Veteran fuji musician Kollington Ayinla has declared that his former partner and fellow music legend Salawa Abeni is still his wife, regardless of her current relationship with another man.
Speaking during an appearance on The Teju Babyface Show, the 71-year-old opened up about their past and his firm belief that Salawa remains tied to him for life due to their shared history and children.
“That is how God wants it to be. She has three children with me; she is more than just a concubine. She is my wife for life,” Kollington said.
Reflecting on their deep bond, he said the relationship went beyond a casual romance, insisting that their connection remains intact despite no longer being together.
“She is a celebrity. And just like women chase after male stars, male fans also throw themselves at female stars. But a woman’s understanding is limited,” he noted, attributing their separation in part to the challenges that come with fame.
Even with the split, Kollington maintained that Salawa still holds a permanent place in his life.
“No matter what I am doing, she always turns up. She’s still my wife. The person she is currently with is only borrowing her,” he said.
Kollington and Salawa Abeni were once one of the most admired couples in the Nigerian music scene, especially in the Yoruba genre.
Though they never legally married, their relationship was both romantic and professional and it produced three children.
Despite their separation, both remain influential figures in Yoruba music and Nigerian culture.
