Daily Trust reports that legendary Fuji musician, Kolawole Rasaq Ilori, widely known as General Kollington Ayinla, has opened up about how his stint in the Nigerian Army paved the way for his successful musical career.

Speaking to journalists over the weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State, ahead of the release of his new album titled Anu-Nla, Kollington recounted how his time in the military served as the foundation for his journey into music.

The Former Soldier-turned-musician narrated how he was taught music, which influenced his successful future career in the musical industry. He said, “There was a day in the Army, a senior officer came to our company and started calling some names of which mine was part of, I was so scared and confused upon hearing my name because I thought we were going to be punished.

“We were asked to march to a place called ‘B’ company, upon getting there, they told us to go inside a hall where we saw an array of musical instruments of kinds.

“We were instructed to pick the instrument each of us can play but I was left confused because I don’t know how to play any musical instrument, suddenly my attention was caught by a strange flute, I tried my best to play it but I was unable to do so but I was assisted by a soldier who saw me struggling with the flute.

“After some time, they started teaching us music in a class with a blackboard and we were writing notes, it was as if we were in school and that was how we were taught the rhythm of Music,” he said. Ayinla also spoke extensively on how he joined the Army saying, “I joined the Nigerian Army in the year 1967 in Abeokuta depot at Lafenwa area.

“I went there just to visit my friends who were in the Army but I was impressed when I saw the men in uniform, marching on the field, the sight of this really heightened my interest in joining the force.

“Despite my interest I had stumbling blocks in the form of my height and my age, I was shorter than the required height and also younger than the age of requirement, in fact my friends in the Army were not optimistic about my chances of getting admitted into the Army.

“Despite the efforts to discourage me, I made an effort to get into the Army, I went to the recruiting field where we were asked to form a queue and we were interviewed one after another, the head of the recruitment was late RSM Rasheed.

“I was anxious while I was in the queue because I knew my chances of getting into the Army were very slim, especially seeing applicants that are much taller than I am being rejected, but I still remained determined and optimistic, I was afraid that the Soldiers might beat me up.

“When it got to my turn, I was so nervous when I was asked to approach the interviewer. He asked for my name and age, I told him my name is Kolawole Ilori but I got confused while stating my age due to nervousness and besides, I’m well aware that I’m too young to be in the Army.

“The man said he noticed that I was truly interested in joining the Army, so, he just said “Pass” but I was very confused about what that truly meant, I was later told to go and sit under a tree where my hair was shaved and thereafter they gave me uniforms and gears.

“Thereafter, we were led to the dormitory, in the course of all this, I started getting anxious, I started questioning my choice of joining the Army because I was only attracted by the beautiful and smart outfits of the men I saw on the field but I wasn’t really prepared for the stress that comes with it,” he narrated.

The legendary Fuji Musician also revealed his disappointment after his involvement in music prevented him from being posted to fight in the front line during the Nigerian Civil War, saying, “I was disappointed when I was told that I’m being retained in the musical section of the Army because I wanted to be fighting in the front line in the Civil War, I wasn’t happy with the decision by the Army.

“I had no choice but to stay in the musical section, besides, the battlefield is not a pleasant place to be. Maybe the decision that made me stay in the barrack might have kept me alive till date because I could have gotten killed,” he said.

Kollington also spoke on how he influenced his friend and arch-rival in the music industry, the late Fuji Guru, Sikiru, Ayinde Barrister into joining the Nigerian Army.

“When my friend (Ayinde Barrister) visited me in the Barrack, he was asking me questions on how I got into the Army and I narrated the story to him, he thereafter told me that he is also interested in joining the Army.

“After he had become a frequent visitor at the Barrack, coming to visit me every week because he was fascinated by the military atmosphere, I had to encourage him to make the bold move to join the Military and he did,” Ayinla noted.

When asked to compare the impacts of music then and now, General Kollington, said, “There is no basis to compare the two”.

“You know when you try to put our commitments to churning our current affairs lyrics, with the mindset to correct the flaws in the society but the case is quite different now, even when you tried to correct some of them, they would quickly tag you old school. In real fact, things are getting worse through some of these songs”, he posited.

Showing his appreciation, General Kollington thanked the Governors of Lagos, Ogun and Kwara States for their support in reviving him when he was down with sickness, not forgetting several individuals, and an array of fuji and other musicians, who contributed large sums to save him.

“I want to thank all Nigerians, particularly my governors of Lagos, Ogun and that of my home State, Kwara who stood by me when I even thought it was over before Almighty Allah revived me by His mercy”.

“I can’t forget the contributions and support of all my children in the music industry, particularly the fuji musicians, they were committed to seeing me alive for a longer time”.

“Also several individuals from home and abroad were not left out in my appreciation. Thank you for your love”, he concluded.

Meanwhile, General Kollington Ayinla is set to announce his return to the music stage with launching of a new album titled “ANU-NLA, at an event organised in his honour tagged “Celebration of an Icon and album listening party” with the legendary King Sunny Ade (KSA) hosting the event and also be on Band Stand at Eko Club Surulere, Lagos on Wednesday, 13th of November.

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will be hosting his counterparts from Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq. Several notable individuals across various professions are also expected at the event, they include; Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, the Kuliyan of Ilorin Emirate; Dr Kamorudeen Yusuf, GMD/CEO, Kam Holding Nigeria, among others.