Orlando Owoh with his daughter, Feyikemi
Feyikemi is the daughter of the late highlife
maestro, Oladipupo Owomoyela, popularly
called Orlando Owoh. She talks about her
father’s music career with GBENGA ADENIJI
What can you recall about your growing up
with your father?
There were many fond memories of growing up
with my father. But one thing I treasure most
was the way he used to call me. My name is
Feyikemi but he loved to call me
Oluwafieleyikemimi (My own that God has
given me to pamper me). He was a very
wonderful father. Though he was a musician,
he nevertheless created time for his wives and
children. People often say musicians are very
busy. Yes, my father was a very busy man but
he spent time with us whenever he was not on
a musical tour. He used to buy us things and
we would watch the television together. He
loved Yoruba movies and football matches.
We would mill around him as we watched
movies and football. My father hardly left the
house if he had no musical engagements. His
fans and friends always visited him whenever
he was at home too.
Did you ever watch him perform?
Yes, my father invited me to his performances.
There was a time he had a show in Ibadan,
Oyo State, and asked me to come and meet
him at the venue. I was studying for a Higher
National Diploma in Banking and Finance at
The Polytechnic, Ibadan then. I had earlier told
him I would be in Lagos to get some money
before he promised to see me in Ibadan during
the weekend. The party was slated for
afternoon and as usual, he played very well.
The host and his guests were extremely happy
with his performance. When he finished, I went
to meet him. Since it was late, I couldn’t
return to the hostel. There was something he
did that day which surprised me. My father
came with a female friend who I earlier saw
with him before the show. But he allowed me
to sleep on the same bed alone with him that
night. I felt so honoured that day.
Which of your father’s songs do you like most
and why?
My father was a very talented musician. I
listen to his songs in the house and in my car
always. I enjoy all his songs because they are
deep and well composed. I like Ganja System.
I like all the songs in it. I also like Eku Iroju .
To be honest with you, I like all my father’s
songs because he was a very talented artiste
and a good father.
Did he not encourage you to be a singer or
study courses related to music?
My father didn’t encourage any of his children
to study any particular course or take to
music. He left us to do what we desired. I love
music really and I was once a chorister and
that was how far I went as far as music is
concerned. Three of my elder brothers are
singers; Kunle, Daisi and Tunbosun. The three
of them sing well but my father never
influenced anyone of us into music.
How many wives and children did he have?
My mother is the sixth of my father’s seven
wives. There are also children from other wives
apart from my mother’s children. We all love
one another. I think that answers your
question.
Did he have any favourite meal?
He didn’t have any favourite food. He ate very
little and it was his wives who used to force
him to eat. But he liked pounded yam.
Did he have any special drink?
He drank any type of drink he wanted.
What is your view on the belief that he was
addicted to hemp?
There are many people that take hemp. Some
abuse it while others do not. I am not saying
hemp-smoking is good. In fact, none of my
father’s children smokes. He once sang that
some people take hemp too. I think attention
was on him because he was a musician. Some
even think it was hemp that made his voice so
distinct. No, my father’s voice was like that
and not because he was a smoker.
Was he communicating with you when he was
imprisoned?
His wives managed the situation while he was
away for a year and half. We were very young
and never knew what happened. Since he used
to go on musical tours, we thought he was on
one of such tours. It was when he returned
that we got to know what happened,
especially when he released albums about his
experience in prison. Some people even
congratulated us when he returned home and
that was when we got a clearer picture of his
travail.
Did you enjoy any special treatment in school
as Orlando’s daughter?
There was no special treatment I enjoyed
because of who my father was. My lecturers
and fellow students love and respect him. It is
that respect and love which they have for him
that they transferred to me while I was in
school. It is the same thing now. People I
meet often treat me well because of the love
they have for my father.
Is that to say your father’s name attracts
opportunities to you?
Yes, his name has helped me a lot. Many told
me stories of how he played at their
ceremonies, after knowing I am his daughter.
There was a time a man came to my fashion
store to buy some things. I was playing one of
my father’s songs and he said he was
surprised that a young lady like me was
listening to Orlando. He described himself as a
great fan of my father. He told me how he
came to perform in the US sometimes ago. I
later thanked him for liking Orlando when he
was leaving. That was when he asked me why
I thanked him. It was then I told him that
Orlando was my father. He exclaimed ‘You
don’t mean it.’ I have received many favours
on account of being Orlando’s daughter.
How did he punish any of his children who
misbehaved?
