The Nigerian music industry is mourning following the passing of veteran Fuji musician Alhaji Abdul Azeez Oladeji, popularly known as Love Azeez. The cultural icon died on Wednesday evening at his residence in Lagos state after a brief illness. He was 81.
Adekunle Abiodun, the General Secretary of the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FUMAN), confirmed the tragic news via a social media statement.
”So sad that the oldest active Fuji musician, Alhaji Love Azeez Adio Oladeji, gave up the ghost this evening after a brief illness at the ripe age of 81 successful and fulfilled years on the living planet,” Abiodun wrote. “May the Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest and console his families, friends, fans, professional colleagues, and well-wishers to bear this irrecoverable loss.”
In compliance with Islamic burial rites, the legendary singer was laid to rest on Thursday in Lagos. Top figures within the indigenous music community, including key members of FUMAN, gathered to pay their final respects to the man affectionately called “Baba wa” (our father).
A Living Archive of Fuji History
Love Azeez was recognized as the oldest surviving pioneer of the Fuji music genre. Born in the 1940s, his musical journey was deeply intertwined with the early evolution of indigenous Yoruba sounds. Having migrated to Lagos as a teenager in 1953, he witnessed firsthand the transition of traditional frameworks like Were, Fuja, and Faaji into mainstream Fuji culture.
While the late Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister is widely credited with modernizing and naming the genre in the 1960s, Love Azeez stood alongside him as a foundational pillar. Throughout his multi-decade career, his distinct style, preservation of traditional rhythms, and deep lyrical depth earned him immense respect across generations.
In April 2025, the music community celebrated his milestone 80th birthday, praising him as a custodian of Yoruba heritage. Beyond his contributions as a recording artist, Love Azeez served as a vital oral historian. Younger artists and ethnomusicologists frequently consulted him for his extensive knowledge regarding the roots and growth of Nigerian traditional music.
His passing leaves a significant void in the country’s cultural landscape, but his legacy remains firmly cemented in the history of Fuji music.
Love Azeez Interview on Fuji History
This video features a rare, firsthand interview with Alhaji Love Azeez where he shares invaluable history regarding his move to Lagos in 1953 and how the foundations of Fuji music were laid.
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