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Juju Music Legend Ahuja Bello is Dead.
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He founded Golden Eagles Band, producing timeless Juju hits.
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Bello’s music legacy remains despite career setback in 1982.
Renowned Juju music icon of the 1970s, Ahuja Bello, has passed away at the age of 83.
His son, Adetunji Bello, confirmed the news in a statement on Sunday, revealing that the celebrated musician died in the early hours of the day, barely 24 hours after marking his 83rd birthday.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Born Ismaila Dele Bello on August 24, 1942, in Iseyin, Oyo State, Ahuja Bello started his career as an electronic technician before fully embracing his passion for music.
In 1976, he founded Ahuja Bello and His Golden Eagles Band, a group that dominated Nigeria’s Juju music scene through the late 1970s and 1980s. Known for his vibrant stagecraft and distinct style, Bello thrilled audiences with evergreen hits such as Awa ti Danfo and Ariya ti de.
His career reached international heights in 1979 when he travelled to London to record Ahuja in London, a project that exposed his music to a global audience and brought him in contact with legends including reggae icon Bob Marley.
However, his flourishing career was dealt a major setback on July 24, 1982, when he was involved in a ghastly road accident, just weeks before his 40th birthday. The incident disrupted his momentum but did little to erase his legacy as one of the pioneers of Juju music.
Decades later, Ahuja Bello is remembered as a cultural trailblazer who helped popularise Juju music across Nigeria and beyond. His fans and contemporaries continue to regard him as an unforgettable voice in the nation’s musical history.