My father was a no-nonsense man. He beat
any child that did anything wrong after
warning him or her. There was a time one of
my friends in school gave me N20, 000 to
keep for her. It was a contribution some of
them made. She wanted to show the
contributors the money the next day and
trusted me to keep it for her. I kept the money
in my bag and went home. When I got home,
my father ordered me to bring my bag. He had
never requested such from me before and I
was surprised. While checking my bag, he saw
the money. When he asked me where I got the
money, I had to lie that it belonged to a friend
in our neighbourhood. At that point, some
visitors came in and his attention shifted away
from me. While he was busy discussing with
them, I left the room and told one of my
siblings to go and meet my friend that she
should say she was the owner of the money if
my father should ask her. After he finished
with the visitors, he sent for the friend I
named as the owner of the money.
When she arrived, she said the same thing and
I couldn’t remember what she said when my
father asked her where she got the money
from. My father was convinced and asked her
to go. Few minutes after, my sibling, who I
sent to meet my friend, confessed to my father
that I actually sent her to go and tell my
friend to tell a lie that she owned the money.
My father was very angry and he took a horse
whip and beat me silly. That was the first and
the last time he beat me. He never tolerated
nonsense.
How did he settle misunderstanding among
his wives?
We were unaware of any disagreement either
between him and his wives or among his
wives. He was a man who knew how to ensure
peace in his polygamous home.
How close were you to him?
We were very close. I could tell him anything
and he loved me so much. It is sad though
that he couldn’t live forever. Death is
inevitable.
What values have you learnt from him?
My father was a very generous man. He could
do anything for anybody in need. He was a
very nice man. I am not saying this because
he was my father. He loved to see people
happy. My father chose his friends carefully.
He detested liars and cheats. I have imbibed
these values and they reflect in my dealing
with people.
What was his schedule like?
He worked hard to make his family
comfortable. But despite his busy nature, he
tried to relax whenever he had the
opportunity.
Where were you when he died?
I was with him in the hospital.
Did he have any discussion with you before his
death?
He was unable to talk. I called him Daddy Mi
(My Father) and couldn’t cry at first when he
died. I just looked up and said ‘Orin Ti
lo’ (Music is gone). I said so because nobody
can be like my father. No one can copy him.
His music style is unique.
How has his family been coping without him?
It has not been easy but God has been
assisting us. His wives miss him in many
ways too. The family remembers him every
November 4. You know he died November 4,
2008. We don’t even have to tell his fans, they
troop to his house every year to celebrate him.
We wanted to hold a five-year remembrance
for him last year but we cancelled it because
of the death of one of his children.
Was he sociable?
Yes, he was very sociable. He had no choice
not to be sociable as a popular musician that
he was. He however selected the events he
attended, not that he honoured all invitations.
Who were his friends?
My father’s friends were the masses. He
hardly sang the praise of rich individuals as
such. If any person did anything for him,
regardless of the person’s status, he would
not hesitate to praise-sing him or her in his
albums. A lot of people had expressed
surprise to hear him praise them in his
albums because of some favours they did for
him. He never told them he was going to
appreciate them that way.
How did he like to dress?
He liked to dress neatly. He also loved trendy
clothes and never wore an underwear twice.

.

[b]his over forty years musical career, Chief Dr.
Oladipupo Owoh, popularly called Orlando
Owoh has without doubt proved to be one of
the greatest musicians that have come out of
Nigeria. The life and times of this uncelebrated
musical icon clearly reveals that to this genius
known as Orlando, the whole world appears to
be his musical stage and he gains inspiration
from everything happening in his society.
Like other legends he carefully crafted his own
genre of African Highlife music to what is
today referred to as the Palm Wine Highlife
which is anchored on a very strong lead and
base guitar rhythm. To many of his fans
especially from the Ondo/Akure and Ekiti axis,
Orlando appears to be a legend. Orlando did
not play music for money, but played music
because saw music as his calling in life and
loved what he did, perhaps this is why he
hasn’t very much to show for a musical career
of over forty years. Notwithstanding, he never
missed the opportunity to tantalise his fans
with his ever green tunes and popular tracks
such as Ajanaku Daraba, Lai Ku Egiri, Oluwa
la’la Baromi, What can you tell me? /Yello Sisi
Siddon Na Corner Pushy Hand Na Jaw, Aunty
dey shame, Ganja 1 &2, Bori Ba Joba Lola,
Kangaroo, Have you been to the State Before?,
Logba Logba, Jealousy Jealousy, Ifon Omimah
Ni Mo Tiwa, Iyawo Olele amongst others.
