It was non-stop highlife music on Sunday, September 4 at Oranmiyan Hall, Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos when saxophonist and singer Orlando Julius Ekemode celebrated his 50th anniversary on stage with a concert.
Indications that it was going to be a unique gig emerged early when the compere, actor and TV host Yemi Sodimu led Julius’s band in singing ‘Time for Highlife’. The show kicked off somewhat haphazardly before order was restored by the diminutive entertainer. Wura Samba Band performed before the National Anthem and opening prayer were taken. The smooth talking Sodimu, however, described what happened as the “peculiarity of artists.” But it was not to be the only peculiarity of the evening.
“We play the National Anthem as if we are on the war front; we are going to show you how to play it,” Julius said as guests rose. The artist and his band then sang a ‘highlified’ version of the anthem with Julius singing the two stanzas with feeling. Segun Oyegbami who was asked to offer the opening prayer came on stage alright but didn’t pray. He wondered why the organisers, who know his views on religion and that he had stopped attending church a long time ago, would call on him to pray in public. Oyegbami then went into banter on how since his father died eight days prior, reciting ‘Our father, who art in heaven’ now holds special significance for him. He was still explaining why he wouldn’t oblige with a prayer when Sodimu stylishly retrieved the microphone from him.
No music, no life
Though an evening of music, the gig where a pack of five CDs containing 60 golden tunes of the artist popularly called OJ was launched, also featured speeches. Welcoming guests, Femi Esho of Evergreen Musical Company Limited, highlighted the contributions of the ‘Columbia’ crooner to Nigerian music. He noted that Julius remains relevant and continues to mentor younger artists in spite of having been around since over five decades ago. “He [Julius] can sustain blowing the saxophone for 10 minutes without pause and this is just the beginning. We don’t have to wait till he and others pass away and highlife music relegated to the background before we celebrate them,” noted the music promoter.
Chair, Rasheed Gbadamosi, spoke in the same vein. He noted that there’s no life without music and that he’s happy musicians are being honoured. The art patron also singled out the ‘Evil Genius’ of highlife, Victor Olaiya for special recognition. “Olaiya represents the best in music amongst us,” Gbadamosi said, adding that “we thank God people like Olaiya are still around to remind us of our great heritage.”
Femi Ifaturoti, who represented Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State where Julius hails from, disclosed that he met the artist and his dancer wife, Latoya, over two decades ago. “Whenever the history of highlife is written in Nigeria, Orlando Julius will occupy a big chunk. He has been a consistent ambassador of highlife.”
Ade Ekemode, a medical doctor and spokesperson of the large Ekemode contingent at the concert, said he believed Julius created Afrobeat. He also thanked Latoya on behalf of the family “for taking care of my dear brother.” Veteran actor Larry Williams recalled how met Julius in Los Angeles and the poem he, the artist and musician Jimi Solanke performed. He recited the poem at the show.
Old artists display
Julius, who had earlier offered guests a taste of what to expect with ‘Awade’ and ‘Love Thy Neighbour’, and who joined some young men to sing ‘Ololufe’ later returned to the stage with reinforcements. He requested Olaiya to join him and the crowd, anticipating what would follow, applauded when Olaiya opened with his signature ‘Trumpet Highlife Instrumental’. In fact, not a few scrambled with cameras to the foot of the stage to capture the artists together. The excitement, which was already high, went up a few notches still when Olaiya asked Fatai Rolling Dollar to join the party.
Accompanied by horns-men Roy Olokungboye, Biodun Batik and Olaiya’s son, Bayode, with Julius still holding tightly to his saxophone, Olaiya sang ‘Baby Jowo’ and other songs while Rolling Dollar danced. “Awon old school lo njo yi o, e patewo fun won” (‘behold, the Old School artists dancing; clap for them!’) Olaiya told the crowd in appreciation of Rolling Dollar’s moves. But the 84-year-old was not done yet. Feeding off the applause, he continued, prompting Olaiya to note “Eyi wa le ni ko si nkan.” (‘But I thought you said he’s spent, without nothing more to offer!’). It became non-stop dancing from that point on, with Gbadamosi, Oyegbami, Williams and others stepping out to display their dancing skills.
The young not caught napping
The New School artists, however, would not be outdone. Next up with Julius was talking drummer Ara, singer Yinka Davies and Jojo Bodybeats. “Hello everybody, in case you didn’t know, this is my daddy. I was close to joining him [Julius] in 1983 because of a song Daddy did, ‘Ise’,” Davies offered by way of introduction. With Aras and Davies as accompanying vocalist, and Jojo Bodybeats joining dancers Latoya and Esther Balogun, Julius sang ‘Ise’. The trio subsequently took turns to show the audience their skills. The man who makes music with his cheeks was first, beating popular Yoruba folksongs including ‘Bata so mi were were’ before Ara entertained with the talking drum. “You know this is the only time I get to romance myself on stage,” Davies said while cautioning the instrumentalists to reduce the tempo before she sang ‘Ise’. She also sang ‘Erora Miliki’ with trumpeter Biodun Batik accompanying her.
‘My happiest day’
“I am very honoured and grateful to my music fans all the way from Old School; the 1950s to the present,” Julius began during a break to thank guests including former Governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba, who stepped in briefly. Julius also appreciated his family, thanking them for their support over the years. “Today is my best day because it is the first time my brother will see me perform,” Julius said in reference to Gabriel Ekemode, a professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, who had never seen him on stage. “Today is my greatest and happiest day, it has not been easy to do music for 50 years,” he reiterated.
Rolling Dollars, who clocks 85 years next week, took over the stage after Julius to serenade the audience with some old numbers laced generously with slangs. “Orlando ma pa mi ni kekere” (‘Orlando, I’m still young, please let me live some more!’), the ageless minstrel warned Julius who was backing him on the saxophone at a point. He later yielded the floor to the Ijesha-born artist.
The crowd needed no invitation to the dance floor immediately Julius struck the opening notes of ‘Jagua Nana’ with the Ekemode clan joining him right on stage. Even ushers couldn’t resist when Julius started ‘Columbia’ after Davies had sang ‘Ijo Soul’ with him.
Musicians Segun Adewale, Dede Mabiaku and PMAN president, Preddy Wise Okowa, who led a delegation from the musicians’ body, were among those who turned up to honour Julius. Members of the Hi-life All Stars Club to which Julius belongs, Eji Oyewole, Anjola Aboderin and Shina Ayinde-Bakare were also present. Actor Dejumo Lewis, filmmaker Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin and TV producer Ganee Adewuyi also turned up for the concert which continued well into the night.
