 |
| KSA….Brought lots of innovation to Juju Music |
By
mid-1974, the father/son relationship, which presumably existed between me and Chief
Abioro, became frayed. Soon, it
took the complexion of a messy divorce case, where every linen—dirty or
otherwise, was brought out for the world to see. The nature of the rift was contractual. The cause?
A demand that my royalty be upped!
mid-1974, the father/son relationship, which presumably existed between me and Chief
Abioro, became frayed. Soon, it
took the complexion of a messy divorce case, where every linen—dirty or
otherwise, was brought out for the world to see. The nature of the rift was contractual. The cause?
A demand that my royalty be upped!
I
was nearing the end of my second contract with African Songs Limited,
which was signed against wise counsel in 1971.
The agreement almost did not get signed, given the circumstances at the
time. I had just returned from a playing
tour in London, on which the band was almost stranded because there was
no assistance from our recording company.
Back home, I told Chief Abioro that I wanted to move
out of African Songs Limited.
Fortunately, I got the backing of Mr. Segun Ogundele and Chief
Lekan Salami. The latter was a
member of the board of African Songs Limited. The two men insisted that I should not renew
the contract, but Chief Abioro convinced me to renew it for another five years
and I did. This caused a 12-year rift
between me and Mr. Ogundele. Also at
that time, Chief Abioro had removed Chief Salami from the board, but Salami
did not know.
was nearing the end of my second contract with African Songs Limited,
which was signed against wise counsel in 1971.
The agreement almost did not get signed, given the circumstances at the
time. I had just returned from a playing
tour in London, on which the band was almost stranded because there was
no assistance from our recording company.
Back home, I told Chief Abioro that I wanted to move
out of African Songs Limited.
Fortunately, I got the backing of Mr. Segun Ogundele and Chief
Lekan Salami. The latter was a
member of the board of African Songs Limited. The two men insisted that I should not renew
the contract, but Chief Abioro convinced me to renew it for another five years
and I did. This caused a 12-year rift
between me and Mr. Ogundele. Also at
that time, Chief Abioro had removed Chief Salami from the board, but Salami
did not know.
 |
| KSA….Changed the way Juju Music is being played |
I
decided to demand a rise in royalty payment because I believed I deserved
more. My contract stated that I would be
paid 20
kobo on each record, but I was actually paid 15 kobo. My contemporaries were earning a lot more in
their various recording companies.
decided to demand a rise in royalty payment because I believed I deserved
more. My contract stated that I would be
paid 20
kobo on each record, but I was actually paid 15 kobo. My contemporaries were earning a lot more in
their various recording companies.
Chief Ebenezer Obey, for example, was earning as high as 70
kobo on each record. I was not
the only one who wanted a raise in the African Songs stable. Other artistes also considered the disparity
too great. We met and decided to discuss
it with Chief Abioro. During our
discussions, we told Abioro that even if he could not
match the 70 kobo being paid by other companies, he should raise it to 50
kobo. That way, we reasoned, the
various bands would be better remunerated as well as motivated.
kobo on each record. I was not
the only one who wanted a raise in the African Songs stable. Other artistes also considered the disparity
too great. We met and decided to discuss
it with Chief Abioro. During our
discussions, we told Abioro that even if he could not
match the 70 kobo being paid by other companies, he should raise it to 50
kobo. That way, we reasoned, the
various bands would be better remunerated as well as motivated.
 |
| KSA changed his boys from Old School to New School |
But
Chief
Abioro would have none of that.
He referred us to the contract we signed. We, however, explained that our demands had
nothing to do with contractual agreements, but more to do with a quest for
adequate compensation. Still, no
dice. We were advised to get his friends
to speak with him. Among those we
approached were Prince Okunade Sijuwade (Late Ooni of Ile-Ife);
Chief
Adeleke Osijinrin, Afolabi Joseph of Ogo
Oluwa Kitan Records, the late Lekan Salami, Ebenezer Obey, Chief
T.O. Benson and Chief Alowonle.
Chief
Abioro would have none of that.