Owoh pix courtesy Molara Wood and Jahman
Anikulapo
Orlando was one of many musicians whose life
experienced a missed bag of ups and downs,
as he faced several ordeals and trials that
even saw him going into one of the most
notorious prisons in Nigeria, Alagbon.
Nevertheless, he did not allow any of these
ordeals distract him for following his God-
given purpose. Many people even laughed at
his husky voice, but he transformed that to his
own identity and brand, calling naming his
band the African “Kenneries”. He came out
stronger from every ordeal he faced and they
even inspired most of his albums and
compositions such as Experience, Have You
Been to the State Before, Kalakuta Republic at
Alagbon, Jealousy and Ibaje Eniyan Ko Da’se
Oluwa Duro, Economic Saboteurs amongst
others.
Than every other musician in the history of
Nigeria (apart from Fela), Orlando’s music has
contributed immensely to the socio-economic
development of Nigeria. He was a social critic
and used his songs to decry the ills of our
society such as life and corruption in prison,
composing lyrics such as Innocenty Plenty oo
for Alagbon, Dem go molest you taya, and
Long long protocol L’Alagbon. He sang about
how morals no longer exists in the society,
how the love of money and lies now rule over
the truth and how he economy have
deteriorated in his tunes such as Aso Otito
Aiye, E get as e be, It is not Easy, Eku Iroju
Omo Nigeria, Not in Our Character (Iwa Wa
Ko), Nigeria Aanu Semi, Hunger and many
others.
His songs also contributed to the political
development of Nigeria and sang songs like
Na Democracy we Want, Operation Feed
Nation, I Say No to Military; with lyrics like
“Babangida Chop Nigeria Taya Before he Go”,
shedding more light on the need for
democracy, human right and good
governance. He also added his voice to the
international call for the release of Nelson
Mandela and stopping the Apartheid regime in
South Africa, in his album Apartheid.
Orlando’s songs were made of proverbs and
words of wisdom aimed at inculcating moral
values in the society. He sang about patience
in Logba Logba, hardwork in Ise Logun Ise;
the “Tongue” and how it could be used for
either blessing or cursing purposes in the
track Oni La M’Oba.
Dr. Owoh was a strong believer in the oneness
and unity of the Nigerian state, and
encouraged Nigerians to have hope. This he
expressed in his tunes like Nigeria a Dara,
Omo Nigeria Ka So Wopo, Ajo Ma Lowo, Ka
Jumo Se and Ire Loni amongst others.
Orlando loved his mother and the female folks
in general and displayed this love in many of
his tracks such as Ero Ki Yeye Mi, Ko S’Olobe
Bi Iya Mi, Mama Mi Ma Fi Mi F’Oko and Ko Se
Mani L’Obirin, Omo Pupa, Salewa Ye Ye Ye
amongst others.
Chief Owoh was one musicians who always
seized every opportunity to pay obeisance to
constituted authorities such as the Royal
Fathers and he rolled out several tunes for the
likes of Oba Sijuade the Ooni of Ife, Oba
Oyekan of Lagos, Olisa of Idanre, Orogun Ile-
Ila, Oba Ojopagbogbo the Alara of Ilara and
others. Orlando’s band was the favourite band
of many clubs and associations such as the
Ifon Social Club, Owo Socialite Club of London
Ope Fund, Egbe West African Friendship
Association and Agbayewa Commercial
Academy to mention a few.
A careful study of his music reveals that
Orlando was a Christian and he used some of
his tunes to evangelize and tell biblical stories
such as Cain Ati Abel, Oti D’Opin, King
Nebuchadnezzar, King Solomon, Jonah, Mo
Duro Le Christi Apata, Noah, Lord Speak-
Your Servant Heareth, Angeli Ti Ko’rukomi
Soke, Singing Hallelujah and Ewa Gba Jesu
amongst others.
Orlando was one man who loved and
cherished his relatives and friends, as he
eulogises them in several tunes such as Omiye
La La, Shanu-Olu, Adebayo Success, Koledola
(alias father of the nation), Fola-Sabela
Motors, Professor Oyewole and Apata amongst
others.
