Alhaji Qamardeen Odunlami, aka Aiyeloyun, is one of the top Islamic singers in Nigeria. In his 22 years of professional career as an artiste, he has produced 25 albums to critical acclaim. In this interview with BABATUNDE SULAIMAN, the father of three talks about his humble beginning in the music industry, aborted dream, family and other interesting issues.
What project are you working on at the moment? I just finished my new album entitled Iwulo( Benefit) and it will be this week.
How many songs do you have on the new album?
I have eight tracks?
What inspired that title?
A couple of years ago, I had an accident, but I thank God I survived it. So, I want everybody to know that no one can be regarded as useless. In other words, the people you think cannot be of any benefit to you may turn out to be useful to you. When I was in need, the people I least expected to be of help were the ones who eventually helped me.
I remember that two of your members died in the accident, but did you suspect any foul play?
No! As a Muslim, and a devout one for that matter, I believe that whatever happens to one in this life has been predestined by Allah.
How many albums have you released so far?
How long have you been playing music professionally?
I started professionally in 1992.
Many believe that your song, Igbeyawo, has been your greatest hit…
(Cuts in) Yes. But it was even my ninth album and it was released in 2003.
For some time now, a number of Islamic singers have featured either Fuji artistes or Hip hop artistes on their albums. Could you explain the reason for this new trend?
The truth is we are trying to cut across. Both the Fuji artistes and Hip hop artistes have their own fans. So, collaborating with any of them will increase our own fan base and vice-versa, given that we also have our own fan base.
But if you consider their lyrics, you will realise that they are not in tune with what the only Qur’an preaches. So, how do you reconcile this?
When you are in Rome, you behave like the Romans. In Nigeria, we have a lot of people who are fans of these artistes; so, for you to win their hearts, you have to borrow some of their tunes and refine them.
And you think that is in line with your faith?
It has nothing to do with my faith, but my music. Besides, what matters most is the message I am trying to pass across.
I know a few artistes who told me they had issues with their marketers and producers. So, have you had any serious issue with any of your marketers or producers?
There is one of my producers who told me to do a particular kind of song. Of course, if I had done it, it would have fetched me a lot of money. But the truth is, it is against my fate; so, I said I couldn’t.
I have listened to some of your songs and I can say you are very deep and philosophical. So, how did you acquire this gift?
I am a good listener and I talk less. I acquired my knowledge from my experiences and listening to the elderly ones. More importantly, I read the Holy Qur’an always and there is wisdom in it.
Were you also thinking of going into music while you were studying in Marcaz?
No. I never thought of being a musician. But it just happened. Naturally, I am shy. Off stage, I am a different person. Even when we were still in Markaz, my mates knew I was shy. In fact, when they told my parents that I was singing, they said it was not possible. My father, in particular, said I couldn’t because I was even too shy to engage him in discussions most of the time. So, nobody really believed I could face a crowd.
So, how did you discover you could sing?
I remember we used to have an evening Arabic class, where I happened to be one of the teachers. So, during Ramadan, we would set a day aside to observe Lailatul- Quadry, when we would gather people to pray and all that. Usually, there was always a musical interlude, where some young ones would sing. On a certain occasion, all the young guys who were supposed to sing happened to sleep off. We tried to wake them up to sing, but it was not possible. So, someone just suggested that I do it since I knew all the songs. I did it and that was how it started. The following year, some other people started inviting me.
When did you release your first album and what was the title?
It was in 1994 and the title of the album was Taqwallah.
Apart from attending Marcaz, did you also have Western education?
But for fate, I would have been a lawyer now. I dropped out in part two in the university and I am not ashamed to say this. I was admitted to study Sharia and Common Law at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State in 2006. My first year was good, but I made some mistakes in my second year. So, my parents said I had to choose between music and education.
So, you eventually sacrificed Law for music?
Yes. But it wasn’t really a mistake. Honestly, I am willing to go back, but I am very engaged now.
What has music done for you?
It has brought me fame and taken me to so many places. Everybody knows the name Odunlami now.
How many are you from your parents?
We are seven, but I am the second.
How did you meet your wife?
We lived in the same neigbourhood while we were growing up. She noticed my interest in music and she decided to help me. After my first performance at that evening Arabic lesson, people started inviting me to shows. So, she suggested I have a band and I did. We used to have rehearsals once in a week, but I couldn’t pay the band members. I was supposed to be paying them N20 per show, but I was too broke to do that. So, she offered to be giving the money to pay the band members weekly. She is into business now. Our marriage is blessed with three kids (two boys and a girl).
What is the state of Islamic music in Nigeria at the moment?
In Nigeria, Islamic singers are seen as second-class citizens. They think we are not exposed and all that. But my argument is that, you cannot cross a gutter until you get very close to it. If you want to cross it from afar, you might end up injuring yourself or you might not achieve your aim. So, if I want people to see the beauty of Islam, I should try to let them see it in me. That is why I like mingling with people and communicating. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said if you understand the language of a certain tribe, the less harm they can do to you. So, to me, communication is very important. A lot of bad things are being said about Islam and I want to clear it through my music.
How does your wife react when she sees you in the midst of women?
She trusts me and that is what I like about her.
But how do you relate to your female fans?
Sometimes, I lose my anger. For instance, sometime ago, we were at a gathering and a woman, who was sitting in front of me, suddenly just kissed me and said she loved me. I didn’t know if anybody in the hall saw us because it would have been most embarrassing. So, I just walked out. She later called my wife and even told her she loved me. She said my wife could not stop her from having an affair with me. Honestly, it was very embarrassing.
