 |
| KSA….’I told mum I gained admission into UNILAG to douse family tension’ |
“Early
in 1963, I got an offer from Idowu Owoeye’s band to go on a
playing tour of Abeokuta. The band was not invited to play, but Owoeye
believed that there was a chance to make money because the trip coincided with
the coronation of Oba Gbadebo as Alake of
Egbaland. His band members also
believed it was an inspired decision, as they expected important guests to be
in Abeokuta for the event.
in 1963, I got an offer from Idowu Owoeye’s band to go on a
playing tour of Abeokuta. The band was not invited to play, but Owoeye
believed that there was a chance to make money because the trip coincided with
the coronation of Oba Gbadebo as Alake of
Egbaland. His band members also
believed it was an inspired decision, as they expected important guests to be
in Abeokuta for the event.
Patronage, we all thought, was assured. We
believed we would secure a hotel with a sizeable number of guests who might
want to be entertained. Getting away
from home was easy. The school was on
vacation and I told my mother that we were going on an excursion.
On
arrival in Abeokuta, we discovered that most of the guests who came for
the coronation left immediately after the event. We stayed in Kano
Stores, then one of the most popular hotels in the town. But we had neither accommodation nor the money
to pay for it or even fares back to Osogbo. Our chances of being booked were slim because
there were many big bands invited for the coronation and they had not
left. They included Adeolu Akinsanya, Idowu
Animashaun, I.K. Dairo and co.
Everything suggested that our dream was going bust. The first two nights were spent idling away
at the hotel, where we slept outside with our instruments. This infuriated the
hotel management which viewed us tramps.
arrival in Abeokuta, we discovered that most of the guests who came for
the coronation left immediately after the event. We stayed in Kano
Stores, then one of the most popular hotels in the town. But we had neither accommodation nor the money
to pay for it or even fares back to Osogbo. Our chances of being booked were slim because
there were many big bands invited for the coronation and they had not
left. They included Adeolu Akinsanya, Idowu
Animashaun, I.K. Dairo and co.
Everything suggested that our dream was going bust. The first two nights were spent idling away
at the hotel, where we slept outside with our instruments. This infuriated the
hotel management which viewed us tramps.
 |
| KSA sings, Ebenezer Obey sings, Fatai Rolling Dollars sings…all for KSA’s mentor, Moses Olaiya aka Baba Salah |
On
the third day, however, the management of the hotel started warming up to us
and took us as a resident band of sorts.
We remained there for about two weeks, during which we were unable to
make enough money to take us back to Osogbo. The crowd just did not respond well to our
music. I longed to return home because I
had spent about two of the three weeks I told my mother that the excursion
would last.
the third day, however, the management of the hotel started warming up to us
and took us as a resident band of sorts.
We remained there for about two weeks, during which we were unable to
make enough money to take us back to Osogbo. The crowd just did not respond well to our
music. I longed to return home because I
had spent about two of the three weeks I told my mother that the excursion
would last.
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Confusion
and desperation took over me and I approached older members to lend me money,
which I was aware they did not have.
Another problem was that there was no replacement for me if I left the
band. I was in trouble and knew it. All attempts to console me were futile. I woke up one morning and remembered that one
of our former members had gone to join Moses Olaiya, who was to become
famous as Baba Sala, in Lagos.
and desperation took over me and I approached older members to lend me money,
which I was aware they did not have.
Another problem was that there was no replacement for me if I left the
band. I was in trouble and knew it. All attempts to console me were futile. I woke up one morning and remembered that one
of our former members had gone to join Moses Olaiya, who was to become
famous as Baba Sala, in Lagos.
From Abeokuta to Baba
Sala—One shilling, nine pence!
Sala—One shilling, nine pence!
Instantly,
I decided that I was going to join him in Lagos
within that week. My head throbbed with thoughts of how to raise the fare. What I came up with was that if I got one
shilling and six pence, I would get to Lagos. But where was the money going to
come from? Hope rather than expectation
ruled my head.
I decided that I was going to join him in Lagos
within that week. My head throbbed with thoughts of how to raise the fare. What I came up with was that if I got one
shilling and six pence, I would get to Lagos. But where was the money going to
come from? Hope rather than expectation
ruled my head.
“With my little bag
and two shillings tucked in my inner pocket, I took a bus to Tinubu. Midway
through the journey, I slept off because I had become jaded after the grueling
lorry trip from Abeokuta. But the time I
woke up, the bus was in Keffi and I was the only passenger left”.