He referred us to the contract we signed. We, however, explained that our demands had
nothing to do with contractual agreements, but more to do with a quest for
adequate compensation. Still, no
dice. We were advised to get his friends
to speak with him. Among those we
approached were Prince Okunade Sijuwade (Late Ooni of Ile-Ife);
Chief
Adeleke Osijinrin, Afolabi Joseph of Ogo
Oluwa Kitan Records, the late Lekan Salami, Ebenezer Obey, Chief
T.O. Benson and Chief Alowonle.
 |
| Dr. Yemi Farounbi (Standing with KSA) claimed Sunny Ade revolutionalized Juju Music in an early memo in this book |
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The exit Album…
Despite
the intervention of these eminent people, Chief Abioro remained adamant. Instead, he offered another five year
contract, which I rejected. He
threatened that if I failed to sign the contract, he would not release any
record of mine during the one year remaining on my contract; he would not
record my album and he would not market my works. He also added that if I had any financial
difficulty, he would not offer any assistance.
The threats failed to melt my resolve to demand what I believed I was
worth. Given the deadlock, I decided to
release a record, Ekilo Fo ‘Omode, with Decca and released it on another
label. The album was recorded in
Nigeria, but taken to London for
mixing. I had thought that immediately
the record was released, I will take every copy to Chief Abioro for
marketing. What I planned to demand from
him was that I should be paid one naira on each record.
the intervention of these eminent people, Chief Abioro remained adamant. Instead, he offered another five year
contract, which I rejected. He
threatened that if I failed to sign the contract, he would not release any
record of mine during the one year remaining on my contract; he would not
record my album and he would not market my works. He also added that if I had any financial
difficulty, he would not offer any assistance.
The threats failed to melt my resolve to demand what I believed I was
worth. Given the deadlock, I decided to
release a record, Ekilo Fo ‘Omode, with Decca and released it on another
label. The album was recorded in
Nigeria, but taken to London for
mixing. I had thought that immediately
the record was released, I will take every copy to Chief Abioro for
marketing. What I planned to demand from
him was that I should be paid one naira on each record.
“Long before his
death in 1996, I reconciled with Chief
Abioro. He even made me a director in one of his companies, Record Manufacturers Nigeria Limited
(RMNL). But his children are clinging to
my property, saying it is part of their inheritance. Now, we are back in court, but they have been
offering to settle, perhaps out of court.
The lesson I learnt from the episode is that if an artiste is churning
out hit records, he needs to keep an eye on the business side of things”.
 |
| KSA….Changed the way Juju Music is being played |
The Court battle…
Of
course, I knew he would reject my demand, but I believed it would compel him to
make me an offer better than the measly one I had at the time. I chose not to
disclose my plan to him because I wanted to surprise him and prove that there
was no big deal about making records. It
did not turn out that way, as I, rather than Chief Abioro, ended with
a surprise – an unpleasant one. Chief
Abioro got a copy before the record was released. I suspected that a sample was stolen, as the
record arrived, and given to him by a friend who was a clearing agent.
course, I knew he would reject my demand, but I believed it would compel him to
make me an offer better than the measly one I had at the time. I chose not to
disclose my plan to him because I wanted to surprise him and prove that there
was no big deal about making records. It
did not turn out that way, as I, rather than Chief Abioro, ended with
a surprise – an unpleasant one. Chief
Abioro got a copy before the record was released. I suspected that a sample was stolen, as the
record arrived, and given to him by a friend who was a clearing agent.
 |
| KSA….The Band Leader |
My Record Label…
More
surprises awaited me. That evening, I
was handed a court order which prohibited the sale of the record. The same evening, I established Sunny
Alade Records. From there, the
matter got worse. African Songs did not bother
to invite me for a discussion before dragging me, my band and Alhaji
M. Ola Kazim, who marketed the album, to court. I hired Chief Gani Fawehinmi as my
lawyer. In court, Fawehinmi requested that
the judge should compel Chief Abioro to produce the
statement of African Songs Limited accounts over the last three years. I also told the court that my royalty ought
to be 20 kobo for each album, but I was getting 15 kobo. The court asked for the reason.
