They sang their way to the hearts of many. They gave an exciting zest to folk music. Now, the spotlight is on them. Adunni & Nefretiti is seven.
Founded by Orobiyi Motunrayo Abiodun a.k.a. Adunni, the all-women folk singing group has worked hard these past seven years, thrilling fans with folksongs from South-west, some part of the South-south. Whether it is a capella or in the accompaniment of traditional instruments, it is always ready to thrill fans. The group has also been around the world, promoting African culture and values through theatrical medium, leveraging on its richness. Their colourful costuming, makeup, voices and genre of music always leave the audience captivated with positive media hype following the troupe’s performances.
To mark its seven-year anniversary on stage, come Friday and Saturday, the troupe will hold a concert in Yoruba. It will be celebrating culture through music, poetry and drama at the Amphi-Theatre, Freedom Park, Lagos. The show, the organisers say, is an indigenous project for Nigerians and Africans at home and in Diaspora It will feature performances they have done across Nigeria and abroad. It will also showcase prominent artistes, old members of the group, musicians, actors, traditional instrumentalists, African oral poets and dancers. There will also be a play Iyan Lounje by the late Femi Fatoba, featuring an operatic performance in total theatre style involving an infusion of music, dance and drama.
According to Adunni, the show is a start of a new era in their promotion of African culture and values. “W e enjoy and love our genre of music because it is classical; it attracts and excites people’s scene of creativity and is for the matured minds.”
But, how has it managed to stay on top of its game all these years with the challenge of other modern genre of entertainment , such as hip-pop, she was asked.
Hear her: “Hip hop? No wahala! We are up to the challenge. Bring hip-hop on, we’ll sing with our local language; it’s no big deal. We have a root/source deeper than such contemporary music – our folkore such as waka, oriki, etc. Although some call it local/primitive, that primitive genre of music has taken us round the world. “
Adunni, like the other women in the group, is a bundle of talent. She acts, sings and writes songs. This graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), is peaceful and strict at the same time.
As young women on the spotlight, advances of the opposite sex are inevitable, but, Adunni said: “As stars, there is no need to be rude when men make advances at us. We respect them; but discharge them (one-time), politely. It’s all about wisdom.”
Wisdom, she added, is the ingredient that has kept the group together all these years. “Managing human beings is the most difficult thing in life, not to talk of managing an all female group. But the watchword is wisdom,” she said.
She has numerous productions to her credit. As a woman bubbling with creativity, her theatrical journey began with Crown Troupe of Africa by Segun Adefila in 2006, after which she branched out to form her own. “I worked with Toyin Ali-Balogun (my first manager), and other wonderful ladies at the early stage of the group: such as Christy Okosun, Rita Benedict, Iyabo Payne (my P.A), Agnes Okogie, Imisioluwa Maria Oyebanji-Tofowomo, Nneka Emeka till this present members – Yemisi Julius, Shade Orobiyi, Barbara Babarinsa, Moni Eniafe, Bukola Orobiyi. We have come a long way, travelling all over the world with Tony Allen, at the Olympic, London 2012, Shakespeare’s Globe to Globe with Wole Oguntokun , Prof Femi Osofisan, Biodun Abe, lgwe Laz Ekwueme to mention, but a few,” she said
Since 2006, the group has performed at high-profile events across the country and abroad. They have performed at Macau with MGM at Royal Opera House London, on Europe tour with Tony Allen and others; Itan Oginnitin (winter’s tale in Yoruba dialect) at Shakespeare Theatre (Globe to Globe), London Olympic, with Renegade Theatre by Wole Oguntokun); Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 60th Birthday both at the National Stadium and at Eko Hotel and Suite; at the 70th Birthday ceremony of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; at the yearly Felabration organised in honour of late Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and African Queen Amina with Masoma Africa, Lagos; the 80th birthday party of Walter Carrington former US Ambassador to Nigeria; The Kennedy Centre, US, by Don Pedro Obaseki, an Evening of Arts with Olaniwun Ajayi Law Practice as she clocks 50 and more.
