Juju Music Legend Ahuja Bello Dies at 83, a Day After Birthday

|By Oko-Echem Agnes

Renowned Juju music icon of the 1970s, Ahuja Bello, has died at the age of 83.

His son, Adetunji Bello, confirmed the passing in a statement on Sunday, revealing that the veteran musician breathed his last in the early hours of the day, barely 24 hours after celebrating his 83rd birthday.

Born Ismaila Dele Bello on August 24, 1942, in Iseyin, Oyo State, Ahuja Bello rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s as a celebrated Juju singer, guitarist, and band leader. Before embracing music fully, he worked as an electronic technician but later followed his passion when he founded Ahuja Bello and His Golden Eagles Band in 1976. The group went on to dominate Nigeria’s Juju music scene.

Bello thrilled audiences with his energetic stage presence and timeless hits, including Awa ti Danfo and Ariya ti de. In 1979, he traveled to London to record Ahuja in London, where he also encountered global music icons, among them reggae legend Bob Marley.

His career, however, suffered a setback after a road accident on July 24, 1982, just weeks before his 40th birthday. Despite the tragedy, his music and legacy endured, cementing his place as one of Nigeria’s revered cultural voices.