KSA….The Master Guitarist |
In this edition of
the interesting story of the birth and lifestyle of a living legend—KSA, we
reveal the many battles of wits between King
Sunny Ade, music, his mother and
high school education. But at the end, one of the three forces won KSA.
the interesting story of the birth and lifestyle of a living legend—KSA, we
reveal the many battles of wits between King
Sunny Ade, music, his mother and
high school education. But at the end, one of the three forces won KSA.
Let’s find
out what the whole episode looked like and why did KSA battled family to
embrace music. Enjoy the excerpts on your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity encounter
blog Asabeafrika.
Those who took me out
of classroom to the stage…
of classroom to the stage…
“When
I dropped out of secondary school after just one term, the popular opinion was
that an evil spell had been cast on me. I had no difficulties with my studies
and my mother was not incapable of seeing me through school. Yet, I walked away. So, it was rational to believe there was a
hex on me. My decision, even to those
who wanted to be charitable, seemed neither inspired nor logical.
I dropped out of secondary school after just one term, the popular opinion was
that an evil spell had been cast on me. I had no difficulties with my studies
and my mother was not incapable of seeing me through school. Yet, I walked away. So, it was rational to believe there was a
hex on me. My decision, even to those
who wanted to be charitable, seemed neither inspired nor logical.
KSA & His Mentor, Moses Olaiya aka Baba Salah |
For
me, however, there was just one way to go; out of school, forever. The pull of
music had become so strong that whatever resistance I had was easily
broken. Also, it probably did not help
that I lived in Oshogbo, a town that attracted hordes of Western Nigeria’s
biggest musicians of the fifties and sixties to its swinging hotels and other
fun spots. The likes of Hubert Ogunde, Ojoge Daniel from Ibadan,
C.A.B Balogun and IK Dairo
from Ilesha, Idowu Owoeye and many others regularly entertained Osogbo residents. But the town had its own starts. The one that
made the earliest impression on me was Sunday
Ariyo, whom I met in my primary school days.
me, however, there was just one way to go; out of school, forever. The pull of
music had become so strong that whatever resistance I had was easily
broken. Also, it probably did not help
that I lived in Oshogbo, a town that attracted hordes of Western Nigeria’s
biggest musicians of the fifties and sixties to its swinging hotels and other
fun spots. The likes of Hubert Ogunde, Ojoge Daniel from Ibadan,
C.A.B Balogun and IK Dairo
from Ilesha, Idowu Owoeye and many others regularly entertained Osogbo residents. But the town had its own starts. The one that
made the earliest impression on me was Sunday
Ariyo, whom I met in my primary school days.
KSA…The boyz-to-men-process |
Ariyo lived close to our
house and I liked his music. But before
getting close to him, I had been around a musical band founded by the husband
of one of my aunts. The man was essentially
a popular tailor in Osogbo before
leaving for nearby Inisha, where he ran a band and was a patron to different
groups. During festive periods, I usually visited him in Inisha. And because I loved to listen and dance to
good music, I went with him on engagements.
house and I liked his music. But before
getting close to him, I had been around a musical band founded by the husband
of one of my aunts. The man was essentially
a popular tailor in Osogbo before
leaving for nearby Inisha, where he ran a band and was a patron to different
groups. During festive periods, I usually visited him in Inisha. And because I loved to listen and dance to
good music, I went with him on engagements.
“We played for over
two hours and, according to my in-law, the money the band made that night was
unprecedented. But my sparkling debut
came with a problem, albeit a pleasant one. My fame went round and every other band
wanted me for its show. That also posed
a more serious problem, as my aunt who was married to the band leader did not
want me hanging out with musicians”
KSA…The boyz-to-men-process |
KSA & His Mentor, Moses Olaiya aka Baba Salah |
How drums fell for me…
I
had no desire to join him or any of the groups he mentored; all I wanted was to
be around him when he was performing.
This increased my interest in music.
