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Tag: ORLANDO OWOH

  • Day my Italian girlfriend pulled gun on me on suspicion of cheating

    Day my Italian girlfriend pulled gun on me on suspicion of cheating

    – Late Orlando Owoh’s manager, Musese

    Even at 80 years of age, only a few can boast of knowing his real name. That is because for decades, many have known and called him only by his nickname, Musese. However, Chief Samuel Olayiwola Ohunleye, one-time band manager of late Orlando Owoh of the African Kenneries band, who recently joined the league of Octogenarians, is a man of many mysteries and histories. Taiwo Abiodun, who recently caught up with him, reports.

    Early days

    In this rare interview, Chief Samuel Olayiwola Ohunleye aka Musese went down memory lane to talk about his years managing late Nigerian musician Orlando Owoh‘s band, the scary moment his Italian girlfriend pulled a pistol on him, Orlando Owoh ‘s brawl with the late Barrister Sikiru Ayinde and many more.

    “I was a sprinter back in my days at Imade College in Owo”, he began. “I represented my school in the 100 meters sprint when Queen Elizabeth of England came to Nigeria in 1956. I was very hardworking and honest, which made many to love me. Also, I am a principle person; I dislike people telling lies. It is not in my blood as a person from royal family to habour dishonesty. My parents were disciplinarians, so I inevitably imbibed that spirit and humility from them.”

    How my Italian girlfriend pulled a Pistol on me

    Musese recalls an incident once, when he traveled out of the country looking for greener pastures. “This Japa syndrome started from me. I laugh when I hear some people saying they Japa, they Japa; I started it. And it was not easy. I had a lady I wanted to marry back home called Dupe who is now late. We were so much in love. I told her of my plan to travel abroad and my plan to meet my Italian Pen pal girlfriend who had sent me an invitation. Back in the days, we had Pen pals and sent post cards, love and greeting cards to each other. It was the vogue then. I told Dupe that after settling down I would send for her. Meanwhile, I had introduced my future fiancee, Dupe, to her as my sister. So when I got to Italy, Dupe started writing to me. One day, one of Dupe’s letters was intercepted by this Italian lady. In fact, I didn’t know how she got the letter. She showed me the letter and read the contents to me which was full of promises and love messages, reminding me not to forget my promise to bring her to Italy once I got my papers.

    “The Italian lady read it out line by line to my hearing. I was glued to where I was standing and sweating profusely. She then drew out a pistol in with a clear intent to shoot me. I became confused; I knelt down, I prostrated, I rubbed my hands and I was perspiring and panting like a dog. I was begging her not to shoot. You see all these foreign ladies? They don’t joke with love. If you are caught cheating on them, you are doomed. For some reason, she did not pull the trigger, but she immediately reported me to the Police. And because over there they have sympathy for women; I was immediately deported back to Nigeria. That was in 1970. The rest, like they say, is history.”

    How I met Orlando Owoh

    “I was Orlando Owoh’s manager for about 38 years. I was not his first manager though. The first manager was Sunday Adetoro; later the late Chief Osennepen became his manager. In fact I brought Osennepen to Orlando. I met Orlando Owoh in Mushin in company of my late police officer friend, Olu Amonbonye (aka Kanna Kanna Olympio) in Panti, Lagos. We were friends with Ohuru Dandy. We used to meet at a Palm wine bar owned by one Ohimaro, an Ibo man who once lived and sold palm wine in Owo before he relocated to Lagos. Even in Lagos, he continued with the same business, so anytime the three of us went to the palm wine bar, we invited Orlando to join us. One day, Orlando said he needed some assistance; I said if it was money or instrument I didn’t have. Then I was planning to go back to Italy, or America.  Orlando later told me he was looking for someone to manage him, especially someone from his hometown. That was how I temporarily shelved traveling out again. Again, the rest became history.”

    Managing Orlando

    “The late Musician was easy and simple. I discovered I could manage him as long as I could talk to him in a good manner and above all be kind and honest with him. These are the qualities Orlando wanted. He wasn’t arrogant; in fact he was one of the best musicians to manage. When we started, we were collecting two shillings and six pence as gate fee at shows. We used to play at Baba Sala’s hotel in Ibadan. In fact Orlando had played in many states in Nigeria.”

    Memories

    “His memory cannot be easily wiped out. He is a legend. He can be likened to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Bob Marley or Jimmy Cliff who recently died. He was among the freedom fighters because his music was folkloric, poetic, and full of proverbs. He sang for freedom. You could say he was radical but that was his own style.”

    On how many today now copy and sing Orlando’s songs, even mimic his voice, Musese said: “That is what I am saying! That is what makes him a legend! Look, Bob Marley died over 40years ago but his music lives on and many books have been published about him. A writer in Ogbomoso, Folaranmi Adewuyi Adegbite published a book on Orlando Owoh. If you go on the Internet, you will see different artistic ways his pictures are being used with his songs. Go and see what Artificial Intelligence is doing with Bob Marley. Look, they have been playing Jimmy Cliff music the more since the announcement of his death a few days ago. The Internet has exploded with his videos. That is exactly how Orlando is now. I know about six or seven musicians singing like him, and some are not even from his native town.

    “My prayer is to have the Ondo State and Lagos State Arts and Culture give him more recognition and have his statue erected at his house and in Lagos and Ifon, Owoh’s home-town, just like they did for Bob Marley in Jamaica.  They will soon erect Jimmy Cliff’s statue in Jamaica and all over the world because his music is healing to troubled souls. Recently, at Channel 8 (LTV), Agidingbi, Ikeja, we were given an award related to Orlando. I mean myself, Orimipe Orlando (Orlando’s son) and his group along with some Orlando Band Boys who are still alive, in recognition of our works.

    My fear at 80

    “My regret is I can no longer do most of what I used to do, especially early morning jogging. I was a sprinter back in my youth days. Now I am afraid of all these rampaging bandits, so I have stopped jogging, because they could kidnap me and be asking for a ransom from my family. The fear of bandits is the beginning of wisdom. I understand they have surrounded everywhere in our Southwest. So now I do everything at home. I would walk round the compound and do some exercises.

    “Yes, I recently clocked 80 and I thank God for my life. I still have some of my friends like Chief Akin Aruwajoye Snr who is the Ogbeni Oja of Owo Kingdom; Dr. Tokunbo Ajasin and some others. However, some of my friends have died. I thank God that I am still alive. There is this history of longevity in my family. My mother died last year at the age of 95. The final burial ceremony is coming up this December. My father also died at a very old age. My younger ones are in their 70s. My father once told me that they live long in our family, same with my maternal side. When you are getting old, you cut down on so many things. There are foods you should not eat and so on.”

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    My best Orlando album

    “My best Orlando albums are: Ero ki Mama mi o bo ba dele and Itan Orogun Meji. The two tracks are powerfully loaded with words of encouragement, love, mother’s love and emotional. When you are far away from home, you play ‘Ero ki Mama mi’ …. And if you practise polygamy, be good to your step children and anybody. Imagine a second wife poisoning the food of her step-son, only for her only child to eat it! There are lessons to learn from Orlando’s songs. As I said, his songs are like that of Bob Marley.

    The cold war between Orlando Owoh and Sikiru Ayinde Barrister 

    Musese went down memory lane to recall the cold war between two late Musicians: Orlando Owoh and Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. He said: “Many years back, both musicians were invited by an elderly man to perform during December period. The two musicians were asked to play for 30 minutes each. Orlando followed the instruction and played for 30minutes but when it was the turn of Barrister, he played non-stop. Orlando was not impressed. The celebrant’s son came to tell Barrister to stop, but he didn’t yield. Before you could say Jack Robinson, Barrister’s instruments stopped working. He then came to beg Orlando, thinking it was his handiwork. Yes! Barrister accepted Orlando as his Boss. Orlando removed all his clothes remaining his underwear to prove that he didn’t have anything (juju) on him to have used to stop Barrister’s instruments. Barrister later used Orlando’s instruments to play that night.”

