The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Singing

  • ‘Singing for Pa Awolowo established me in music’

    ‘Singing for Pa Awolowo established me in music’

    Musician and thespian Jacob Kunle Ajomale began his career with an album dedicated to the late Chief  Obafemi Awolowo in 1987. He marked his 30th  anniversary as a musician last Sunday with pomp and ceremony at the Academy Inn in Lagos. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, he talks about his musical journey and how the late Awolowo established him as a musician.

    My 30-year voyage in entertainment

    It began at age five, 48 years ago, when I joined the church choir in 1969. My mother made a covenant with God that if He gave her a male child, she would dedicate the boy to Him. Hence, my early start in the choir, but I never knew I would go professional when I sang in memory of the late Papa Awolowo in 1987.

    But, before then, at the Ogun State University (now, Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago Iwoye), I was already very much involved in the theatre. As a member of the pioneer drama/performing group on campus, the Gangan Caste, we entertained students weekly.

    I recalled that on March 4, 1983, the late Chief Awolowo came for an event at the school’s permanent site. We, members of the Gangan Caste, entertained dignitaries, including the late Governor Olabisi Onabanjo. Chief Awolowo was so thrilled and commended me publicly.

    The commendation became the fuel that urged me to take performing art to a professional level. I decided to start with music. It was during my National Youth Service in 1987 at the then Bendel State when Pa Obafemi Awolowo died. I decided to pay him my tribute by dedicating an album to him. In short, I would say singing in memory of  the late Papa Awolowo not only helped my musical career, it established me as a professional musician.

    I remember travelling to Ikenne, researched about the sage, and got the support of the family, especially the late Mama HID Awolowo. After gathering information on his achievements, I composed an album in his honour. I did not know then that I was breaking new grounds. Surprisingly, the album won me the 1987 best Corper’s award in Bendel State; and got me automatic employment. Although the album did not realise much money, it marked the beginning of my foray into professional music. In fact, that episode was one of the greatest motivations I have had on my journey. To God be the glory, since then I have been able to release eight albums and composed so many songs.

    My shot at limelight

    Music has taken me across the globe. The album that actually brought me into limelight was Damuso, meaning “The Comforter” released in 1994. We sold many  copies; and it was the album that first got me overseas tours. Before then, there was Lehin Jesu ko s’enikan, which was a joint-performance, released in 1991, and by 1993, had sold over a million copies. I initially composed the song, Lehin Jesu ko s’enikan, for my church. There was a request by the then choir master, at the then C$S movement Surulere circuit, for new songs. So I developed that chorus, built on it and then gave it to him and, honestly, I never knew it would go far and become so popular. The church later went to the studio and the song was tracked number two in the album after, “Lehin oke mimo”.

    God Almighty has indeed been faithful. He has blessed me with great people from all walks of life. During President Olusegun Obasanjo’s official visit to Washington in the United States, I played for him. In Washington, I also met with the Oba Akinolu of Lagos. I have played for the present Oba Oniru; the late Oba of Benin, Oba Erediuwa while serving in his palace during my Youth Service; and the present Oba of Epe. I recall former Nigeria ambassador to the United States, Professor Jubril Aminu, once invited me to his house in Washington to appreciate me. I equally played at Baba Adeboye’s daughter’s wedding, Pastor Bolu, in the US.

    Commercial viability of music

    Has it been financially gratifying? I would say to God be all the glory. Without looking at the monetary aspect, music is satisfying. I do not like to look at the monetary aspect of my music. I have never charged churches when I sing, even in the US. All that they needed to do was to send me air ticket. If they appreciate me with honorarium, fine; if not, all well and good. But I do  charge, when it comes to parties, weddings, anniversaries and so on. And God has been faithful and that was why I decided to mark my 30 years’ celebration last Sunday, August 27, with a musical feast with dignitaries, friends and fans. Guests had the opportunity to hear my new song, which talks about my debt to God. It was indeed a glorious day for me.

    My message

    My music is my message and my message, my music. Within and outside the country, I am known for gospel and soul-lifting secular songs. My music cuts across socio-political and spiritual realm. I not only minister in churches, I also entertain at public functions. I believe in making good music, which is a blend of three Ms -Melody, Message and Music. Today, many  young artistes don’t recognise that to do a good music requires prayers and observing vigils. The message of music is as important as the melody. Many today have substituted good music with technology and the fact that the society does not really care about the message again.

