Olasunkanmi Wasiu Ayinde Adewale Omogbolahan Anifowoshe is best known as K1 De Ultimate or KWAM1. He is a native of Ogun State but was born on March 3, 1957, in Agarawu, Lagos, Nigeria. His father is from Ijebu Ode while his mother is from Ilupeju in Ondo state.
Wasiu Ayinde discovered his interest in music at a tender age of 8. Though his interest wasn’t initially accepted by his parents but he continued to pursue his passion. At the age of 15, he had won several local musical competitions. In 1975, Wasiu Ayinde became a member of Ayinde Barrister’s band, the Supreme Fuji Commanders.
In 1979, K1 De Ultimate released his first solo album titled Abode Mecca. In1984, his most successful album Talazo 84 was released. During the whole KWAM1’s solo career this album became an instant hit and introducing a new, turbo-charged style of music that became widely popular as the Talazo system.
The same year, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal made a global tour around North America and Europe which became a good tradition repeated annually. In 1994, K1 De Ultimate was crowned the King of Fuji Music. He also obtained a new official name King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal the First (KWAM 1). IN 1996, King Wasiu Ayinde started delivering his Fuji performance at various festivals including WOMAD, Troxy, WOMEX, and SOB’s.
King Wasiu Ayinde is known to combine Juju, Apala, Yoruba blues and other styles and genres. A well known artist has significantly developed the Fuji music style. He has incorporated some Western instruments including keyboards, saxophones, and electric guitar. The renowned artist has expanded his musical vocabulary to include rock funk, and hip-hop influences while at the beginning of his career he basically sang Koranic chants and rhymes.
Wasiu Ayinde is known to have about 38 children from different women. His youngest child was born in 2013 by Titi Marshal. King Wasiu Ayinde has 3 daughters; Fathia Whitney Anjolaoluwa Marshal, Wasilat Olaronke Ashabi Ayinde, and Hidayat Abolaji Anifowose. Hidayat got married on the 4th of March, 2014.
Wasiu Ayinde Marshal is called the King of Fuji Music not by mistake but because of his great input in this genre.
Wasiu Ayinde was a recipient of a Nigerian Music Award as Best Fuji Artist of 1995, KWAM1 named Best African Artist in England.
In May 2001, he was granted the title “Olu Omo” (Golden Child) by the late King of Lagos, Adeyinka Oyekan II.
On 13the of January, 2020, he was installed as the Mayegun of Yoruba Land in the ancient city of Oyo in Oyo state, Nigeria, by his Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo.