on stage by some members of FIBAN to stop him from talking.
The development got the audience worried as they began to ask why Ayefele, who is believed to be very close to Femi, would not come to bless him on a day that important to the young musician.
Lanre Teriba said he could not believe that Ayefele would not want to grace the event, “but if he decides not to come, I think he should be in the best position to talk about it”.
Pasuma also said “I have come here to entertain my fans. I have not come here to talk about who is here or not. I think I am more concerned about what is happening here right now”, he said.
Alawiye, Dele Taiwo, Taiwo and Kehinde Adegbodu, Dele Bravo and Dele Gold, were some of the musicians that thrilled at the event that also had top actors and actresses in the Yoruba speaking movies in attendance. Publisher, City People Magazine, Seye Kehinde, Doris Simeon, Muyiwa Ademola and Toyin Adegobola, otherwise known as Ajoke Asewo, were also in attendance.
However, Ayefele’s manager, Prince Aderibigbe, denied receiving any invitation to the event. He told us in a phone conversation that Yinka had no reason to be absent from the event because he was at the first album launch that Solar organised about two years ago.
“Ask him if it is not true that Ayefele was at his first launch. The truth is that Solar probably didn’t want Ayefele around. Anyway, we are happy for him here at Ayefele organisation and we wish him luck in his career”
