I. K. DAIRO – Angelina Isaiah Kehinde Dairo, an accomplished veteran and a commanding figure in the juju music circle were born to an Ijesha father, late Chief Israel Dairo (The Odole of Ijebu Jesha), and Madam Eunice Wuraola Dairo on the 6th January 1931. It was during his sojourn at Ibadan that he had his first real experience of juju music when he played for the Stars Orchestra which later served as a nucleus for the Blue Spots Band. His Morning Stars Orchestra had its base at Easy Life Hotel, Mokola Ibadan. Among the several laurels on his cap was his first performance held to entertain returnees from the first World War in 1946. I.K. Dairo also had the pleasure of holding a special show for the late Dick Tiger in the early 60s after he took the world boxing title from Gene Fulmer. He played regularly in the then WNBS and went on several national and international promotional tours. Consequently, by 1960, the Queen of England became aware of his contribution to juju music and she honored I.K. Dairo with the M.B.E.

(Member of the British Empire) award. A great honor that ensured the immortality of his great name at a time when most present-day musicians are yet unborn.

To follow the rules of decorum, he rendered other numerous tunes that are now in the golden treasure of the music of bye-gone days, such as 􀀪Ibi Lekeleke Gbe Nfoso, Mo yege (Am free) Ma fowuro Sere (Make hay while the sunshine), and many others.

He performed in many West African nations which include Ghana, Republic of Benin, Ivory Coast (now Cote D’Ivoire), Liberia, Sierra-Leone, The Gambia, and Senegal. He became the first musician to have a Mobile Band. This was unprecedented. He introduced the use of accordion and talking drum into Juju music, and the only one who had used it so far apart from Yoruba, he sang his Lyrics in several other languages, among which are English, Igbo, Hausa, Itsekiri, Edo, Fanti, Ga and Gongolese languages of the Zaire Republic. He was the Chairman of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCRSN). He was also the brain behind the formation of the Juju Band Leader’s Association of Nigeria (JUBAL) where he served as their first President before becoming its Life Patron. He also belonged to many social clubs and societies, such as Ijebu-Ijesha Union, Island Club, and the High Society Club of Lagos. He is survived by three wives and richly blessed with good children Males and Females. Dairo, a Music Union Artist, Record Label owner, and a devout Christian with over 100 Albums to his credit, passed on in 1996.