40 years after, popular broadcaster, Kasnaty uncovers real cause of Yoruba musician, Ayinla Omowura’s death 

CITIZENS COMPASS–Four decades after the death of the popular Yoruba music legend, Ayinla Omowura, popular broadcaster, Kolawole Adejojo, also known as Kasnaty, has uncovered the cause of death of the musician.

The broadcaster shared some startling revelations regarding the mysterious death of legendary Apala musician, Ayinla Omowura, who died over 40 years ago. 

Known for his extensive research, the Chief Executive Officer of Sugar Link Concept, Kasnaty Production, and the Kolawole Adejojo Foundation, said he spent four years investigating the circumstances surrounding Omowura’s demise.

He said the findings challenge the long-held belief that the iconic musician was killed by a bottle strike, revealing that the cause was far more intricate and tragic.

Kasnaty, a dedicated fan of Ayinla Omowura who began his research during the COVID-19 pandemic said his initial curiosity about the real cause of Omowura’s death grew into a comprehensive investigation that led him to Omowura’s family, band members, and his spiritualist, Pa Ilelabewe Adisa, who played a crucial role in the tragic event.

Narrating his efforts so far, Kasnaty said his quest started from his personal fascination with the musician. 

“I’ve always questioned the real cause of his death,” Kasnaty said, noting that rumours had circulated about a band member striking Omowura with a bottle during an altercation.

However, he said the deeper he dug, the more it became apparent that these stories did not match the facts.

The broadcaster disclosed that through interviews with Omowura’s family and close associates, including his first child, Alhaja Kubura, and his last-born, Kabiru, he  uncovered details that had never been made public before. 

According to Kasnaty, Kabiru, in particular, provided crucial information, leading him to Pa Ilelabewe Adisa, the herbalist and spiritualist who had been closely associated with Omowura.

The 80-year-old Ilelabewe said he had prepared a protective charm for Omowura in the form of a ring.

The herbalist revealed that the ring, which was designed to protect the musician from harassment during performances, ultimately caused his death. 

According to Pa Ilelabewe, the ring was so powerful that when used to strike someone, the person would collapse instantly but could be revived if touched by Omowura’s left leg, where three protective incisions had been made as part of the charm’s antidote.

He said, tragically, on the fateful day of Omowura’s death, the musician used the ring on himself during an altercation with a friend, who had poured a drink on him.

In a fit of anger, Omowura struck himself on the chest with the ring. 

Pa Ilelabewe explained that Omowura failed to revive himself using the antidote, his left leg, which could have saved his life.

“I went to the hospital when I heard he had been rushed there,” Pa Ilelabewe recounted, visibly emotional. “When I saw the ring on him, I knew immediately that he had struck himself with it.”

This confession from the herbalist shocked Kasnaty. 

The broadcaster, who said he had spent many years investigating the conflicting reports surrounding Omowura’s death, now had a definitive answer. 

The ring, designed for Omowura’s protection, had become his downfall.

“I started playing Ayinla Omowura’s music on my shows, and during the lockdown, I visited his family home.

“ I even interviewed his daughter, Kubura, and connected with other family members,” Kasnaty explained. 

He noted that his research revealed many lesser-known details about the musician’s life and family, including the identity of one of Omowura’s wives, Ramotalah, referenced in one of his songs.

Kasnaty’s revelation not only resolves the mystery of Ayinla Omowura’s death but also adds a deeply personal dimension to the tragedy. 

Pa Ilelabewe, who had accompanied Omowura to his shows across Nigeria, said he was devastated by the musician’s death. 

The herbalist said he  had always been the first to spray money on Omowura during performances, encouraging others to do the same, and the bond between the two men extended beyond professional collaboration.

“I was pained by his death. He was my elder brother. We are from the same Itoko indigenes. I followed him everywhere he performed, from Kano to Kaduna, Maiduguri, and beyond,” the herbalist said, adding that the ring he had prepared to protect Omowura was the very instrument of his demise.

Through his groundbreaking research, Kasnaty has become the first broadcaster to publicly disclose the true cause of Ayinla Omowura’s death. 

His work sheds light on a tragic accident that ended the life of one of Nigeria’s most beloved musicians, ensuring that future generations understand the full story of Omowura’s life and untimely death.

For Kasnaty, this journey has been both professional and personal. “There’s nothing we can do about it now; Ayinla has passed. But it’s important to let future generations know what really caused his death,” he concluded.

Until his death, Ayinla Omowura was a resident of Itoko in Abeokuta the capital of Ogun State.

He was well remembered for his role in ‘Apala’ music, a local palance in Abeokuta.