Legendary Yoruba Ewi poet and writer, publisher, artiste producer and TV/radio presenter, Olatubosun Oladapo goes down memory lane with
Taiwo Abiodun.
The name Olatubosun Oladapo easily comes to mind when prominent Yoruba poets and literary artistes are being mentioned. For his prowess, his Yoruba listeners and admirers nicknamed him Odidere-Ayekooto Akewi – two names of birds reputed for their singing and chirping ability. He has been a Yoruba Ewi and Ijala poet, radio and television presenter and producer, recording artistes, artistes producer, herbal medicine expert, to mention a few. For the records, he has published over 29 Yoruba books, released 51 records and produced over 200 artistes.
Just last week, he was also honoured with the title of Aare Afedegbayi of Yorubaland by the Egbe Awon Colleges of Education of Nigeria.
And for all these, the 72 year-old legend of the Yoruba arts has over 200 awards and certificates to show. This indeed is the brief summary of the life and works of Pa Olatunbosun.
The philosopher-poet
His shop at Sayotik Complex, Lagos Garage Iwo Road Motor-park Ibadan is a bee-hive of activities; hardly devoid of customers. They throng the popular outlet for different reasons including to buy books and CDs on sale – both his and others’; and herbs. Some, like this reporter also drop by for interviews or to get appointments for future interviews. Some also visit for medical advice, while others visit for research in herbal medicine and therapy.
But whatever the motive of visit, Baba Olatubosun Oladapo always attends to all with total humility and respect.
Said one of the visitors: “If you come to Baba Olatubosun with heavy hearts, you will most likely leave smiling with joy and laughter. He heals with his words of advice, while his songs have therapeutic effects on the soul, healing the emotionally wounded.”
On the occasion of this reporter’s visit, his latest ewi album Taa Le ntan? (Who are you deceiving?) and Ara Igbaun Da? (Where are the men of yesteryears?) blared out of two giant speakers positioned right in front of his shop. Typically, the CD comments on human attitudes and the vanity of life, and is laced with highly philosophical and moral lessons deep thinking.
Settling down for this interview, the man, whose rich rack of awards qualifies as the most honoured and respected Yoruba philosopher-poet, revealed that he is the copyright owner of one of the most popular Yoruba wedding songs of all time, ’Ki la nse taa fi po bawonyi o? Iyawo L a ngbe ooooo’ (For what reason have we assembled here today? It is for a wedding) which he released way back in 1972. That song, he says, has only been overshadowed by Ebenezer Obey’s ‘Eto igbeyawo laye’ released in 1983. To underline its success, he also said the song sold over 1 million copies.
As an author, his books are popular in schools, and are used as recommended text across primary and secondary schools and even the Universities. He is so well-respected that even professors come to him for research. He also currently presents on Premier FM in Ibadan and FM 107.5 Radio, Lagos. He also does not joke with his herbal practice, which he says is one of the reasons he has continued to look young.
His story
Pa Olatubosun took time out to express his appreciation to all the institutions and people who have impacted his life one way or the other, starting with St. Luke’s Teachers’ Training College Ibadan, Western Nigeria Television, (WNTV), Ibadan, Western Nigeria Broadcasting Station (WNBS), Dr. Adebayo Faleti, Prince Adebayo Sanda et al. Above all, he gives thanks to almighty God, whom he says never disappoints.
Born Abraham Olatubosun Oladapo, he recalls how it all began for him. In 1965, they had been asked as graduating students of St. Luke’s Teacher Training College to make presentations during the festival of arts usually at the end of the year. But while others presented craftworks, artworks and poetry, he came up to the podium and rendered the Yoruba Ijala in front of judges who had come from the two reputed radio stations of the time, Radio Nigeria and the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (WNBC). At the end of the day, the judges acclaimed his efforts and told him it was the first time anyone was chanting an Ijala on such stage. Thereafter, he simply blossomed.
Speaking further on his St Luke’s experience, he said: “My first play ‘Ogun Lakaye’ was written for the college to perform at St Paul’s College Abeokuta, St.Louis College, Ibadan and Anglican Girls Grammar School Abeokuta. The popularity that came with it helped me a lot and I was posted to St Lady Kudeti, Ibadan as a pupil teacher. I quit teaching in 1969 to join Sketch newspaper and GbounGboun, a Yoruba newspaper. I spent about a year there and left for the WNTV, WNBS in 1970.”
There, he met Adebayo Faleti, who impacted him greatly and Prince Adebayo Sanda, who presented Kaaro Ooojiire and Tiwa N’ tiwa on radio. By this time, he had also become like a flag-bearer for the Yoruba culture, traversing the whole of Yorubaland. “I would go to Owo during the Igogo festival and stay there for about a week, learning about the people’s history and culture; next I would be in Ijebu Ode to witness the Agemo Festival; another week I would be in Ekiti for the Ogun festival; Efon Alaye for the sabarikolo festival.”
