Ayefele was born in Ipoti-Ekiti, a city in Ekiti State in southwestern Nigeria.
He attended Our Saviours Anglican Primary School in Ipoti-Ekiti for his primary and secondary education before he later proceeded to Ondo State College of Arts and Science in Ikare Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Ayefele worked briefly as journalist and broadcaster at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ibadan, where he also produced jingles and musical works on radio.[7] He began his music career in 1997 after he was involved in an automobile accident which damaged his spinal cord and made him reliant on a wheelchair.[8][9] While in the hospital after spending there about 9 months, his friend, Kola Olootu visited and advised him to put some songs together.[10] This suggestion resulted in the release of his debut album titled, Bitter Experience in 1998 which brought him into limelight.[11] The release of Bitter Experience was followed by the release of Sweet Experience.[12] Other albums released by the gospel musician are Something Else, Divine Intervention and Life after death, released in honor of Gbenga Adeboye, a Nigerian radio presenter, musician and comedian.[13] The title Bitter Experience reflected his ordeal and Sweet Experience was the sweetness after a “Bitter Experience”.[
He had received over 200 awards.[15] Among other awards are:
- Member of the Order of the Niger awarded by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2011)
- Ekiti cultural ambassador award
Yinka Ayefele owns a radio station called Fresh FM 105.9 FM located in Oyo state. The radio station was established in 2015 and licensed by NBC on 30 April 2015.[16]