    I keep my beard for security reason

    Asked why he keeps his beard, Musese laughed and said, “It is my logo. It is my signature. It is my identity,” he said, bursting into laughter. “Once when I shaved it many years ago, it was my friend, Olu Amonbonye (Kanna Kanna), the police officer who frowned at it and advised me not to shave it again. I had gone to visit him at his office and he asked me to come in. Surprisingly, when I sat before him, he could not recognise me and was still asking one of his officers to bring me in. When I now told him that ‘this is me, Musese,’ he looked at me again and said he found it difficult to recognise me. He then advised me never to shave, that it is only criminals who change their identity. He said people could mistake me for a criminal if I start changing from what they knew me for. That was how I stopped shaving and it’s now over 50 years ago.”

    Now retired

    “I have retired from managing anybody,” Musese said. “But I have a small place where I sell beer. We call the place ‘Ijoko Agba (Base of Elders). Here brains like Honorable Fadeyi, Bayo Afolabi, some professors, people in the academic community and others brainstorm. We discuss very important things and how to make sure Owo develops. It is not a political forum, but a place for elders in Owo community to brainstorm.”

    How he got the name, Musese

    Now he bursts out laughing. “I don’t even know the meaning. It was my Italian lady whose name I have even forgotten that was calling me Muzeze; but our people could not pronounce it. Instead they changed the Z to S and started calling me Musese. It has stuck with me till date.

  • Varsity honours Orlando Owoh, Adepoju

    Varsity honours Orlando Owoh, Adepoju

    The Lagos State University (LASU) has honoured  the  late legendary highlife musician, Chief Oladipupo Owomoyela, popularly known as Dr Orlando Owoh.

    The institution organised  a colloquium and cultural display in conjunction with his global fans group to honour him.

    It was organised by the School of Creativity, Culture and Tourism of LASU, which also conferred Ambassadorial fellows on two eminent Nigerians- Chief Mutiu Adepoju, who is a celebrated football administrator and former international football player and coach as well as Dr Adebusola Onilogbo-Odedina, a cultural advocate and Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Lagos State Council of Arts and Culture.

    Dean of the school, Prof. Tunji Azeez, noted that the  celebration aimed  to reflect on the life and times of the late music icon regarding how his music promoted culture and creativity.

    He described him as  a man of many parts, stressing that  his music positively touched many lives beyond the country.

    Azeez praised  his family, especially his three children-Orimipe, Kunle, Daisi- who took after their father as musicians.

    Delivering a  lecture : “Reflecting the contribution of Dr Orlando Owoh,” the guest speaker, who is also a Professor of Music at LASU, Isaac Yekini- Ajenifuja, chronicled the life and times of the late musician  including his foray into theatre, military, and full-time music and death.

    He described his contribution to music industry, national development and the society at large as priceless.

    According to him, Orlando Owoh’s ‘Kennery’ style of Music was full of creativity and culture end most of his albums-no fewer than 45 of them-were mostly borrowed from Yoruba folklore, personal experiences and the Bible.

    He however, urged the government, especially in the South-west geopolitical zone and concerned individuals to establish a museum in his honour.

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    He said the museum will not only serve as legacy but also as a tourism site, generating employment and revenue.

    Head of Department, Creativity, culture and tourism, Dr Adeyinka Olarinmoye paid tribute to Owoh, stressing that his music continues to live on though he is no more. She noted the department decided to honour him because of the impact he had made through his music.

     Mr. Orimipe Olatunbosun Owomoyela, who is the first son of the late music legend and president of his global fans group, thanked LASU’s School of Creativity, Culture and Tourism for celebrating his late father.

    He said the honour would encourage the entire family, especially some of them who are into music to keep contributing to music industry and national development.

