The Day Music Almost Died: Yinka Ayefele's Near-Fatal Accident"

The Day Everything Changed: The Yinka Ayefele Story

For many, December 12, 1997, was just another Friday during the Christmas season. But for Yinka Ayefele, it was the day that would redefine his destiny. At the time, Ayefele was a vibrant broadcaster and a session musician, known for his work with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and for producing catchy radio jingles.

The Accident: "My Turning Point"

On that fateful morning, Ayefele was driving his Volkswagen Beetle along the Ibadan–Abeokuta Road. He was on his way to a program at the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC).

According to Ayefele’s personal account, the conditions were treacherous:

The Cause: The road was extremely slippery due to the season.

The Crash: As he was driving, he lost control of the vehicle. The car tumbled about six times before finally landing in a deep pit inside a thick bush.

The Survival: Ayefele was one of the many accident victims rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, that day. In a miraculous twist of fate, he later revealed that out of about 40 trauma patients admitted at the same time, he was the only survivor.

The Aftermath

The accident was ghastly. It resulted in a severe spinal cord injury that would leave him confined to a wheelchair. He spent nine months in the hospital, facing a future that seemed bleak and a career that many thought was over.

However, it was during this period of pain that his "Bitter Experience" became his "Sweet Experience." While in the hospital, his friend Kola Olootu encouraged him to put his thoughts and songs together. This led to the release of his debut album, Bitter Experience (1998), which catapulted him into the limelight and transformed him into a gospel music powerhouse.

A Legacy of Resilience

Nearly three decades later, Yinka Ayefele (MON) doesn't look back with regret. He calls the accident his "Turning Point." He has used his story to inspire millions, proving that a setback is often just a setup for a greater comeback.

Today, he is not just a musician but a media mogul, running radio stations and continuing to share his testimony with his children and fans alike.

"I didn’t pray to have an accident before I make it... but God has a purpose for everything." — Yinka Ayefele.