Becoming a household name, she said, has been the dream of every member of the group, adding that the rough road brought them to where they are today. “We couldn’t have predicted where we’re today. The journey has been smooth and rough but all glory be to God,” she said. “Still, we love the rough part of it. Because it is what has prepared us for the present and the future, to know more about life and the business aspect of what we love doing. It is not all about money. Our motto has been: “Slow and steady wins the race” i.e. it is about patience, focus, determination, humility and hard work. And it has paid off because through it we have been all over Nigeria, West Africa, and abroad; and we’re still counting,” she added.
The choice of name, the founder said, is deliberate. “Africa’s civilisation is centred around Egypt. The choice of name after Queen Nefertiti also known as Nefretiti, goes to show our music/group is not mainly for our tribe (Yoruba) but to represent Nigeria and Africa as a whole. She co-ruled with her husband, she was the most favourite, the most favoured, and the most sacred wife of King Akhenaten. As young women and mothers, representing womanhood in our appearance and in teaching morals etc to our generation through singing, we are without colour/language/ethnic barrier,” she said.
Other members of the group
Aside from being members of the group, each are involved in other profession such as marketing, fashion designing, event planning, costuming and printing and more.
Eniafe Moninuola’s love and zeal for arts and culture brought her to the group and has been a part of many performances and productions. She is a melody singer and also an event planner, costumier and into creative works. She is a graduate of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.
Orobiyi Folashade Deborah is a soprano and tenor singer. She started her musical career with the group and after going through series of trainings, she established herself as a professional artiste within and outside the group. Apart from singing, Deborah, who is an undergraduate of creative arts at University of Lagos Akoka, Lagos, also performs the role of the welfare/logistics officer in the group. She has taken part at productions, studio recordings and life performances such as Abuja Festival in 2006; Lets’ Dance organised by Mnet, Nigeria; Performance with Total Nigeria Plc among others.
Julius Oluyemisi Esther is an excellent make-up artiste and doubles this with her role as an alto/melody singer in the group. She has several studio recordings, stage productions, band and stage performances to her credit. She is an undergraduate of Business Administration at Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja Lagos State. She has performed at Republic of Benin premier of Awoulath Alougbin’s album entitled Ife in 2013 and Oshodi Tapa both written and directed by Wole Oguntokun, among others.
Orobiyi Oluwabukola Odunyemi, from Ogun State, is a graduate of Marketing from the Lagos State Polytechnic, Surulere, Lagos. She has been a member of the group since its inception. She is a singer and also doubles as the Personal Assistant for the group since 2007. She loves printing and does it to the best of her ability. She has since performed in Ajai The Slave Boy written and directed by Wole Oguntokun; Moore Harlequin produced for the Black Heritage Festival 2011 and Oshodi Tapa written and directed by Wole Oguntokun, among others.
Payne Iyabo Sandra is an graduate of Creative Arts and has a Masters degree in Managerial Psychology both from the University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos. She has been a member of Adunni&Nefretiti since its inception in 2006 as a singer and personal assistant. She later became the Administrative Personnel. She created the concept for an ‘Evening of Arts’ during the 50th anniversary of the firm ‘Olaniwun Ajayi Law Practice’ in 2012 and 7th Macmillan Literary Night in 2009, among several other successful performances of the group.
Babarinsa Barbara Iyaniwura, a graduate of Creative Arts, University of Lagos. Barbara is a melody/alto/tenor singer in the best female singing folkloric group ‘’Adunni&Nefretiti’’. Besides, she’s an actress, dancer and a choreographer. She’s the group’s choreographer and the public relation officer with several productions to her credit such as Women of Owu by Prof. Femi Osofisan at the National Arts Theatre; Moremi Ajasoro by Lekan Balogun; Olurombi for Nigeria 50th independence by Aboriginal productions; Launch of MTN’s ‘Go join the Winning Team’ and Stanbic IBTC pensions rebranding at Abuja, etc.
