Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1 or K1 De Ultimate, has paid heartfelt tribute to his late mother, Princess Halima Anifowoshe, acknowledging her as a major force behind his decades-long success in the Nigerian music industry, Okay.ng reports.
During a recent appearance on a podcast promoting his new album, Ganusi The Album Fuji Classical, the 68-year-old icon revealed that his mother not only inspired his journey into music but also played a direct role in shaping his sound and compositions.
“The song ‘Mama’ is to the memory of my mother who also taught me about the rudiments of music and singing,” K1 stated.
He disclosed that his mother, though born into royalty, was musically gifted and aspired to become a singer in her youth. However, due to the societal expectations placed on her as a princess and as a woman, she was discouraged from pursuing her dream.
“My mother as a young maiden lady was a singer, a princess by birth that was denied the opportunity of showing dexterity in music because of what she was; a princess of a sitting king and so also a woman whom they want her to settle in marriage,” he said.
Despite these limitations, KWAM 1 said his mother found a way to express her musical passion through him, often helping him compose songs during her lifetime.
“But everything [my mother’s talent] was transported on me by God. She transferred it to me and oftentimes she served as my composer, very many times during her lifetime. She made her own contribution into my musical development. So, I think it’s honourable for me to remember her and have a blessed track for her,” he added.
K1 De Ultimate lost his mother in January 2025, and “Mama,” one of the tracks on the new album, is dedicated to her enduring legacy in his life and career.
