Veteran Fuji singer Love Azeez buried in Lagos

Veteran Fuji singer Abdul “Love Azeez” Azeez Oladeji has been laid to rest in Ojodu-Berger, Lagos State. The 81-year-old musician died at his home on Wednesday evening following a short illness.

His death was confirmed by Adekunle Abiodun, general secretary of the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FUMAN), in a Facebook post. Family, friends, colleagues, and fans bid farewell to the singer on Thursday, adhering to Islamic rites. "May the Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest, console his families, friends, fans, Professional Colleagues and well-wishers to bear the irreparable loss," Abiodun wrote.

Prominent figures including former Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) chairman Tony Okoroji and Fuji star Musibau “Omo Kekere” Alani, vice president of FUMAN, attended the burial. They led FUMAN executives and other Fuji artists in paying their respects to the late legend.

Love Azeez was a significant figure in Nigerian music, having served as president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in 1989 and later chaired COSON. He is recognized as one of the pioneers who shaped Fuji music from its early stages. The genre, which originated in Lagos in the 1960s and gained prominence through Ayinde Barrister, owes much of its established place in Nigeria's cultural landscape to figures like Love Azeez.

Throughout his extensive career, Love Azeez remained a constant presence in the industry. He was admired by fellow Fuji musicians and fans of traditional Yoruba music for his authentic style and deep connection to the original Fuji sound. His notable songs include “Ijapari”, “Barrister & Kollington’s Fight”, and “Alarape”. He previously shared in an interview that his career began in Agege, Lagos, performing Wéré music before transitioning to Fuji.

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May the Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest, console his families, friends, fans, Professional Colleagues and well-wishers to bear the irreparable loss