    I believe it is important musicians should learn to play a musical instrument. It would help in the composition of songs. I am a composer: I arrange and produce songs too. The keyboard is my main instrument of music because it helps me when I am composing songs. You can find me with the mouth organ.

    My inspiration

    My music and message is always divine. God is my first inspiration. I also get inspiration from different sources: my environment, from what people say, happenings around us and so on. David in his Psalms inspires me a lot. Reading through the Books of Psalms, you find David go through lots of ups and downs of life but encouraged himself in the Lord. I have also cultivated the habit as well. When the storm was heavy on me years ago, the Scripture encouraged me. I had this very strong faith in God that no matter what it was, I will praise him till my last breath. At times, I hear music from God. As we are talking, I could hear music but if I don’t write it down, I will forget. The song, Damuso, was inspired while I was sleeping. The beginning of my upcoming album, “Count your blessings”, was inspired by words of a friend to me.

    My mentors

    Jesus is my greatest mentor. I must say that David the Psalmist is one of my mentors.

    I am also inspired by King Sunny Ade, Don McLean, Ebenezer Obey, Funmi Aragbaye, Ayewa, Telemi, Tope Alabi and Nike Elegbede, among others. They are wonderful people and talented children of God who play very good music which I love.

    Future of my music

    I would love to be a chorister and musician till eternity. I want to play with the heavenly host by His grace. So, as long as I live, I would be a chorister. I am a chorister musician for life. I will soon release a new album.

  • Singing like a canary

    Someone is singing a new song on Ekiti State, and it is like a bird singing. Not that the sound is harmonious. Indeed, it is a result of disharmony, and it is sure to promote disharmony and prolong disharmony.

    Interestingly, the man who is singing like a canary is a former Secretary of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Temitope Aluko. On January 31, he told the public: “Immediately after the primary election, we collected another $35 million from Jonathan on June 17, 2014. The money was brought to us by the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. We all assembled in front of Spotless Hotel, Ado-Ekiti, owned by Fayose. Thereafter, the cash was taken to a Bureau De Change in Onitsha where, with the support of Chris Uba, it was converted to N4.7 billion.”

    Then the singer introduced lyrics about the desperate militarisation of the state ahead of the election to favour Fayose. Aluko said:  “We went into the election with 1040 recognised soldiers and another batch of 400 unrecognised soldiers brought from Enugu by Chief Chris Uba. In addition, we raised 44 Special Strike teams, brought in Toyota Hilux buses from Abuja and Onitsha… They were detailed to attack and arrest prominent APC chieftains in all the local governments… To encourage the Strike Team members, we gave them orders to share money and other valuables they could lay their hands on in the houses of APC chieftains they raided… Then we set up detention camps, mainly in primary schools, where most of the APC chieftains were detained. Others were detained in police stations where the DPOs were friendly with us. We let them off after the election was over.”

    The song is getting more interesting, isn’t it? Aluko went on: “We provided polling agents for the APC in most of the polling units so we had no problem getting them to sign election results in the units.”

    Aluko was trying to say the election that produced Governor Fayose could not be described as free and fair. Aluko feels as free as a bird and believes his song is fair because he is fighting alleged unfairness.

    He said: “Before the election, Fayose, Femi Bamishile and I jointly swore with the Holy Bible on a sharing formula after we must have won the election. We agreed that Fayose would be governor, Bamishile his deputy and I, Chief of Staff. But the moment he got into office, Fayose reneged on the agreement and left me in the lurch.”

    What if Aluko’s new narrative is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Would that redeem him? Or, more pointedly, would it restore his honour?

  • Mbong Amata’s new act launches singing competition

    Mbong Amata’s new act launches singing competition

    Recently, Nigerian actress, Mbong Amata announced the launch of her record label, Bong House, and it appears that she has hit the ground running. Her new sign-on, who simply goes by the name Splash, has not only released a new single, but has followed it up with a singing competition.

    Splash, a female rapper, who sings majorly in Igbo language, recently released a new single titled Na God, featuring new entrant, Byno.

    Announcing Splash’s competition on her Instagram page, Amata said that it is to enable the budding artiste give back to her fans.