Then
luck smiled on me. While playing one
night, the crowd suddenly started appreciating our music. About 50 people danced before us, pasting
money on our foreheads. That went to the
common purse. My drumming got better and more revelers came to stick money in
my breast pocket. By the end of the
show, I had one shilling and nine pence—all for me. From the common purse, I was given about nine
pence. I was ready for Lagos.
luck smiled on me. While playing one
night, the crowd suddenly started appreciating our music. About 50 people danced before us, pasting
money on our foreheads. That went to the
common purse. My drumming got better and more revelers came to stick money in
my breast pocket. By the end of the
show, I had one shilling and nine pence—all for me. From the common purse, I was given about nine
pence. I was ready for Lagos.
In
order not be dissuaded, I told one member of the band, to whom I was closest,
of my plan to leave for Lagos in the
morning. He warned me not to go,
particularly because our band leader would be into trouble with my mother if he
returned to Osogbo without me.
Though my mother still believed that I was on an excursion, I considered
what my friend said and decided to write a note, through him, to her.
order not be dissuaded, I told one member of the band, to whom I was closest,
of my plan to leave for Lagos in the
morning. He warned me not to go,
particularly because our band leader would be into trouble with my mother if he
returned to Osogbo without me.
Though my mother still believed that I was on an excursion, I considered
what my friend said and decided to write a note, through him, to her.
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| KSA….Love for music undiluted |
The Lagos-Worry-Lorry-Journey…
At
about 8a.m, I stole away from the group.
The lorry I boarded was tightly packed with passengers and luggage. Each time the driver stepped on the break,
there was a clash of heads. I was forced
to complain, albeit to the driver’s anger.
He yelled: ‘Were wo ni yen?’ (Who is that lunatic shouting?). The conductor replied: ‘Omo kan bayi ni o. E ma da loun.
Boya oti mu igbo ni’. (It is one small boy. Ignore him; he’s probably smoked
marijuana). I did not respond because I
had a bigger worry: I did not know where
I was going in Lagos, but I thought I stood a good chance of being directed if
I did not talk back at them. Again, the
man I was to meet was not expecting me.
I only knew that he played with Moses Olaiya, whose house I did not
know either.
about 8a.m, I stole away from the group.
The lorry I boarded was tightly packed with passengers and luggage. Each time the driver stepped on the break,
there was a clash of heads. I was forced
to complain, albeit to the driver’s anger.
He yelled: ‘Were wo ni yen?’ (Who is that lunatic shouting?). The conductor replied: ‘Omo kan bayi ni o. E ma da loun.
Boya oti mu igbo ni’. (It is one small boy. Ignore him; he’s probably smoked
marijuana). I did not respond because I
had a bigger worry: I did not know where
I was going in Lagos, but I thought I stood a good chance of being directed if
I did not talk back at them. Again, the
man I was to meet was not expecting me.
I only knew that he played with Moses Olaiya, whose house I did not
know either.
 |
| KSA….Love for music undiluted |
Two
years before then, I was in Lagos,
with the band, for rehearsals at Badejo Records at Onola Street on Lagos Island. The next day,
we had a recording session at Phillips Studios in Apapa.
Unfortunately, we were thrown out because we played in discordant
tunes. We did not even have fares back
to Badejo’s
house or money for food. To raise money,
we took our instruments on our heads and headed for one hotel where we
played. I was given three pence, of
which I spent one penny each on garri and fish. I saved the remaining
penny. There was no need to spend more
than that since I ate very little. Some of my colleagues ate, drank and smoked
well. It was then I realized that
smokers would pick cigarette over food if they have to choose. Even the garri I bought was divided into two
because we were not sure if we would still get a chance to play and make extra
money. As it happened, we still did not
have enough money to take us back. Our
leader decided that we should sell some of our instruments. He asked me to follow him to Dr.
Victor Olaiya’s place in Tinubu. I accompanied him, carrying the conga drums
on my head. But Dr. Olaiya said he could
not buy the type of conga we brought. He
later held a discussion with my leader and we left the drums with him. Whether he paid or not, I would not know. However, we were able to go back to Osogbo. I began to remember what happened on that
trip and prayed that it should not repeat itself.
years before then, I was in Lagos,
with the band, for rehearsals at Badejo Records at Onola Street on Lagos Island. The next day,
we had a recording session at Phillips Studios in Apapa.
