Legendary highlife musician Pa Chris Ajilo dies at 92

Legendary highlife singer, Pa Chris Ajilo, has passed away at 92.

Ajilo died shortly after battling malaria. His caregiver, David Ekanem, made this known.

He gave up the ghost in a hospital on Saturday morning at the age of 92.

Narrating the singer’s ordeal, Ekanem said, “He had malaria last week, so, we gave him medication. The malaria persisted, and as there was no improvement after three days, we rushed him to a hospital at Ilesha, but there was no bed space.

“I took him to two hospitals at Ile-Ife as well, but there were no bed spaces there; so, I had to take him back home. A doctor was attending to him at home. Yesterday, I noticed that there was no improvement, so, I had to rush him to another hospital at Ilesha. I was there with him since yesterday, but he died today at 10:30 am.

“He died of malaria; the doctor even carried out a COVID-19 test on him but he tested negative.”

Ajilo known for his classic songs, Eko Gba Gbere, Ariwo and Emi Mimo is the last of a generation of veterans like Victor Olaiya, Bobby Benson and others that formed the Nigerian Union of Musician, the first guild for musicians.