Yinka Ayefele: from tragedy to triumph in Nigerian gospel music

Yinka Ayefele: from tragedy to triumph in Nigerian gospel music

Yinka Ayefele is a Nigerian gospel singer, music producer, radio presenter, and media entrepreneur. After a 1997 car accident left him paralysed, he turned his pain into purpose through music, finding healing and inspiring others. Yinka's story of resilience and success continues to uplift millions across Nigeria and beyond.

Yinka Ayefele at the media office (L). Yinka at his office (R)
Yinka Ayefele posing for a photo in the media office (L). Yinka posing for a picture at his office (R). Photo: @Yinka.Ayefele.Fans on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Yinka Ayefele (MON) released his debut album Bitter Experience in 1998.
  • In 1997, a tragic car accident left Yinka Ayefele with a spinal cord injury, causing permanent paralysis from the waist down.
  • Yinka Ayefele founded Fresh FM in 2015, launching the first station in Ibadan, Oyo State.
  • The Nigerian singer is a father of four children as of June 2025.

Profile summary

Full name

Olayinka Joel Ayefele (MON)

Gender

Male

Date of birth

1 February 1968

Age

57 years old (as of 2025)

Zodiac sign

Aquarius

Place of birth

Ipoti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

State of origin

Ekiti State

Current residence

Ibadan, Nigeria

Nationality

Nigerian

Ethnicity

African

Tribe

Yoruba

Religion

Christianity

Sexuality

Straight

Hair colour

Black

Eye colour

Dark brown

Father

Joshua Taiwo Ayefele

Siblings

1

Marital status

Married

Wife

Temitope Tililope

Children

4

School

Our Saviour's Anglican Primary School

College

Ondo State College of Arts and Science

Net worth

$400,000

Profession

Gospel singer, music producer, radio presenter, entrepreneur

Instagram

@yinkaayefele

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Yinka Ayefele's biography

The record producer, Olayinka Joel Ayefele, was born in Ipoti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. His father, the late Joshua Taiwo Ayefele, was a teacher. His dad passed away on 12 October 2014. Yinka was raised alongside his younger brother Laolu 'L.A. Flexy' Ayefele, a singer and media personality.

A look at Yinka Ayefele's background

The entrepreneur is 57 years old as of 2025. He was born on 1 February 1968, making his zodiac sign Aquarius.

Yinka studied at Our Saviour's Anglican Primary School. After completing high school, he joined the Ondo State College of Arts and Science in Ikare Akoko, Nigeria.

Facts about Yinka Ayefele
Top-5 facts about Yinka Ayefele. Photo: @Yinka.Ayefele.Fans/Facebook (modified by author)
Source: Original

Yinka Ayefele's tragedy to triumph in Nigerian gospel music

Yinka is a gospel musician, record producer, radio presenter, and entrepreneur. He began his professional career as a journalist and radio broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Ibadan.

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Yinka began his music journey while recovering from a car accident he had been involved in 1997. His friend, Kola Olootu, encouraged him to explore music, and in 1998, he released his debut album Bitter Experience.

The singer later released his second album, Sweet Experience, after receiving an award for his debut album, Bitter Experience. Since then, he has released several albums, including:

Song

Year

Something Else

2000

Funfair

2002

Life After Death

2003

Fulfilment

2005

Prayer Point

2011

Goodness of God

2012

Comforter

2013

Fresh Glory

2016

Living Testimony

2017

Beyond The Limits

2019

Manifestation

2021

So Far So Good

2022

Gratitude

2022

Consolation

2023

Favour

2023

Yinka has earned over 200 awards throughout his career. In 2011, he was named the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), by former President Goodluck Jonathan. In 2015, he received the Presenter Extraordinaire Award. Additionally, the singer was honoured as the Ekiti Cultural Ambassador.

Yinka is also an entrepreneur. He launched Ayefele Records in October 2015. Ayefele is also the founder and CEO of the Fresh FM Nigeria network, which operates Fresh FM, Blast FM, and Tiwa‑n‑Tiwa Radio—all headquartered at his Yinka Ayefele Music House in Ibadan, Nigeria.

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What is Yinka Ayefele's net worth?

Yinka Ayefele in an indoor office
Yinka Ayefele posing for a picture, smiling in front of a glass cabinet. Photo: @Yinka.Ayefele.Fans (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

According to Buzz Nigeria, the singer's net worth is reportedly $400,000. Earnings from his professional music career and media ventures, including Fresh FM, are believed to be his primary sources of income.

Is Yinka Ayefele married?

Yes. Yinka is married to Temitope Tililope Ayefele. They tied the knot in 2000. The couple had their triplets, Richard, Demola, and Precious, on 18 January 2019 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. In October 2024, their fourth child, a girl, was born.

What happened to Yinka Ayefele?

On 12 December 1997, while driving his Volkswagen Beetle from Ibadan to Abeokuta to host a radio program, Yinka was involved in a tragic accident. He lost control of the car, which flipped repeatedly before landing in a ditch along the Ibadan-Abeokuta Highway.

Yinka suffered a critical spinal cord injury that left him paralysed from the waist down. He spent nine months undergoing treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan. On 12 December 2022, Ayefele commemorated the accident by celebrating the 25th anniversary.

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The singer shared the throwback photos on his Instagram page, accompanied by a caption that read:

Its exactly 25 years ago today..Just keep thanking God on my behalf...It Was on the 12th of December 1997. My Turing point...I shall forever be grateful to the owner of my destiny.

FAQs

  1. Who is Yinka Ayefele? He is a Nigerian gospel singer, music producer, entrepreneur, and radio presenter.
  2. What is Yinka Ayefele's age? The singer is 57 years old as of 2025.
  3. What state is Yinka Ayefele from? He is from Ekiti State, Nigeria.
  4. Who is the wife of Yinka Ayefele? His wife is called Temitope Tililope.
  5. Does Yinka Ayefele have children? The Nigerian entrepreneur has four children as of June 2025.
  6. What year did Yinka Ayefele have an accident? He was involved in a car accident on 12 December 1997.
  7. What is Yinka Ayefele's net worth? Yinka is alleged to have a net worth of $400,000.

Yinka Ayefele is a Nigerian gospel singer, entrepreneur, music producer, and radio presenter. He is the CEO and founder of the Fresh FM Nigeria network. Yinka is married to Temitope Tililope, and they have four children as of June 2025.

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Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Isaac Wangethi avatar

Isaac Wangethi (Lifestyle writer) Isaac Wangethi has been a content writer at Legit since September 2021. He has gained valuable experience working on various projects, such as celebrity biographies, lifestyle, news and many more. Isaac won the Writer of the Year Award on Legit in 2023. He earned a Bsc. of Science in Information Technology in 2017 from the University of Nairobi and a Higher Diploma in Computer Software Engineering from Gretsa University in 2021. In 2023, Isaac finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In March 2024, he completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: Wangethin@gmail.com