Unfortunately, we were thrown out because we played in discordant
tunes. We did not even have fares back
to Badejo’s
house or money for food. To raise money,
we took our instruments on our heads and headed for one hotel where we
played. I was given three pence, of
which I spent one penny each on garri and fish. I saved the remaining
penny. There was no need to spend more
than that since I ate very little. Some of my colleagues ate, drank and smoked
well. It was then I realized that
smokers would pick cigarette over food if they have to choose. Even the garri I bought was divided into two
because we were not sure if we would still get a chance to play and make extra
money. As it happened, we still did not
have enough money to take us back. Our
leader decided that we should sell some of our instruments. He asked me to follow him to Dr.
Victor Olaiya’s place in Tinubu. I accompanied him, carrying the conga drums
on my head. But Dr. Olaiya said he could
not buy the type of conga we brought. He
later held a discussion with my leader and we left the drums with him. Whether he paid or not, I would not know. However, we were able to go back to Osogbo. I began to remember what happened on that
trip and prayed that it should not repeat itself.
I
had met Dr. Victor Olaiya before then because he was always coming to
play in Osogbo. But he did not know
me so well. Each time he came to town, I
hung around where he stayed in Major Fakunle’s place. Fakunle
was our captain in the Boys’ Brigade, so I had easy access to him and met many
musicians. I was attracted to Dr.
Olaiya and I ensured that I was always on hand to carry his trumpet
when he stepped off the bus. What I
liked most about him was his white handkerchief he held. The handkerchief suggested to me that he
cared so much for his trumpet.
had met Dr. Victor Olaiya before then because he was always coming to
play in Osogbo. But he did not know
me so well. Each time he came to town, I
hung around where he stayed in Major Fakunle’s place. Fakunle
was our captain in the Boys’ Brigade, so I had easy access to him and met many
musicians. I was attracted to Dr.
Olaiya and I ensured that I was always on hand to carry his trumpet
when he stepped off the bus. What I
liked most about him was his white handkerchief he held. The handkerchief suggested to me that he
cared so much for his trumpet.
 |
| KSA…Baba Salah advised him to see mum after leaving home for years |
The Search for
Brother Ayo…
Brother Ayo…
As
we got close to Lagos, I started worrying about where to find my former band
member, whom we called Brother Ayo. My worries receded when I realized that I
could trace Moses Olaiya through Dr. Victor Olaiya. My mind suddenly became chaotic as we
approached Oshodi and I thought of
not getting off the lorry. Immediately I
stepped out, I approached one man for direction to Moses Olaiya’s
place. He told me to take a bus to Tinubu.
I was happy because I thought my problems were close to being solved.
we got close to Lagos, I started worrying about where to find my former band
member, whom we called Brother Ayo. My worries receded when I realized that I
could trace Moses Olaiya through Dr. Victor Olaiya. My mind suddenly became chaotic as we
approached Oshodi and I thought of
not getting off the lorry. Immediately I
stepped out, I approached one man for direction to Moses Olaiya’s
place. He told me to take a bus to Tinubu.
I was happy because I thought my problems were close to being solved.
With
my little bag and two shillings tucked in my inner pocket, I took a bus to Tinubu. Midway through the journey, I
slept off because I had become jaded after the grueling lorry trip from Abeokuta. But the time I woke up, the bus was in Keffi and I was the only passenger
left. Again, I had to ask for directions
to Moses
Olaiya’s place. And again, I was
told to go to Tinubu.
my little bag and two shillings tucked in my inner pocket, I took a bus to Tinubu. Midway through the journey, I
slept off because I had become jaded after the grueling lorry trip from Abeokuta. But the time I woke up, the bus was in Keffi and I was the only passenger
left. Again, I had to ask for directions
to Moses
Olaiya’s place. And again, I was
told to go to Tinubu.
 |
| KSA…Got mum to bless him for music |
Unknown
to me, I had been misled. People knew Dr.
Olaiya, not Moses Olaiya and it was the reason I was
directed to Tinubu. My confusion increased and in that state of
mind, I took another bus to Oshodi. I got off somewhere and knelt down to pray
that God should help me find Brother Ayo, who was with Moses
Olaiya. After the prayer, I got up and started feeling hungry. But I
dared not eat because I was scared I could run out of money and I was yet to
find Brother
Ayo. With this on my mind, I
kept walking until I met a man who told me that Moses Olaiya lived in idi-Oro,
near Mushin. I felt a rush of excitement. The man offered to give me a detailed
direction, but in my excited state, I told him I knew the way. I found myself on another bus which took me
to Idi-Oro. All through the trip, I was staring out of
the widow and I saw Domino Stores, opposite Moses
Olaiya’s house. The building
arrested my attention and again, I missed where I was going.
to me, I had been misled. People knew Dr.