Then came fate; One day at one of
his gigs, I was staring at his percussion instruments and wondering what it
would be like to play them. By the
standards of that time, my aunt’s husband had a rich collection. There was Akuba and other drums. Something
told me to walk up to him, before he started playing, and ask if I could play
the drums. I was about 11 then and had
never touched drums other than the ones we had in the Boys’ Brigade.
had no desire to join him or any of the groups he mentored; all I wanted was to
be around him when he was performing.
This increased my interest in music.
Then came fate; One day at one of
his gigs, I was staring at his percussion instruments and wondering what it
would be like to play them. By the
standards of that time, my aunt’s husband had a rich collection. There was Akuba and other drums. Something
told me to walk up to him, before he started playing, and ask if I could play
the drums. I was about 11 then and had
never touched drums other than the ones we had in the Boys’ Brigade.
KSA tells City People Magazine’s Publisher, Dr. Seye Kehinde the story of his life |
Moses Olaiya-The Good Samaritan who helped KSA discover his talent |
My
in-law asked if I could play and I said I would try. There was no time to even think that I had no
experience with such drums, at least not in a musical setting. I picked up a drum and started playing,
surprisingly, to the delight of the crowd.
I did not know where the inspiration came from or how I mastered the
rhythm, but within five minutes, the crowd had almost drowned us in money. It was not naira, but kobo (penny)
and onini
(half pence). I suddenly stopped
drumming and the crowd yelled: ‘No, no,
no’, insisting I should restart. My in-law explained that I needed to get
some rest and assured them that I was still going to play. When I restarted, the crowd got more charged,
dancing frenziedly and giving us money in appreciation.
in-law asked if I could play and I said I would try. There was no time to even think that I had no
experience with such drums, at least not in a musical setting. I picked up a drum and started playing,
surprisingly, to the delight of the crowd.
I did not know where the inspiration came from or how I mastered the
rhythm, but within five minutes, the crowd had almost drowned us in money. It was not naira, but kobo (penny)
and onini
(half pence). I suddenly stopped
drumming and the crowd yelled: ‘No, no,
no’, insisting I should restart. My in-law explained that I needed to get
some rest and assured them that I was still going to play. When I restarted, the crowd got more charged,
dancing frenziedly and giving us money in appreciation.
KSA….The New Czar of Juju Music in the early times of his career |
KSA…Baba Alariya |
We played for over two hours and, according
to my in-law, the money the band made that night was unprecedented. But my sparkling debut came with a problem,
albeit a pleasant one. My fame went round and every other band wanted me for
its show. That also posed a more serious
problem, as my aunt who was married to the band leader did not want me hanging
out with musicians. One, I was too young; two, musicians were regarded as
miscreants. For a while, I managed to
play without my aunt knowing. One day,
she got to know and was extremely angry.
Her husband pleaded that she should let me continue playing because I
had the talent. My aunt was not going to
have any of such sweet talks. She argued
that musicians and vices like drinking, smoking and womanizing were
cousins. She ordered me to stop”.
to my in-law, the money the band made that night was unprecedented. But my sparkling debut came with a problem,
albeit a pleasant one. My fame went round and every other band wanted me for
its show. That also posed a more serious
problem, as my aunt who was married to the band leader did not want me hanging
out with musicians. One, I was too young; two, musicians were regarded as
miscreants. For a while, I managed to
play without my aunt knowing. One day,
she got to know and was extremely angry.
Her husband pleaded that she should let me continue playing because I
had the talent. My aunt was not going to
have any of such sweet talks. She argued
that musicians and vices like drinking, smoking and womanizing were
cousins. She ordered me to stop”.
(Excerpts
from the book; KSA: My Life, My Music by
King Sunny Ade. Read ‘How I broke my mother’s heart’ tomorrow
on this blog)
from the book; KSA: My Life, My Music by
King Sunny Ade. Read ‘How I broke my mother’s heart’ tomorrow
on this blog)