    He noted that he would  follow up on the guest speaker’s recommendation for government or concerned individuals to create museum in honour of his late father.

    Adepoju said the honour bestowed on him was a testament that he is not forgotten, following his  contributions to  sports.

    He said: “This honour means a lot to me because it shows that people and a university for that matter have not forgotten the little, I have done and contributed through sport to Nigeria and humanity, and I feel humbled about the development.”

  • Orlando Owoh’s protégé drops ‘Final Say’

    Orlando Owoh’s protégé drops ‘Final Say’

    Protégé of late highlife crooner, Orlando Owoh, Surebanty, last Thursday, dropped his latest single entitled Final Say.

    Produced by Seaman and mastered by Swaps, Final Say boasts of collaborative features from Jahbless, Samklef, Sheyman, Morachi and Side one.

    Surebanty, a native of Abeokuta, Ogun State who trained as a Science Laboratory Technologist at the Lagos State Polytechnic, is best known for his creative fusion of African dialects into hip hop rhythms. His love for Orlando Owoh has inspired him to create a style that is uniquely blended with Afro-sounds.

    His last job was a cover of Sexual Healing by late soul singer Marvin Gaye.

    “My experience in the music industry and life inspired the song and title,” said Surebanty.

    “I particularly wrote and sang the song to make people understand that no matter what they are going through, it’s God that has the final say.”

     

  • The Nomoreloss you never knew

    The Nomoreloss you never knew

    Olumuyiwa Osinuga, also known as Nomoreloss, was born in Lagos western Nigeria in the 70’s. The veteran singer had his primary and secondary education at A.D.R.A.O International school, Victoria Island.

    His growing up in the high-brow areas of Lagos, Nigeria played a great part in his appreciation of classical music as well as music of international flavor.

    Nomoreloss was also privileged to study the rudiments of music from one of Nigeria’s greatest instrumentalist and jazz saxophonist Kunle Ajayi.

    He started out as a rapper while in high school and later on switched to master of ceremony at various events. An accomplished stand-up comedian, mc, musical video director as well as a television host, he has directed musical videos for such artists like Lexy Doo, Jagunlabi, Jah Borne, Cimion, Folake Umosen and was project coordinator and producer for the video CD for the controversial rapper Rugged Man’s Thy Kingdom Come Album.

    With role models such as Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Orlando Owoh, IK Dairo, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1), he is also a producer of both music and television programs.

    With a fusion of R&B, pop, jazz, reggae and jazz with an underlying tone of west African high life has led him to create a style that is unique in its appeal but most certainly soulful in its delivery which has been labeled, ‘New High-Life’.

    In 2012, Nomoreloss wrote the biggest song of singer, Jaywon’s career titled ‘This Year.’ In June 2015 he released the album ‘Grass to Grace’. In 2014 he dropped the album ‘Standing ‘, and ‘Then & Now’. His debut album ‘Let Them Say’ was released in 2006.

    Nomoreloss entered public consciousness in 2002 when he featured in Ruggedman’s classic cut ‘Ehen’. Prior to that he was a presenter on the music TV show ‘Groovoidz’.

    While making a name for himself as a gifted singer, Nomoreloss also shot music videos for many Nigerian singers at the time.

    Nomoreloss got married to Rhythm 93.7 FM OAP Phoenix (Adeola Osinuga) in 2008 and they welcomed their daughter on Saturday, January 15, 2011.

    He will forever be remembered as a Veteran singer, an inspirational artiste and a producer.

  • ‘Why I never stopped Orlando Owoh from smoking Indian hemp’

    ‘Why I never stopped Orlando Owoh from smoking Indian hemp’

    Samuel Olayiwola aka Musese was manager to the late Kennery Hi-life musician Dr. Orlando Owoh and probably one of the closest people to him. In this encounter with Taiwo Abiodun, he shared the story of how he used to hide the illicit weed in his stockings while travelling with the singer, even though he never for once smoked it.