    “So guys! It’s official!! My first signed super talented rap artist @splashmusik just dropped her first Single Na God ft @iambyno. She’s put out a competition that will enable her give back to her fans. The winner gets a cash prize of $1000 and a lunch date,” Amata posted.

    She further explained that all that fans need to do to qualify for the competition is to follow Splash and herself on Instagram, sing their own version of Na God and post it on the platform. After three weeks, she said, the contestant with the highest number of likes gets $1000 and gets to hang out with Splash.

  • Yemi Alade launches singing contest

    Yemi Alade launches singing contest

    She is currently on a tour of Europe, but Nigerian pop diva, Yemi Alade, is keeping her fans close. The sultry singer, during the week launched a singing competition tagged Temperature Singing Contest.

    Hosted on Instagram as part of her birthday celebrations, she revealed that a lucky fan will get to dine with her at Eko Hotel and receive a brand new iPhone 6. All they simply need to do is post a video of themselves singing the track, Temperature, off her King of Queens album and campaign for votes/likes after it is reposted on Yemi Alade’s Instagram account. Fans can also record covers of the song as the instrumentation of the song has been made available for free download.

    According to the songstress, the video with the highest amount of likes will, by March 13, be declared winner.

    “We will also be releasing the music video for the duet, Temperature with afro R&B royal, Dil on March 13,” she revealed.

  • Singing silence

    Singing silence

    • Maya Angelou, 86, was regal in poetry, politics and battle against patriarchy

    Perhaps one of the most definitive indications of what Maya Angelou represented was her insightful statement following the 2009 emergence of Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United States of America. “We are growing up beyond the idiocies of racism and sexism,” she declared profoundly when Obama won the historic presidential election.

    Of particular relevance to Nigeria, her impressive perspective on another idiocy, specifically despotism, was instructively supplied in a posthumous tribute by a fellow writer, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, who said she “mobilised emergency forces, and personally led the charge to beat down the doors of a lethargic – and/or ambiguous – US administration during the Sani Abacha murderous dictatorship.”

    According to Soyinka, “She kept her finger on the nation’s pulse throughout a people’s travails,” referring to Abacha’s brutish military rule from 1993 to 1998. This picture is remarkably representative of her phenomenal activism and civil rights consciousness. Black and proud of her colour, she lived and worked in Ghana in the 1960s, which deepened her sense of identity and influenced her trajectory.      By the time Angelou made her exit on May 28, aged 86, there was no doubt that hers was a well-rounded life. The African-American woman of many memorable parts personified a can-do spirit that inspired numerous people across the world and she told her dramatic life story to huge international applause. She achieved fame for her chain of seven autobiographies, especially the first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), which captures her life up to the age of 17.

    Significantly, her devotion to documentary writing was mirrored by the fact that in 2013, at the age of 85, she published her seventh autobiography, Mom & Me & Mom, which is about her relationship with her mother. Indeed, she was reportedly writing another autobiography about her experiences with national and world leaders, which her death aborted.  It is a testimony to her distinctive quality that her non-fiction narratives of her life experiences, which centred on themes of racism, identity and family, were consciously stylised and, paradoxically, attracted description as autobiographical fiction.

    Like her personality, her oeuvre was expansive and transcended autobiographies. Characterised as “the black woman’s poet laureate”,  she also published several volumes of poetry,  three collections of essays,  and got credit for a number of plays, movies and television shows in a writing life that spanned about 50 years and earned her multiple awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.

    Her stature was reflected in her momentous poetry performance at the 1993 inauguration of US President Bill Clinton where she recited her poem, On the Pulse of Morning, setting a record as the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at John Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961. Notably, the occasion was regarded as a massive boost for her celebrity “across racial, economic, and educational boundaries,” and the recording of the poem got a Grammy Award.

    It is noteworthy that two years later, she drew global attention with the presentation of what was described as her “second ‘public’ poem”, A Brave and Startling Truth, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. Other honours distinguished her, including three Grammys for her spoken word albums, the National Medal of Arts in 2000, the Lincoln Medal in 2008 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

    One defining incident in Angelou’s life is worth recounting. Raped by her mother’s boyfriend, the fact that she exposed the man led to his murder by avengers, and the shocked eight-year-old became mute for almost five years. She said:  ”I thought my voice killed him; I killed that man, because I told his name. And then I thought I would never speak again, because my voice would kill anyone …” It was during this period of silence that she found her voice as a writer.