Celebrated Nigerian juju musician Yekini Kolawole Ajao, widely known as Y.K. Ajao, has died, leaving a void in the heart of Nigerian traditional music and triggering an outpouring of grief from colleagues, fans, and the broader entertainment community.

The news of his passing was announced on Friday night through a tribute posted on the Instagram page of fellow juju icon Sir Shina Peters, who described the deceased as far more than a professional colleague.

“Still hard to believe. You weren’t just a friend, you were my brother. Prof Y.K. Ajao, your sound, your spirit, your presence — unforgettable,” Peters wrote. “Thank you for everything.

I’ll carry the memories always. Rest well, my brother. Your legacy lives on, your music lives on, and you will never be forgotten.”

Y.K. Ajao turned professional in 1973 when he founded his own group, Y.K. Ajao & His Professional Brothers Band, launching a career that would span decades and leave a distinctive imprint on the Nigerian music landscape. Though rooted in the juju tradition, Ajao distinguished himself by pioneering a unique sub-genre he branded Juju Makossa — a creative fusion that set him apart from his contemporaries and earned him a dedicated following across generations.

His death marks the passing of one of the defining voices of Nigerian juju music, a genre that has long served as a cultural cornerstone of Yoruba artistic expression. Further details surrounding the circumstances of his death had not been officially released as of the time of this report.