Ayinde Bakare and his Meranda Orchestra band were unrivaled and were the domineering band in Lagos of the 50s up until October 1st, 1972 when Ayinde Bakare died. The band members were about nine, including, Daniel Akinola (band captain) Abomi an ex-soldier, Baba Ondo, Gbenga Adefeso, and Bayo Onile who had his band but would sometimes join Bakare’s band whenever he had no performance. Kayode Fashola and Amos Bakare joined the band later after the fallout of Daniel Akinola and Ayinde Bakare. It was a time when the band members were always very tough and some band leaders were always in awe of their band boys. As a band leader, there is a high chance you’ll encounter some tough band members who create a toxic work environment that is capable of affecting the performance of the rest of the band including the band leader.
Daniel Akinola aka Baba Ponle was a nephew of Ojoge Daniel a pioneering juju music King from Ilesha. Daniel Ojoge brought Akinola Daniel from Ilesha but did not allow him to play in his band, so he took him to join the band of Ayinde Bakare.
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Akinola was a powerful singer and had an incredible talent in composition, he poured his heart into the Meranda band. He was so powerful in the band that the band bus was always parked at his residence. At the peak of his career, Ayinde Bakare the band leader later had voice trouble, his voice just wasn’t there anymore, and bowing out was never an option, that was when Daniel who had mastered Bakares’ voice was made the band frontman as Bakare impersonator. The band carried on like nothing happened. The combination of Bakare and Daniel was a good one and the band saw a huge sore in popularity. However, Akinola Daniel recognized his talent and he decided to leave the band to form his Inner Circle Orchestra after a fallout with Bakare. Imagine the frustration when a key band member like Daniel quit the band. Gbenga Adefeso who was also a talented guitarist and singer was briefly brought in to replace Daniel but he was never a match to the tremendously gifted Daniel.
In a recent interview with Baale Dele Adeyanju Agbaman, Lanre Fassy a former band boy with Ayinde Bakare asserted that Ayinde Bakare went to perform at the Iga Idunganran, Oba Oyekan Palace in Lagos Island, he was pressed and wanted to use the toilet, rather than asking for the toilet in the Palace vicinity he just walked down to the Lagos lagoon on Adeniji Adele nearby and climbed on a Canoe, while doing it, heavy wind began to blow and Bakare who was already intoxicated, staggered and fell off the Canoe and was swept away in the river amid the chaos caused by the storm. This account cannot be relied upon and is different from the popular account of Bakare’s disappearance.
When Bakare body was eventually found after disappearing for days, Daniel Akinola Bakare’s former Lieutenant, and two serving band members Ayanniyi Atanda and Gasper a drummer quickly became the prime suspects, they were all indicted and were arranged before a coroner. They were all found not guilty of Bakare’s murder. However, the Judge inferred the suspects knew more than what they disclosed, and added that Akinola Daniel lied throughout the court proceedings.
Against all odds, Daniel Akinola’s Inner Circle band grew stronger after Bakare death but it was a short-lived stardom. Kayode Fashola and Amos Bakare teamed up to form a formidable band and called it the Music Makers to continue with the Bakare Memorial band after Shina Ayinde Bakare’s son disbanded his father’s old band to set up his band.
Daniel released a moving dirge in honor of his late boss, where he denied any involvement in his death and laid a curse on anyone involved in his death.