Olaiya, not Moses Olaiya and it was the reason I was
directed to Tinubu. My confusion increased and in that state of
mind, I took another bus to Oshodi. I got off somewhere and knelt down to pray
that God should help me find Brother Ayo, who was with Moses
Olaiya. After the prayer, I got up and started feeling hungry. But I
dared not eat because I was scared I could run out of money and I was yet to
find Brother
Ayo. With this on my mind, I
kept walking until I met a man who told me that Moses Olaiya lived in idi-Oro,
near Mushin. I felt a rush of excitement. The man offered to give me a detailed
direction, but in my excited state, I told him I knew the way. I found myself on another bus which took me
to Idi-Oro. All through the trip, I was staring out of
the widow and I saw Domino Stores, opposite Moses
Olaiya’s house. The building
arrested my attention and again, I missed where I was going.
While
thinking about going back, a man I had not met walked up to me and asked if I
was looking for Moses Olaiya’s house. He also offered to take me there. I did not know if I should be happy or
sad. I actually fretted because I
thought he could be a kidnapper. But I had no choice and joined him on a bus to
idi-Oro. Through the bus window at Idi-Oro,
the man pointed at a signpost, tapped on me on the shoulder and said: “Look at that signboard; that is the place”,
I almost jumped off the bus before it could stop. I kept yelling at the conductor to let me get
off, but he insisted that we must get to idi-Oro. I bawled until he let me. Brother Ayo was on the balcony
and I called out to him. He was shocked
to see me and shouted: ‘Sunday, how did
you do it?’
thinking about going back, a man I had not met walked up to me and asked if I
was looking for Moses Olaiya’s house. He also offered to take me there. I did not know if I should be happy or
sad. I actually fretted because I
thought he could be a kidnapper. But I had no choice and joined him on a bus to
idi-Oro. Through the bus window at Idi-Oro,
the man pointed at a signpost, tapped on me on the shoulder and said: “Look at that signboard; that is the place”,
I almost jumped off the bus before it could stop. I kept yelling at the conductor to let me get
off, but he insisted that we must get to idi-Oro. I bawled until he let me. Brother Ayo was on the balcony
and I called out to him. He was shocked
to see me and shouted: ‘Sunday, how did
you do it?’
 |
| KSA…Learnt how to play guitar secretly |
The
house is a very big one with many entrances.
Brother Ayo had to tell me which of the entrances to go
through. But, I missed my way by ending
up at the wrong one. After a long wait, he came down looking for me and was
still unable to find me. As I was also
unable to find him, I became worried, peeping into each of the rooms on my way.
From one of those rooms came a voice asking what I wanted. ‘I want to see Brother Ayo’, I replied.
‘Who is Ayo?’ Another voice
asked.
house is a very big one with many entrances.
Brother Ayo had to tell me which of the entrances to go
through. But, I missed my way by ending
up at the wrong one. After a long wait, he came down looking for me and was
still unable to find me. As I was also
unable to find him, I became worried, peeping into each of the rooms on my way.
From one of those rooms came a voice asking what I wanted. ‘I want to see Brother Ayo’, I replied.
‘Who is Ayo?’ Another voice
asked.
I
was in a spin, wondering if I actually saw Brother Ayo. I managed to answer. ‘The
man who plays with Moses Olaiya’; the voice redirected me, saying Brother Ayo was known as Ariya
Father in the house. I got
upstairs to meet Brother Ayo. I was giddy
with excitement for coming across the first familiar face since leaving Abeokuta. Tired as I was, I devoured the plate of rice
he bought for me.
was in a spin, wondering if I actually saw Brother Ayo. I managed to answer. ‘The
man who plays with Moses Olaiya’; the voice redirected me, saying Brother Ayo was known as Ariya
Father in the house. I got
upstairs to meet Brother Ayo. I was giddy
with excitement for coming across the first familiar face since leaving Abeokuta. Tired as I was, I devoured the plate of rice
he bought for me.
(Excerpts
from the book; KSA: My Life, My Music by
King Sunny Ade. Read ‘How Baba Sala raised and trained me’
tomorrow on this blog)
from the book; KSA: My Life, My Music by
King Sunny Ade. Read ‘How Baba Sala raised and trained me’
tomorrow on this blog)