    His name is Samuel Olayiwola but the name by which he is popularly known is Musese and he was manager to late popular Yoruba hi-life musician, Dr. Orlando Owoh, notorious for his love for marijuana, which he popularly called ‘ganja’.

    Musese is of average height, dark-complexioned and sports grey bushy beard and moustache, which draws attention everywhere he goes and which he ‘celebrates’ by combing it at every opportunity. Sensing this reporter’s curiousity, he tells this reporter that “I cherish my beard and take proper care of it. It makes me stand out like an albino in the market.”

    An interesting character you may say, but a major highlight of this interview was when 68 year-old Musese revealed that he neither smokes Indian hemp nor cigarette. For a man who was probably the closest to the late Owoh, this was news, as many erroneously believed he couldn’t be much different from his principal. He explained that the reason he still looks so young and bubbly even at his age is because “I don’t do all these things that would make me go old prematurely. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol, but I take special wine. Many believe I also indulge in smoking because I used to keep Indian hemp for the late Orlando, but let me use this opportunity to set the record straight: I have never for once smoked Indian hemp in my life.”

    The name, Musese and his deportation from Italy

    “When I was young, I had an Italian pen-pal living in Italy, who became my girlfriend, even though we were miles and ocean apart.  She it was who gave me the nickname ‘Muzeze’; but my people at home did not know how to spell or pronounce it, and they started calling me ‘Musese.’

    When he eventually travelled to meet the lady in Italy (he can no longer remember her name), his girlfriend at home (Dupe), whom he had hitherto introduced to the Italian as his sister, was constantly writing him. Naturally, she did not worry and never bothered about the contents of the letters, until one fateful day, when the bubble finally burst.

    “She stumbled on the letters and found out that Dupe was in actual fact my girlfriend. She   reported me to the authorities and that was how I was deported back to Nigeria. That was in 1971 and I went straight to Ibadan to settle down.”

    He revealed that Dupe died a long time ago and that it was unfortunate that they never got married, even though they became quite an item on the social scene, with Orlando Owoh waxed a song in their honour during one of her birthdays in the ’70s. They started dating while she was a student of St Louis Grammar School, Owo, and he was a student at Imade College, Owo, Ondo State. He recalls with nostalgia how Dupe’s parents accommodated him while he was living in Lagos, adding that “they were great people.”

    How he met Orlando

    Speaking on how he met the late musician, Musese goes down memory lane.  “On my deportation from Italy, I went to Ibadan to settle down. Anytime my older brother who was serving in the Nigerian Army in Kaduna came home, he would bring Orlando’s records. My street was very close to  Orlando’s own; while I was living in Omodigbo Street, he was living in Oremeji Street. There was a man called Orimaro; he was a palm-wine tapper and we (me and my late friend, Kanakana Olympio) used to go to his place to drink anytime I went to Orlando’s place. Kanakana Olympio was in the Custom Service. One day, we asked Orlando what his problem was, and he said there was no Owo native who had ever come forward to help him financially. He also said he had nobody from Owo to manage his band. He then asked me pointedly to come and manage him. That was how I became his Manager. “

    Orlando’s many Obstacles

    Musese who spent over 30 years with the late musician said it was not easy managing him.  “Orlando Owoh was a great man no doubt, but he faced so many obstacles in back then. First, he had no instrument; in fact, he had nothing. But because I had some money with me, having just come back from Italy, we started hiring instruments. He was very appreciative and told virtually everybody about what I was doing.”

    But why did he never try to stop Orlando Owoh’s hemp-smoking habit? Why did he practically support and even defend him despite the fact that he himself never inhaled the banned weed? We asked.

    Here he raised his voice, betraying subdued anger. “He was smoking ‘Igbo’, so what! I supported his smoking of Indian hemp because it did not affect him. Even as he smoked, he knew what he was doing. Orlando had a secluded area in Decca Studio’s compound where he would sit and smoke, and whenever it was time to start recording, he would come into the studio and start recording without rehearsal.”

