A renowned elderly drummer from Ibadan, widely known as Ayangbenle or ‘Baba Onilu’, has passed away.
The respected musician, famed for his drumming during the Osun Osogbo festival, was a native of Ede in Osun State.
His death was confirmed by his son, who shared the heartbreaking news. “Baba Onilu has passed away overnight,” he said. “May Almighty Allah grant him Aljanah Fidarus.”
His last words, according to his son, were “La Ilaaha Ila lahu” (There is no god but Allah).
Ayangbenle was a beloved figure in the Ibadan community, often seen drumming at events such as the University of Ibadan’s convocations and entertaining National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
His rhythmic talent and cultural contributions made him a cherished local icon.
In April 2022, Ayangbenle’s name reached global fame when Adisa Olashile, a phone photographer and a serving corps member in Ibadan, captured candid photos of him.
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The images quickly went viral on Twitter, drawing widespread attention. Two of the photos were minted as NFTs and sold on OpenSea for 0.3 ETH each (about one million naira).
In an act of generosity, Olashile promised to share half of the proceeds with Baba Onilu. True to his word, Ayangbenle received 500,000 naira from the sale, along with an additional 100,000 naira from online donations.
Overwhelmed by the unexpected windfall, the elderly drummer received the money in shock, along with a framed photo of one of the images that had made him famous.
In a candid interview last year, Ayangbenle reflected on his lifelong passion for drumming, sharing that he inherited the skill from his father and did not receive formal training.
“Drumming is the profession of my paternal grandmother’s lineage. I started drumming in Ibadan,” he revealed.
