Haruna Ishola
ApalaNigeria
Pioneering the apala genre in 1960s Nigeria, Haruna Ishola elevated traditional Yoruba vocal music into a modern art form that captivated urban audiences across West Africa with his distinctive voice and witty, socially conscious lyrics. His prolific recording career and innovative instrumentation helped establish apala as a vital expression of contemporary African identity during a transformative period in Nigerian music history. Through decades of performance and composition, Ishola became an elder statesman of the genre, influencing generations of artists and securing apala's place within the broader landscape of African popular music.
Discography
Albums
Orimolusi Adeboye; the Oba of Ijebu-Igbo
1948
Late Orimolusi Adeboye
1955
The Late Adelabu
Decca West Africa1958
Omo Jaiyejaiye
Decca West Africa1960
1-1961
Ominira Wole
Decca West Africa1960
1-1961
Otanda Olajubu
Decca West Africa1960
1-1962
Late J.S. Siwoku
Decca West Africa1960
1-1962
Late Lamidi Aiyepe
Decca West Africa1960
1-1962
Awon Ope Tiko Leti Orin
Decca West Africa1960
1-1962
Iba Awon Agba
Decca West Africa1960
1-1962
Bello Idowu
Decca West Africa1960
1-1962
Won Nse Ko Baje
Decca West Africa1960
1circa 1961
2Various Artists
Dance Night In Nigeria
Decca West Africa1960
Song of Nigeria
Decca West Africa1960
Lesise Marire?/ Bowo Bade
Alowonle Sound Studio1960
1circa 1962
Apala Songs
Decca West Africa1960
1[A] Buraimo Ayinde / Orin A.N.G.R.D. / Peganpegan / Lamidi Adedubu / L.O.B. Olarewaju
2[B] Oriade Wellington Won So Pe Moku / Ominira Wole / Otanda Olajubu / Ika Ko Wunwon
Stars of West Africa - Vol. II
Decca West Africa1963
Pariboto Riboto
Decca West Africa1963
1-1963
Awa Dupe F'Oluwa
Decca West Africa1963
1-1964
Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Decca West Africa1963
E Ma Sope Mopowe Lorin
Decca West Africa1966
Madam Ashabi Kui
Decca West Africa1966
Gboti Oloti Le
Decca West Africa1967
Fasi Balogun Ati Orimadegun
Decca West Africa1967
Bosue and Ropopo
Decca West Africa1967
Akibu ORi Owo
Decca West Africa1967
Oro Ehin Ko Si Ni Tiwa
Decca West Africa1967
Oba Sikiru Adetona
Decca West Africa1967
Hogan Bassey
Decca West Africa1967
Anjuwon Ko Sewi
Star1967
Rufai Balogun
Decca West Africa1968
Kosi Ninu Eiye
Star1969
Abanije Koni Gnayi
Star1969
Late Mathew Toye
Star1969
Ewa gbo ohunti anfewi
1969
1197?
Ododun La Rorogbo
Phonodisk1969
1[A] Ewenla Gbongbon / Ami Nla Ni Ki Ema Wi / Aruna Ishola / Are La Fomo Aayo Se
2197?
Oluwa Kii Binu
Phonodisk1969
1[A] Egbee Gbobaniyi Ibadan / Odun T'o Sojuu Wa
Oroki Social Club
1971
1[B] Oroki Social Club (Oshogbo) / Ejire Giwa / J. T. S. Jaguwa / Faji Song
Egbe Oredegbe, Kaduna
Star1971
Egbe Parkers
Star1971
1[A] Egbe Olowo Fobaje (Lagos) / Chief Balogun J. K. O. T. / Apara Nina Nda / Ikan Nje Idi Isa
On My Way To London
Star1971
1[A] Egbe Owokoniran (Iwo) / Hawusubilai Mina Sitani Rajimi / Sikiru Abinuwaiye / Agunla Aguntete
2[B] Haruna Ishola Re Ilu - Oyinbo / Ccommittee of Gentleman (Ijebu-Igbo) / Igi Ti Mba Sango Dite
Adisa Alago
Star1971
[A] Egbe Gbobaniyi
1971
Baba Njeba
Star1971
Late Badejo Okusanya
Star1971
Ilupeju Social Club
Star1971
1[A] Ilupeju Social Club / Efun Niwa Ko Se Semole / Aminat Abiodun Ibadan / Oluwa Lofi Ori Segbon Ara
T. O. S. Benson
Star1975
1[B] Egbe Irepolodun (Abeokuta) / Eje Wa Foribale / Iro L'epa Haruna Ishola O Wo Detention
2197?