    Continuing he said, “I never bought Igbo for him; once in a while, I drank beer anytime I had money, but he always had his stuff in stock. Whenever we were travelling and I was wearing knickers, I would put it in my stockings for him. I spent over 30 years with him as a manager before he died and I can tell you he was a great man.”

    On Orlando’s cocaine saga

    Musese recalled vividly his boss’s most trying time. He said the cocaine saga that culminated in Owoh’s time in police cells and prison and which led to the song on Alagbon was real.

    “I was in Kano when I read it in the papers that a top musician was arrested for cocaine. Immediately, I knew it was my boss. If I was around, I would have been taken away too. Nobody would have believed that I didn’t smoke or sniff cocaine, because I was the closest person to him. Do you know that Nigerian security officials went to King Sunny Ade to ask him if I smoked? But he told them that I only drank. They (security men) also went to Chief Edebo, one of our friends who lived in Ibadan to inquire about me, but they missed me narrowly, as I left through a footpath. It was a celebrated case, if you’d recall.”

    One other reason he never bothered about Orlando’s smoking habit was because “He was never a troublesome person. He was like Fela. Some people take Indian hemp and go mad, but when these people take it, they became more alert and sang songs that made great sense.”

    He recalled that it was only Orlando whom Fela allowed to play at his African shrine. And I remember that he (Fela) used to say he does not want cocaine or heroin in his shrine. He also once said if it was only Igbo (Indian hemp) that Orlando was accused of and that he could have come and fight for him when he was jailed.”

    Asked to tell who smoked more between the two late musicians, Musese declared without mincing words that “Fela was greater than Orlando in smoking of Indian hemp.”

    On Owoh’s poverty in the face of success

    Asked why Orlando remained poor despite his success as a musician, Musese said the late Kennery king never placed much value on money. Besides, he said “Nigerian producers are rip-offs. They are not trustworthy. When they make 100,000 naira, they would falsify the figure. That is why people like Orlando never made it before they died.

    “Another factor, which was an offshoot of the little value he placed on money, was that he was overgenerous. Orlando was generous to a fault, and was always after other people’s welfare. He would not eat alone; and he had a lot of people living with him at his expense. Little wonder people like one-time governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola,  Abiola of Ilesha, Die the Matter, The king of Apata, the Olugbenga of Ugbe and Ayesoro, a car dealer in Akure stood by him by him when he was alive. “

    Ooni’ s contribution

    Musese also recalls the role of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse played during the musician’s crisis, declaring that he has never seen any person or king like him. “He stood solidly by Orlando and anytime we came back from the court, the Ooni ‘s palace was always our first point of call. Kabiyesi will be forever remembered for his great assistance during those trying times.

    On the controversy that marred Owoh’s burial

    What still pains Musese till date is the fact that the musician was made to rest in Lagos against his wish.  “He had wanted to be buried in Ifon, his country home in Ondo State. I was the chairman of the Burial Committee with Oblazo. After series of meetings, we went to the late Olusegun Agagu, the then governor of Ondo state; there was this commissioner from Ifon, whom Agagu asked to take over. They had completed Orlando’s building in Ifon, with only the roofing left; so we went to Lagos to see his wives, but they insisted he should be buried in Lagos. They discouraged us. They probably thought they could make money out of it. But we were not happy. We told Sunny Ade, but somehow he backed out.”

    Musese’s early life

    Samuel Olayiwola revealed to this reporter that he was a great sprinter in his youthful days. “In 1956, I represented my school in the 100 meters race, when Queen Elizabeth came to Nigeria. Up until 1970, I represented Imade College. I was also the Senior Boy at All Saints’ Modern School. That was 1963/64.”

