Legendary waka singer. Salawa Abeni, clocks 60 today. She was born May 5, 1961.

The ‘Waka’ music crooner shared series of pictures from a recent photoshoot on her Instagram page earlier today, and wrote: “Allhamdulilah! Allhamdulilah!!

Allhamdulilah!!! Enu mi gba ope!! Happy 60th to me Salawatu Ibiwunmi Abeni. I am more than grateful to God for sparing my life till this day and more. Eba mi dupe oo 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏”

The award-winning singer hail from Ijebu Waterside, in Ogun State and began her professional career in waka music when she released her debut album titled, Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, in 1976, on Leader Records. Thus becoming the first recording female artist in Yoruba Songs to sell over a million copies in Nigeria.

Abeni continued recording for Leader until 1986, when she ended a relationship with the record label’s owner, Lateef Adepoju. She married Kollington Ayinla and joined his record label instead, staying with him until 1994.

She was crowned “Queen of Waka Music” by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi in 1992.

Waka is an Islamic-influenced, traditional Yoruba music style, popularised by Batile Alake; it is a much older genre than jùjú and fuji.