Haruna Ishola

One of the most well-known performer of apala music in Nigerian history, with Ayinla Omowura.
Haruna Ishola Adebayo, popularly known as "Baba Ngani Agba" was born 1919 in Igbaire Oko-Sopin, Ijebu-Igbo (today Ogun State), Nigeria.
In 1947 Haruna Ishola developed an interest in music and collected some boys from his area and formed his own group, Haruna Ishola And His Apala Group.
In 1948 he made his first record, entitled "Orimolusi Adeboye" (English: the Oba of Ijebu-Igbo) but the record did not sell as well as Haruna had expected.
In 1955 Haruna Ishola made another record for the late Orimolusi Adeboye for Decca (West Africa) Limited and this was the record that brought him fame and made him a household name.
A major turning point was the release of his first LP entitled Oroki Social Club which sold over 5 million copies between 1971 and 1983.
Some of his other hit records are Ina Ran, Late Owonifari, Paluda, On My Way To London, Ogun Loni Le Aro and Apala Disco.
In 1981, in recognition of his contributions to the cultural, social and economic awareness of the country, the then president of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, presented him with a National Award of Member Of The Order Of Niger (M.O.N.).
Haruna Ishola died on November 9th, 1983.