Waidi Ishola Dada
Star1975
1[A] Waidi Ishola Dada / Late Bello Igbalaiye / Olomo Lo Laiye / Alhaji Kolapo (Ibadan)
Mba B'Ejire Mba Yo
Star1975
1[A] Mba B'Ejire Mba Yo / Ishola Olugbuyi Kuseju / Bi 'Taku Oba Ja / Saliu Mayabikan
Sanday Omo Shonubi
Star1975
1[A] Ire Owo Pelu Omo Dakun Tomi Wa / Dandurogo Orin Ko Se Binu Da / Sunday Omo Sonubi
Bisimalai Rabana Oluwa
Star1975
1[A] Bisimilai Rabana Oluwa / Ero Mecca Medina e ku abo
Alhaji Lamidi Arowolo
Star1975
1[A] Alhaji Lamidi Arowolo / Afolasade Adenubi / Akaba Lorin Tiwa / Haruna Ishola Tidi Aleiba Ota
Egbe Oredegbe
Star1975
1[A] Egbe Oredegbe (Kaduna) / Gbogbo Imale Eje Kama Kirun
Late Muritala Muhammed
Star1975
1[A] Late Muritala Muhammed / Alhaji Tijani Orilwmide (Iwo)
Ti Aba Lowo Ka Je'un To Dara Sinu
Star1975
Eyin Ti Nperi Wa
Star1975
1[B] Egbe Ede Mapo Arogun / Bi Onigbagbo Fojudi Jesu A Te / Orua O Se Gun Lakaba
Ewenla Gbongbon
Star1975
1[A] Ewenla Gbongbon / Ami Nla Ni Ki E Ma Wi / Haruna Ishola / Are La Fomo A Ayo Se
2[B] Ododu La Rorogbo / Eni Taiye Ba Ndara Fun / Eni Ba Nee Re / Aiye O Fe Ni Foro
Egbe Ome Jaiye Jaiye Shagamu
Star1975
1[A]
2[B]
Oluwa Wikan Loba
Star1975
1[B]Nibi Ojo Pagun De / Ajodun Ogbon Odun / Oro Buruku Oni Soju Mi / Ile Ise Orin Wa Ti Duro
Erin Onihun Se Nile
Star1975
1[A] Erin Onihun Se Nile / Late Mary Awolowo / Aiye Yio Ma Fewa
2[B] Late Owonifari / Enu Dun Rofo / Agbe Ko Gberere Tomi Wa
Late Mathew Toye
Star1975
1[A] Late Mathew Toye / Ninu Ese Meji Ti Ile Aye Fiduro / Aso Nla Ko Ni Enia Nla
2[B] Kaka Korewa / Late Solomon Adedoyin / Egbe Majority (Cotonou)
Sule Maito
Star1975
1[A] Sule Maito / Late Giwa Abudu Benson / Gani Alarape
2[B] Mafi Kan Won Wa Ninu Meta / Kosi Eniti Yio Pa Obo / Ina Ran
Onise Nsise
Star1975
1[A] Onise Nsise Ole Sun O Nsebi Oba / Ile Aiye Kose Gbe Kari / Iwa Lesin
2[B] Afefe Yeye ewe Odan Se Jube Lo / Oke Idaju La Nlo / Iyawo Mi Maje A Ja / Kini Nma Fi Orin Ebu Se
Ogun Loni Ile Aro
Star1975
1[A] Ogun Loni Ile Aro / Alhaji Mustafa Adenuga (Wasani)
Oluwa Kii Binu
1975
1[A]
2[B]
Gboti Oloti Le
Decca1975
1[A]
2[B]
TItle unknown
EMI1975
1[A]
2[B]
Egbe Basiri Social Club, Bida
Star1975
1[A] Egbe Basiri Social Club, Bida / Nile Aiye Wa Kama Ri Jamba
2[B] Ile-ise Orin-Phonodisk (NIG) ltd
Ojo Lolori Enimayo Kowa Ta
Star1975
1[A] Ojo Lolori Enimayo Kowa Ta / Awon Egbe Eleran / Egbe Basiri - Ishara
Late Oba Adeboye
Star1975
1[B] Ko Si Ninu Eiye / Gani Ajimabi (Ibadan) / Ko Si Olode / Lade Iwalewa / Iba Akoda
Odun To Se Ojuwa
Star1975
1[A] Egbe Gbobaniyi (Ibadan) / Odun To Se Ojuwa / Ki Dupe Loto
Ori Eni Lawure
1987
1[A] Ewa Gbo Adiitu Ede / Awa La Mu Gborodun / Ori Mi Ma Pada Lehinmi / Ori Eni Lawure
2[B] Egbe Bashiri Ishara (Part Two) / Osupa Onidi Irawo
Olomo Lo Laiye
1987
1[A] Ema Gbe Yen Wa O / Oba L'Ome Jo Da / Olomo L'O L'Aiye / Aronipin / Lamidi Ekundayo
2[B] Bowo Ba De / K'Aiye Ma Pa Wa Ti / Rasaki Ademola Balogun / Abusi E Dumare / Express Record
3??
Haruna Ishola Collections - Selected Hits
Star Records1987
Punctuality
1987
1Egbe Gbobaniyi (Ibadan) / Odun To Se Ojuwa / Ki Dupe Loto / Hun O Dugun Loni / Oluwa Kii Binu
2/ E Fi Eti Sibi / Kadara Oni Kaluku / Adabi A Da / Eje Ki A Wo Alaseju
Odun To Se Ojuwa
1987
1Egbe Gbobaniyi (Ibadan) / Odun To Se Ojuwa / Ki A Dupe Loto / Hun O Dogun Loni /
2Oluwa Kii Binu / E Fi Eti Sibi / Kadara Oni Kaluku / Adabi A Da / Eje Ki A Wo Alaseju
Eku Adegboro
1987
Eku Adegboro / Awa La Mu Gborodun / Ori Mi Ma Pada Lehinmi / Ori Eni Lawure / Egbe Bashiri Ishara
1987
1??
Haruna Ishola Collections - Selected Hits Vol. 2 - Eyin ti Nperi Wa Saida
Star Records1987
Haruna Ishola Collections
Star Records1987
Apala Messanger
Indige Disc2001
Selected Hits
Sound Image Music2001
Omititanikoko
Star Records2002
1[A] Omitiatnikoko / Ewure ile komoyi ode / Erin onihun se nile / Late Owo-ni-fari
2[B] Lesi marire / Ohun to mu bale ile / Ninu ese meji / Late Obafemi Awolowo
Eku Adegboro
2002
1Last updated on October 22, 2010.
Special thanks to Kazuya Ogiwara
2002
1Return to AFRICAN MUSIC HOME PAGE
EPs
Ap Kini
Star1969
1[A] Apa Kini / Sule Maito
2[B] Apa Keji / Ko Si Enitio Pobo
319??