  • ‘Ours is a family of musicians’

    ‘Ours is a family of musicians’

    Oluwatosin Bamidele Owomoyela is the younger brother of the late Orlando Owoh famous for the the Africa Kennery Band. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde and Udemma Chukwuma, Owomoyela, an automobile engineer turned musician, went down memory lane to talk about the music that runs in the family his early life with Orlando Owoh,  and the controversial sides of his late brother who died about five years ago

    You play kennery music which was synonymous with the late Orlando Owoh, are you related to him?

    He is my elder brother, not immediate. My dad had 11 wives and Orlando was number 17 or thereabout. I should be number 37 on dad’s list of children.

    How was it like growing up in that kind of home?

    It was a very loving home and we lived happily together. We are from Ifon, near Owo in Ondo State. My father was richly blessed; God gave him a lot of wisdom. He was very rich and he was into building and carpentry. He was a total technician, he built and constructed. Everyone was involved helping him to make the business successful and my brother was a trader.

    What kind of father was he?

    He was a great man and a very loving man. We are a family of musicians. Our father was a musician and most of the philosophical Orlando songs are truly my father’s song. He was everything you could wish for in a father.

    At what point did Orlando decide to go into full time music?

    We were born into it. There is a culture in my family that if you give birth to a baby, you would put the child on the bed to beat something like a drum and the child must react to it. If not they would say that this child is not our own. Orlando was born into it and later he started discovering himself. All Owomoyelas passed through the choir at the Methodist Church at Oshogbo. We were all born in Oshogbo, our father settled in Oshogbo.

    As a choir boy, Orlando was talented and should I say rascally. He was a multi- instrumentalist, singer and he had another thing going for him. He was also a dramatist. At the latter stage of his life, he joined some theatre groups like Kola Ogunmola.

    At what point did you join him in music?

    I studied Automobile Engineering and started with the Federal Government Technical College in Oyo, where I acquired some other certificates. I practiced for about 10 years and worked with reputable motor companies like SA Motors, Guinness Nigeria Plc and Glaxo Pharmaceuticals. However, the urge to play music wouldn’t allow me to do any other thing. I was with him as an apprentice in his band. The band was first known as Dr Orlando Owoh and his Formina Band and later it became the African Kenneries.

    I later started my band, Tosin Owoh and the Zion Kennery band. I grew in the church and that was why I added Zion but I play just exactly like him. We play at events like birthdays, weddings, burial and travel from place to place. I have been to so many countries around the world like France, Holland, Ghana, all for music. Working with Orlando was fun and I don’t think that there was any big event in Nigeria in his days that he was not invited to. He played for personalities like Alex Akinyele, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, General Olusegun Obasanjo and we went to Abuja to play for Babangida.

    Orlando was an ex soldier and he was also a revolutionary. If you listen to his songs, you would find some of the messages that he believed in. I am working to be like him and even surpass him.

    What do you consider as the greatest influence in Life?

    First of all, I would say God Almighty. I look up to God for everything. Next I would say my father because he was an all rounder. Then I had a great relationship with Orlando. In fact, he single- handedly funded my marriage about 20 years ago and I have five children from the union. My father had 11 wives but he advised his children not to take after him in this aspect of life.

    Why didn’t Orlando follow dad’s instruction?

    I would call him a replica of my father. When I see him, I see my father. Perhaps, it is the gene running in him. Officially, he had four or five wives but he had women all over the federation. There is no state that the doctor, did not have a woman, fans and admirers.

    He was a revolutionary of some sort; Do you share some of these qualities?

    That thing comes naturally with all of us. There are lots of things that I cannot do that my brother could do. Interestingly, I have only one wife and I took to Orlando Owoh’s advice. He said he had so many wives but I should not emulate him. I am also a member of the choir at the Methodist church, Palm Avenue, Mushin Lagos. I must say that with the help of God everything is going well for us.

     If you had to advise young people, what would you tell them?

    First, I would tell them to have the fear of God. They should be focused, know what you want to do. When I was working with the motor company and at the other places, I knew that my destination was music. That was why I went for apprenticeship under Orlando Owoh. It wasn’t as if the money was much, I just wanted to learn one or two things. So, it is important that they should remain focused, have the fear of God and listen to their parents.

