Adewale Ayuba (born 6 May 1966), professionally known as Mr. Johnson, is a Nigerian Fuji singer.

Early life and education

Ayuba was born on 6 May 1966 in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria. At eight years old, he began singing at local music competitions and festivals. Ayuba attended Remo Secondary School in Sagamu, after which he started pursuing a musical career. He later enrolled in Queensborough Community College in New York, where he obtained a diploma in Financial Accounting. He subsequently obtained a Doctor of Arts degree in music from Bradley University.

Career

In 1983, Ayuba released his first album, titled Ibere. In 1990, he partnered with Sony Music Nigeria, and the next year he released his second album, Bubble. The album topped music charts for six months and went on to win four awards at the Nigerian Music Awards (NMAs).

In 1993, Ayuba went on a tour of the United States, including an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. It was during this period that he was awarded the "Key to the City" of Providence, Rhode Island. In 1994, Ayuba released Bubble D through Primary Music.

In 1995, Ayuba secretly recorded an untitled album in which he advocated for the release of political prisoners incarcerated by Sani Abacha's military government; which had been in power since the 1993 Nigerian coup d'état. The album was released after Ayuba left for a three month tour of the United States. Because of threats directed against him by the Nigerian military dictatorship following the release of the album, Ayuba would stay in the U.S. until 1998 when Sani Abacha died.

During his stay in the U.S., he would record songs and perform most prominently at the 1996 Summer Stage Concerts in New York, the Africa Mondo Concerts (1996–1997), the New Orleans Jazz Festival (1997), the International Festival in Houston (1997), and at BET's 1997 Jazz USA Concert. Ayuba later signed with the U.S.-based Q-disc Record Company, after which he released Fuji Time in 1996, followed by Fuji Dub on London's Agogo Music label in 1997.

upright|thumb|Ayuba

Personal life

Ayuba is married to Azukaego Kwentoh and they share seven children. He and Kwentoh met at Queensborough Community College in New York while studying, and the two married in 1989.

Other ventures

In 2013, Ayuba enlisted his longtime stylist and fashion designer to launch Bonsue Wears. Ayuba frequently wears traditional Yoruba attire, such as the shokoto and bubba ensemble, during performances. The Bonsue Wears collection includes a two-piece design with a shirt-like top, wide sleeves, and pants that gather at the knees.

Discography

Studio albums

{| class="wikitable"

!Date

!Title

|-

|1986

|Ibere

|-

|1991

|Bubble

|-

|1992

|Mr. Johnson Play For Me

|-

|1994

|Bubble D

|-

| rowspan="2" |1995

|Fuji Music

|-

|Move Up

|-

|1996

|Fuji Time

|-

|1997

|Fuji Dub Lagos-Brooklyn-Brixton

|-

|1999

|Acceleration

|-

|2001

|Turn Me On

|-

|2003

|Gun Shot

|-

|2004

|Ijo Fuji

|-

|2005

|Mellow

|-

| rowspan="2" |2011

|Formula

|-

|Ariya

|-

| rowspan="2" |2013

|Formular

|-

|Sugar

|-

|2023

|Fujify Your Soul

|-

|2024

|Ise Oluwa

|}

Singles

{| class="wikitable"

!Date

!Title

|-

| rowspan="2" |2023

|"Koloba Koloba"

|-

|"Uncommon"

|}

Honors and awards

{| class="wikitable"

!From

!Award/Honor

!Date

|-

|HEN Foundation

|

|

|-

|Kora Awards

|Best Group in Africa

|2005

|-

|Providence, Rhode Island

|Key to the City

|

|-

|Nigerian Music Awards

|Artist of the Year

|1993

|-

|Nigerian American Community Association, USA

|Entertainer of the Year

|2004

|-

|The Headies

|Performer

|2016

|}

References

  • Ayuba's biography