By Ladi Ayodeji
I became familiar with the music of Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey around 1969. I was then living in Kano with my late parents. The Civil War was still on; and with no opportunity to go to secondary school due to the prevailing hostilities, I decided to learn motor mechanics under a sociable gentleman, Paul Ojo Adetula of blessed memory.
Adetula chose me as his laundry boy. Every Sunday, I went to his house to wash his clothes and waited for them to dry and ironed before returning home. I did this for two years as part of my training. Fortunately, my boss was a big fan of Yoruba music. He was particularly fond of Ebenezer Obey, but he has a large collection of most of the popular Yoruba social musicians.
To kill boredom after washing the clothes and waiting for them to dry, my boss gave me access to his music box, a radiogram and changer, as it was called in those days. I played all the records of my choice from his vast collection. It was then I learned to appreciate music of diverse genre, which ultimately became the foundation of my career as a entertainment journalist twelve years later.
During this period as Adetula laundry boy, I thoroughly enjoyed the music of a wide range of recording artistes, but Obey stood out because of his proficient vocals, the rich Yoruba idioms in his music, fantastic compositions that were rooted in the canticles, and the timeless morals of his songs. The melodic thrill of the music could take the listener to cloud 9. Obey is a matchless composer in the Yoruba social music genre called Juju.
I had a dream at the time: to meet Ebenezer Obey. For me, it was like winning a jackpot. His music thrilled me to no end. For two years, every Sunday at the home of Mr. Adetula, I enjoyed myself, listening to Obey and others, and learning to understand and appreciate music deeper. This knowledge prepared me for the assignment I was given about eleven years later when I became the entertainment editor of the PUNCH and anchor of the Saturday Highlife column.
Dreams do come true. One of the first big music stars I went after in the Punch was Ebenezer Obey. I requested for an interview with him and it was promptly arranged. At last, here was a chance to meet my boyhood idol. I was so happy.
On the day of the interview in his home, as I was ushered into his presence, Obey met me with a smile; the ebony dark, burly music icon gave me a warm handshake. My dream had come true! Thus began a close relationship that has lasted more than 40 years.
My observations, when I first met Obey were very positive, even to, it’s still the same. He made his guest relax and feel at home. Even if a visitor is star-struck, his fatherly comportment is often reassuring. In casual conversation, the super-star’s voice is surprisingly light and warm. He walked with a slight bounce, but he carries his huge frame with grace and dignity.
I was fortunate to have been the one he appointed as his consultant when he answered the call to the Evangelical Ministry. For three months I worked with Chief Ebenezer Obey, Deacon Tunji, Odumbaku and others, to organize the huge event at his expansive Rock New Life Centre Abeokuta, where he hosted dignitaries who came to celebrate the commencement of his gospel ministry in April, 1990.
Although, this might be a turning point in Obey’s life, he merely formalized his evangelical ministry, which had been evident all along in his music. His songs contain messages of praise, thanksgiving, love, peace and homilies about every aspect of life. In his songs, Obey’s love for God is obvious from the first chord to the last in all his songs. Even while praising his patrons, he chips in words of biblical truths and folkloric maxims.
After recording more than a thousand songs in a long career that spans over 65 years, Obey is clearly without doubt, the musical artiste with the largest and most comprehensive soul in the Yoruba social music idioms, going by the depth and diversity of his immortal compositions. That was why he was a visiting professorship by the Ogun State University.
Last December 23, 2021 I had another opportunity to interview the Chief Commander. He spoke candidly about how he evolved and his long, illustrious career. A lot of media outlets have since published similar interviews, but the BEATS interview is special.
To be continued.
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