The enormity of this endeavour also caused him to resign from the WNTV and WNBS in 1977, creating room for top performers like Chief Yemi Elebuibon, the Araba of Oshogbo, Chief Lanrewaju Adepoju, Chief Alabi Ogundepo, Kayode Aremu, and even my master, Adebayo Faleti to vie for the job.
“I had to resign to concentrate on my productions.” He said.
Some of his works
He established Olatubosun Oladapo Records on July 7, 1977, a label under which he says he has dished out 51 different albums and produced 200 artistes’ records. “I have produced about 14 different albums for different artistes like the late Ojogbon Ogundare Foyanmu from Ogbomoso; 14 different albums for Odolaye Aremu from Kwara; I have also produced 14 different albums for Awoyemi Atokowagbowonile, the talking drum specialist; Alabi Ogundepo 18 albums, Duro Ladipo International Theatre, 4 albums (Moremi Ajasoro, Osun Oshogbo); for Apepe from Ijebu Ogere Remo, I produced one album. I also lunched several other artistes, including Odolaiye Aremu from Kayaomo, Foyanmu from Oshogbo to recognition.
I have produced 200 artistes, I have also released about 29 different books, some of them are recommended for secondary schools here in Oyo State and some for primary schools. Aroye Akewi was recommended for WAEC as far back as 1972, when I was about 28 years old. Even my book, Ogun Lakaye was published when I was 22.
Harsh words for praise singers
Olatubosun is not happy with the way some Yoruba poets have turned themselves into praise singers. He however says “Not all Yoruba poets are scavenger poets. I took after the great man himself, Dr. Adebayo Faleti. We started reading his book since 1954, when he was writing for a bilingual magazine in Oshogbo, but we did not copy him. Up till 1970, there were no books on Yoruba poetry, if not for the efforts of the likes of Professors Akinwumi Ishola, Afolabi Olabimtan, Adeboye Babalola (who started it all), and Wande Abimbola, who started with Ewi Iwoyi. That was the first book that encouraged Yoruba poetry. They started in 1958; but our own books started coming out in 1972.
“We decided to popularise Yoruba poetry, but over time, we discovered that traditional Yoruba poets have become sycophants and praise singers. We see them in the palaces, we see them on the streets, and we asked ourselves, do we want to be sycophants and scavenger poets? Some poets will go to PDP Ogun State and sing Gbenga Daniel praises today and next they are praising Amosun. During the second republic, they would sing Awolowo’s praises today, and the next day they are with the NPN.”
He recalls the fate of a certain popular Yoruba poet, whom he says was stoned and almost killed when he wanted to chant the Ewi poetry for a UPN crowd at the Liberty Stadium in 1981.
Recalling his moments of glory as an Ewi poet, he said “In 1971, the governor at that time, General Adebayo invited me to chant Ewi; when the present Olubadan was about to be installed, I was asked to chant poetry, same thing during the time of the past Olubadan, Oba Arapasanwu. I also chanted the ewi during the time of Adeyemo, who installed me as Balogun Majeobaje of Ibadan; same for the Elejigbo. I was also there during the installation of Soun of Ogbomoso. Those were the glorious moments of Yoruba poetry. But now people have bastardised it. If Prof Wole Soyinka had been a scavenger poet, nobody would respect him, whether home and abroad.”
Olatubosun said he also produced some juju artistes, including Micho Ade and Remi Olabanji of the ‘This World is Beautiful’ fame.”
Piracy as an industry bane
He said the general problem of recording companies is piracy. “You release 1000 copies of Sokorogho of Owo music today, and somebody comes and buys one copy and starts reproducing it for the people of Owo, such that the artiste begins to think that you have sold millions.
Education & childhood
“I started my schooling at Araromi, Owu in 1950; then St James’ Olanla in Akinyele 1951-1954. It was at St Luke’s that my talent in drama was discovered, and it was on account of this that I was sent to the University of Lagos to study for a diploma in Yoruba Studies free of charge. I came out with a distinction in that programme.”
He recalls that his book, Ogun lakaaye shot him into limelight; otherwise he would have remained an obscure teacher.
As a young man, Pa Olatunbosun says “Women naturally flocked after successful artistes and mine was no different. But I simply chose one woman. Besides I had no time for others. If I followed women, I wouldn’t have had time to pursue my career.”
Today, the 72-year old gives thanks to God for that decision. Three of his children are distinguishing themselves and imparting knowledge in their various endeavours, even across the oceans. His youngest son, Kola Tubosun, who studied Linguistics at the University of Ibadan, was chosen on completion of his programme to go and teach Yoruba in the USA; his daughter Omolara Tubosun currently doing her PhD is also teaching at the university’s Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan, while the other is teaching Accountancy in the UK.