Orlando also contributed his own quota to
remembering Nigeria’s fallen heroes, icons,
musical collegues and friends such as the
Late Obafemi Awolowo, Late Gen. Murtala
Mohammed, Late Pa Ajasin, Late Dele Giwa,
Late Fela, Late Samuel Oparaji, Late Gbenga
Adeboye (Fun Won Tan), Late Cardinal Rex
Jim Lawson, Late Crosdale Juba, Late Gabriel
Jejeniwa, Late Chief Ogunyolaka Ademulegun,
Late Madam Felicia and Late madam Martha
Folawewo amongst others.
Orlando’s music also cut across tribal
inclinations and his songs such as Ala La
Natu Ba and Zo Muje Onitsha thrilled the
other tribes when they were released.
Orlando’s style and music also got
international recognition and he was given an
honorary doctoral degree in the UK.
Today Orlando has created several disciples of
his music and the likes of Adewesco in Akure
and his son to mention only two plays his
style of music. Even most of the songs of the
ever popular Yinka Ayefele are entrenched in
Orlando’s Palm Wine Highlife music.
What else can we request for this legendary
musical genius? His critics seem to be very
short sighted, failing to be progressive by not
looking at his immense contribution to the
society at large. They only consider his love
for his local herb or Ganja, criticising him for
that and forgetting that we all have our own
idiosyncrasies, which is not uncommon to
most icons and all humans as a sign of our
mortality. At least he wasn’t hypocritical and
he sang publicly about his love for Ganja. If
only his critics understood that everybody has
a role to play towards the development of our
society, not only our leaders in Abuja. Gone
are the days when musicians were seen as
ragamuffins, riffraffs and dregs of the society,
but as a veritable tool in our development as
a society, and Chief Dr. Orlando Owoh has
more than delivered on his own contribution[/b]

Saigbo

I wonder who expect to read all this? when it's not even about Buhari

mcteew

Lalasticlala

The Great Legend �

ennyhola:
[b]his over forty years musical career, Chief Dr.
Oladipupo Owoh, popularly called Orlando
Owoh has without doubt proved to be one of
the greatest musicians that have come out of
Nigeria. The life and times of this uncelebrated
musical icon clearly reveals that to this genius
known as Orlando, the whole world appears to
be his musical stage and he gains inspiration
from everything happening in his society.
Like other legends he carefully crafted his own
genre of African Highlife music to what is
today referred to as the Palm Wine Highlife
which is anchored on a very strong lead and
base guitar rhythm. To many of his fans
especially from the Ondo/Akure and Ekiti axis,
Orlando appears to be a legend. Orlando did
not play music for money, but played music
because saw music as his calling in life and
loved what he did, perhaps this is why he
hasn’t very much to show for a musical career
of over forty years. Notwithstanding, he never
missed the opportunity to tantalise his fans
with his ever green tunes and popular tracks
such as Ajanaku Daraba, Lai Ku Egiri, Oluwa
la’la Baromi, What can you tell me? /Yello Sisi
Siddon Na Corner Pushy Hand Na Jaw, Aunty
dey shame, Ganja 1 &2, Bori Ba Joba Lola,
Kangaroo, Have you been to the State Before?,
Logba Logba, Jealousy Jealousy, Ifon Omimah
Ni Mo Tiwa, Iyawo Olele amongst others.
Owoh pix courtesy Molara Wood and Jahman
Anikulapo
Orlando was one of many musicians whose life
experienced a missed bag of ups and downs,
as he faced several ordeals and trials that
even saw him going into one of the most
notorious prisons in Nigeria, Alagbon.
Nevertheless, he did not allow any of these
ordeals distract him for following his God-
given purpose. Many people even laughed at
his husky voice, but he transformed that to his
own identity and brand, calling naming his
band the African “Kenneries”. He came out
stronger from every ordeal he faced and they
even inspired most of his albums and
compositions such as Experience, Have You
Been to the State Before, Kalakuta Republic at
Alagbon, Jealousy and Ibaje Eniyan Ko Da’se
Oluwa Duro, Economic Saboteurs amongst
others.
Than every other musician in the history of
Nigeria (apart from Fela), Orlando’s music has
contributed immensely to the socio-economic
development of Nigeria. He was a social critic
and used his songs to decry the ills of our
society such as life and corruption in prison,
composing lyrics such as Innocenty Plenty oo
for Alagbon, Dem go molest you taya, and
Long long protocol L’Alagbon. He sang about
how morals no longer exists in the society,
how the love of money and lies now rule over
the truth and how he economy have
deteriorated in his tunes such as Aso Otito
Aiye, E get as e be, It is not Easy, Eku Iroju
Omo Nigeria, Not in Our Character (Iwa Wa
Ko), Nigeria Aanu Semi, Hunger and many
others.
