Joseph Adebayo Adelakun

{{Infobox person

| name = Joseph Adebayo Adelakun

| image =

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| birth_name =

| birth_date =June 11, 1949

| birth_place =Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria

| othername =Baba Ayewa

| nationality = Nigerian

| citizenship = Nigerian

| occupation = {{flatlist|

gospel singer
songwriter
evangelist }}

| parents =

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| yearsactive = 1968 - present

| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20141216222534/http://ayewa.org/ Official website]

}}

Joseph Adebayo Adelakun (born June 12, 1949) is a Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter and televangelist.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/gospel-artistes-made-2014-memorable/|title=Gospel artistes that made 2014 memorable|work=Vanguard News|accessdate=15 March 2015}}

Early life

Adelakun was born into the family of Salami Adebayo who was a Muslim.{{cite web|url=http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/22933/45/veteran-gospel-musician-ayewa-band-celebrates-37th.html|title=Veteran gospel musician, Ayewa Band celebrates 37th anniversary - nigeriafilms.com|author=AZUH AMATUS|work=nigeriafilms.com|accessdate=15 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406074701/http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/22933/45/veteran-gospel-musician-ayewa-band-celebrates-37th.html|archivedate=6 April 2015}}

He hails from Saki, a town situated in the northern part of Oyo State, western Nigeria.{{cite web|url=http://www.mynewswatchtimesng.com/untold-story-ayewa-65/|title=Untold story of Ayewa @ 65 - Newswatch Times|author=TOPE OLUKOLE|work=Newswatch Times|accessdate=15 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129015104/http://www.mynewswatchtimesng.com/untold-story-ayewa-65/|archivedate=29 January 2016}}

He was trained as an Electrical engineer at Kareem Electrical Engineering Company in the city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.{{cite web|url=http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/08/ayewa-celebrates-37-years-on-stage/|title=Ayewa celebrates 37 years on stage|work=Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper|accessdate=15 March 2015|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124009/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/08/ayewa-celebrates-37-years-on-stage/|archivedate=2 April 2015}}

Having completed his training in 1968,{{Cite web |date=2017-06-25 |title=How I became a prophet, started my ministry in the army —Ayewa |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/i-became-prophet-started-ministry-army-ayewa/ |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=Tribune Online |language=en-GB}} he joined the Nigerian Army and was deployed to the Nigerian Army Barrack, the Engineering Construction Regiment at Ede in Oyo State.{{cite web|url=http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/02/my-training-in-the-army-helped-in-shaping-my-life-baba-ayewa/|title=My training in the Army helped in shaping my life – Baba Ayewa|work=Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper|accessdate=15 March 2015|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111801/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/02/my-training-in-the-army-helped-in-shaping-my-life-baba-ayewa/|archivedate=2 April 2015}}

He was baptized at Christ Apostolic Church in 1972, the same year he began his evangelism.{{cite web|url=http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/features2/item/19306-gospel-music-icon,-pastor-adelakun,-celebrates-37th-anniversary-of-ayewa-band.html|title=Gospel music icon, Pastor Adelakun, celebrates 37th anniversary of Ayewa Band|work=tribune.com.ng|accessdate=15 March 2015}}

Career

In 1976, he was transferred to Kaduna where his musical career began as a member of the Christ Apostolic Church choir.{{cite web|url=http://www.nigeriadailynews.com/news/79708-veteran-gospel-musician-ayewa-band-celebrates-37th-anniversary-video.html|title=Veteran gospel musician, Ayewa Band celebrates 37th anniversary [VIDEO]|work=nigeriadailynews.com|accessdate=15 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135639/http://www.nigeriadailynews.com/news/79708-veteran-gospel-musician-ayewa-band-celebrates-37th-anniversary-video.html|url-status=dead}}

His debut album titled Emi yio kokiki Re was released in 1978 and in 1982. He retired from the Nigerian Army to focus on gospel music, the same year he established a musical group called "Ayewa International Gospel Singers".{{cite web|url=http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/fasholas-wife-for-pastor-adelakuns-37th-thanksgiving-service/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150315215718/http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/fasholas-wife-for-pastor-adelakuns-37th-thanksgiving-service/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 March 2015|title=Fashola's wife for pastor Adelakun's 37th thanksgiving|work=mydailynewswatchng.com|accessdate=15 March 2015}}

He was famous for his 9th album titled Amona tete maa bo, released in 1984.

He has released over 30 musical album over the years as a Nigerian gospel singer.{{cite web|url=http://bioreports.net/bioreports/news/amona-tete-mabo-band-ayewa-celebrates-37th-anniversary/|title="AMONA TETE MA’BO" BAND, AYEWA CELEBRATES 37TH ANNIVERSARY.|work=Bio Reports|accessdate=15 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317004232/http://bioreports.net/bioreports/news/amona-tete-mabo-band-ayewa-celebrates-37th-anniversary/|archivedate=17 March 2015}}

He was honoured with the "Evergreen Award" at the Crystal Awards 2014 held on Sunday, July 20, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://leadership.ng/features/379041/glamour-meets-grace-crystal-awards-2014|title=Glamour Meets Grace At Crystal Awards 2014|author=Leadership Newspaper|date=26 July 2014|work=Nigerian News from Leadership News|accessdate=15 March 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/winners-emerged-at-nigeria-s-top-gospel-award/189957/|title=Winners Emerged at Nigeria’s Top Gospel Award, Articles - THISDAY LIVE|work=thisdaylive.com|accessdate=15 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123530/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/winners-emerged-at-nigeria-s-top-gospel-award/189957/|archivedate=2 April 2015}}