Salawa Abeni Biography: Age, Music Career, Family etc.
Salawa Abeni Biography: Age, Music Career, Family etc.
Salawa Abeni Alidu is a popular Nigerian singer. An Ijebu Yoruba from Ijebu Waterside, in Ogun State, she began her professional career in waka music when she released her debut album, Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, in 1976, on Leader Records.
Salawa Abeni Music Career
Sawala Abeni began her professional career in waka music when she released her debut album, Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, in 1976, on Leader Records. It became the first recording by a female artist to sell over a million copies in Nigeria.
Abeni continued recording for Leader until 1986 when she ended a relationship with the record label’s owner, Lateef Adepoju. She married Kollington Ayinla and joined his record label instead, staying with him until 1994.
She was crowned “Queen of Waka Music” by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi in 1992. Waka is an Islamic-influenced, traditional Yoruba music style.
Salawa Abeni, since the late 70s, been the acknowledged modernizer and leader of the womens vocal and percussion style known as waka, a close relative of the male-dominated juju, apala, and fuji music. , she walked into the Lagos offices of the local Leader recording label and asked to be allowed to play a demo tape. Treating the young girls request as something of a joke, the owner promised to listen to the tape later, put it away in his desk, and promptly forgot about it. A few months later, visiting the nearby town of Epe, he saw hundreds of people lining up for admission to a social function where a 10-year-old girl was singing.
Curious, he went along, to find Abeni, the girl who had visited him in his office, singing in a compelling and precociously mature voice. With her parents permission, he took her into the studios to record her debut, Late Murtala Muhammed, a tribute to the recently assassinated head of state, which became one of the bestselling Nigerian releases of 1976. In 1977, Abeni formed her own group, the Waka Modernisers, and by 1980 was one of the most successful artists in Nigeria.
In the mid-80s, a long quarrel with fuji star Kollington produced a succession of attacks and counter-attacks, in which Abeni lampooned Killington, his parents, and his relatives, along with his physical attributes (unpleasant lips, eyes like a prawn, a tendency to run away with married women). The virulence of the exchanges allayed any suspicion that the whole affair was a mutually beneficial publicity stunt, but the origins of the acrimony remain obscure. In any event, the bile was buried Queen Salawa Abeni’s career started at the young age of 8. Her first LP hit was released in 1977 it was titled The Late Murtala Mohammed. Since then she has had 12 album releases including her smash hit in 1984 “Indian Waka.n 1985, when Abeni recorded a tribute album to the recently deceased apala star Haruna Ishola, her bestselling release of the decade.
She has subsequently recorded for the Killington and Alagbada labels and remains one of Nigerias leading live attractions. Queen Salawa Abeni’s career started at the young age of 8. Her first LP hit was released in 1977 it was titled The Late Murtala Mohammed. Since then she has had 12 albums released
Basic Information About Salawa Abeni
- Name: Salawa Abeni Alidu
- Date of birth: May 5, 1961
- State of Origin/ Place of Birth: Ijebu, Ogun State
- Career: Fuji Singer, Juju Singer & Songwriter
- Networth: $5 – 10 million
- Nickname: Salawa Abeni
Salawa Abeni Family
Salawa Abeni is happily married to the late Nigeria’s music Legend ‘Ayinla Kollington’ and blessed with children.
Salawa Abeni Networth
Estimated Net Worth in 2020: $5 Million – $10 Million (Approx.)
Previous Year’s Net Worth (2019): $1 Million – $5 Million
Annual Salary: Under Review.
Income Source: Primary Income source Vocalist (profession).
Salawa Abeni Songs & Albums
- Iba Agba (1976)
- Late Murtala Mohammed (1976)
- Shooting Stars (1977)
- Ikilo (1981)
- Eni Tori Ele Ku (1982)
- Challenge Cup 84 (1983)
- Adieu Alhaji Haruna Ishola (1984)
- India Waka (1984)
- Ife Dara Pupo (1985)
- Mo Tun De Bi Mo Se Nde (1986)
- Awa Lagba (1987)
- Abode America (1988)
- Ileya Special (1988)
- I Love You (1988)
- Maradonna (1989)
- We Are the Children (1989)
- Candle (1990)
- Congratulations ()1991
- Experience (1991)
- Cheer Up (1992)
- Waka Carnival (1994)
- Beware (1995)
- Appreciation (1997)
- In America (1997)
- and many more
Source: About Salawa Abeni