His songs also contributed to the political
development of Nigeria and sang songs like
Na Democracy we Want, Operation Feed
Nation, I Say No to Military; with lyrics like
“Babangida Chop Nigeria Taya Before he Go”,
shedding more light on the need for
democracy, human right and good
governance. He also added his voice to the
international call for the release of Nelson
Mandela and stopping the Apartheid regime in
South Africa, in his album Apartheid.
Orlando’s songs were made of proverbs and
words of wisdom aimed at inculcating moral
values in the society. He sang about patience
in Logba Logba, hardwork in Ise Logun Ise;
the “Tongue” and how it could be used for
either blessing or cursing purposes in the
track Oni La M’Oba.
Dr. Owoh was a strong believer in the oneness
and unity of the Nigerian state, and
encouraged Nigerians to have hope. This he
expressed in his tunes like Nigeria a Dara,
Omo Nigeria Ka So Wopo, Ajo Ma Lowo, Ka
Jumo Se and Ire Loni amongst others.
Orlando loved his mother and the female folks
in general and displayed this love in many of
his tracks such as Ero Ki Yeye Mi, Ko S’Olobe
Bi Iya Mi, Mama Mi Ma Fi Mi F’Oko and Ko Se
Mani L’Obirin, Omo Pupa, Salewa Ye Ye Ye
amongst others.
Chief Owoh was one musicians who always
seized every opportunity to pay obeisance to
constituted authorities such as the Royal
Fathers and he rolled out several tunes for the
likes of Oba Sijuade the Ooni of Ife, Oba
Oyekan of Lagos, Olisa of Idanre, Orogun Ile-
Ila, Oba Ojopagbogbo the Alara of Ilara and
others. Orlando’s band was the favourite band
of many clubs and associations such as the
Ifon Social Club, Owo Socialite Club of London
Ope Fund, Egbe West African Friendship
Association and Agbayewa Commercial
Academy to mention a few.
A careful study of his music reveals that
Orlando was a Christian and he used some of
his tunes to evangelize and tell biblical stories
such as Cain Ati Abel, Oti D’Opin, King
Nebuchadnezzar, King Solomon, Jonah, Mo
Duro Le Christi Apata, Noah, Lord Speak-
Your Servant Heareth, Angeli Ti Ko’rukomi
Soke, Singing Hallelujah and Ewa Gba Jesu
amongst others.
Orlando was one man who loved and
cherished his relatives and friends, as he
eulogises them in several tunes such as Omiye
La La, Shanu-Olu, Adebayo Success, Koledola
(alias father of the nation), Fola-Sabela
Motors, Professor Oyewole and Apata amongst
others.
Orlando also contributed his own quota to
remembering Nigeria’s fallen heroes, icons,
musical collegues and friends such as the
Late Obafemi Awolowo, Late Gen. Murtala
Mohammed, Late Pa Ajasin, Late Dele Giwa,
Late Fela, Late Samuel Oparaji, Late Gbenga
Adeboye (Fun Won Tan), Late Cardinal Rex
Jim Lawson, Late Crosdale Juba, Late Gabriel
Jejeniwa, Late Chief Ogunyolaka Ademulegun,
Late Madam Felicia and Late madam Martha
Folawewo amongst others.
Orlando’s music also cut across tribal
inclinations and his songs such as Ala La
Natu Ba and Zo Muje Onitsha thrilled the
other tribes when they were released.
Orlando’s style and music also got
international recognition and he was given an
honorary doctoral degree in the UK.
Today Orlando has created several disciples of
his music and the likes of Adewesco in Akure
and his son to mention only two plays his
style of music. Even most of the songs of the
ever popular Yinka Ayefele are entrenched in
Orlando’s Palm Wine Highlife music.
What else can we request for this legendary
musical genius? His critics seem to be very
short sighted, failing to be progressive by not
looking at his immense contribution to the
society at large. They only consider his love
for his local herb or Ganja, criticising him for
that and forgetting that we all have our own
idiosyncrasies, which is not uncommon to
most icons and all humans as a sign of our
mortality. At least he wasn’t hypocritical and
he sang publicly about his love for Ganja. If
only his critics understood that everybody has
a role to play towards the development of our
society, not only our leaders in Abuja. Gone
are the days when musicians were seen as
ragamuffins, riffraffs and dregs of the society,
but as a veritable tool in our development as
a society, and Chief Dr. Orlando Owoh has
more than delivered on his own contribution[/b]