    Orlando, like Fela Anikulapo Kuti, was a controversial person, what did you learn from him and how did you affect his life?

    He was positively controversial. He sang against the ills of the society and when you do that there are times when you would be on the wrong side of the government. When I joined the band, I tried to reform the band administratively. The talent was already there and what I did was to manage the band. My brother who is now based in the United States was also there with us.

    Orlando smoked Indian hemp and sang about it. He was also arrested for having drugs in his custody at some point, how did you feel about this?

    Indian hemp in itself is not bad. I don’t smoke but for some people Indian hemp is a spiritual thing. When he was arrested there was sabotage. He had the record for Dele Giwa and was the only artist who was bold enough to do something like that then. Just before the album came out the government people called him, saying we heard that you wanted to release an album for Dele Giwa, please don’t try it. He now retorted: “What if I do?” And they said there would be problem. He said he would never be afraid of anyone, that he was a soldier and was willing to die like a soldier any time.

    So he released the album and that was the genesis of the problem and the cocaine was planted in his bedroom. I was there that fateful day, the day they came to arrest him. It was arranged by the government. You know that Dele Giwa’s death was controversial and the album was quite revealing. I sang the song at a show recently and the crowd rose to give Orlando a standing ovation.

    What plans do you have for the next five years?

    I have started something for my late brother. Every year I stage the Orlando Owoh Memorial Dance where his colleagues and fans relived memories of the good old days. This is the fifth year and in November we will be celeb rating the man again. We had the last edition at the Officer’s Mess and it was very exciting. Hopefully, the next edition will be there also and we are still working on the modalities. Apart from the Lagos show we would also be taking it to Ondo and Osun states this year.

    I try as much as possible to promote the Kennery rhythm which he initiated. By the grace of God we have been pushing it around, that rhythm will never die and my album would soon be in the market.

  • ORLANDO OWOH ‘resurrects’ in new album

    ORLANDO OWOH ‘resurrects’ in new album

    LOVERS of Kennery music popularized by the late Dr. Orlando Owoh now have another reason to smile. The lull witnessed in the genre since he passed on may soon end, as a number of younger musicians are now following in the footsteps of the late musician.

    One of the young stars, who have been keeping the spirit of Orlando Owoh alive in their music, is Fakorede Afe, who is set to launch his debut album titled Eru o’bodo on Friday, May 2, in Akure, Ondo State.

    Speaking on his foray into music, Fakorede, said: “It started in a very mysterious way. I fell ill sometime in 2006 and it took a very long time before I became strong again. But the mystery in all of this was that while I was on the sickbed, I started singing. Before I knew what was happening, I had perfected the Kennery music as played by the late Orlando Owoh.

    “Now, I am ready to give my fans what they have been asking for all these years. The album is well-packaged and it will delight both old and young. I must confess that I am really surprised at the way the people have accepted us. The acceptance has been on the increase since we announced our entry into the industry, especially around Akure and other major towns in Ondo State. I really thank God for His mercies and grace.”

    Soon after he got up from the sick bed, Fakorede organized a group to try his hands on his new-found love. The first ‘jump’ the group had was a revelation, as the hitherto unknown group became the toast of lovers of Kennery music, who were still nursing the wound left in their hearts by the death of Orlando Owoh.

    When asked if he met the late Orlando during his lifetime, he said: “I met the late Orlando at his home in Lagos in 2008. When I told him that I wanted to be a musician, he told me to be ready to persevere and not be in a hurry to make money. He also said that I should not indulge in vices that can ruin my career.”

    “I love the Kennery master, his music and everything about him. The only aspect of his life that I don’t particularly do is the smoking. I don’t smoke or believe that I need to take anything before I sing. There is really no need for itbecause I source my inspiration by fasting, taking solitary walk or just watching my environment.”