surprises awaited me. That evening, I
was handed a court order which prohibited the sale of the record. The same evening, I established Sunny
Alade Records. From there, the
matter got worse. African Songs did not bother
to invite me for a discussion before dragging me, my band and Alhaji
M. Ola Kazim, who marketed the album, to court. I hired Chief Gani Fawehinmi as my
lawyer. In court, Fawehinmi requested that
the judge should compel Chief Abioro to produce the
statement of African Songs Limited accounts over the last three years. I also told the court that my royalty ought
to be 20 kobo for each album, but I was getting 15 kobo. The court asked for the reason.
 |
| KSA with Peter Tosh & Sunny Okosuns in the 1970s |
When
the accountant of African Songs was asked to explain, he said the arrangement was
in existence before he joined the organization.
When the court asked Chief Abioro to explain the reason
for the deduction, he said the money deducted was spent on promotion and
advertisement of my works. Again, he was
asked if the term applied to only me; if there was a contract to that effect and
with whom? Abioro said there was a contract with Rod Publicity, the
advertising agent to African Songs. I recorded a song for Rod Publicity because I
believed that Chief Abioro would like the record, but I was not paid anything
for it. The court demanded that the
contract be produced. It was produced
and it read: “To promote all artistes of
African Songs Limited, including the Managing Director, Chief Abioro”. After this, the court asked Abioro:
‘Where is Sunny Ade in the contract?’
the accountant of African Songs was asked to explain, he said the arrangement was
in existence before he joined the organization.
When the court asked Chief Abioro to explain the reason
for the deduction, he said the money deducted was spent on promotion and
advertisement of my works. Again, he was
asked if the term applied to only me; if there was a contract to that effect and
with whom? Abioro said there was a contract with Rod Publicity, the
advertising agent to African Songs. I recorded a song for Rod Publicity because I
believed that Chief Abioro would like the record, but I was not paid anything
for it. The court demanded that the
contract be produced. It was produced
and it read: “To promote all artistes of
African Songs Limited, including the Managing Director, Chief Abioro”. After this, the court asked Abioro:
‘Where is Sunny Ade in the contract?’
The
court also discovered that African Songs Limited was making
almost N900, 000 every year. I
spend almost 10 years with them and the money given to me as royalties, loan
and the money received for litigation when we were sued in Benin City for not playing at a concert, amounted to N62, 000. The
court then asked Abioro what the percentage was.
That was what saved my name because an impression had been created that
I was biting the fingers that fed me. Chief
Abioro prayed the court to order that I should pay him the sum of N962,
000 as compensation for the money lost when I broke my contract to record with
another company. The court did not grant
his prayer, submitting that the contract was fraught with irregularities.
court also discovered that African Songs Limited was making
almost N900, 000 every year. I
spend almost 10 years with them and the money given to me as royalties, loan
and the money received for litigation when we were sued in Benin City for not playing at a concert, amounted to N62, 000. The
court then asked Abioro what the percentage was.
That was what saved my name because an impression had been created that
I was biting the fingers that fed me. Chief
Abioro prayed the court to order that I should pay him the sum of N962,
000 as compensation for the money lost when I broke my contract to record with
another company. The court did not grant
his prayer, submitting that the contract was fraught with irregularities.
 |
| KSA….Brought lots of innovation to Juju Music |
It
also ruled that I should pay about N300
for recording in another company while I was under contract with African
Songs Limited. Again, I was
ordered not to release another album pending the expiration of my contract with
African
Songs, which was due in six months.
However, the court said Ola Kazim should not have been
joined in the suit because he only marketed my record and was not party to the
contract with African Songs; more importantly, the court ruled that Abioro
had no right to stop the sale of Ekilo Fo’Omode.
also ruled that I should pay about N300
for recording in another company while I was under contract with African
Songs Limited. Again, I was
ordered not to release another album pending the expiration of my contract with
African
Songs, which was due in six months.
However, the court said Ola Kazim should not have been
joined in the suit because he only marketed my record and was not party to the
contract with African Songs; more importantly, the court ruled that Abioro
had no right to stop the sale of Ekilo Fo’Omode.
 |
| KSA changed his boys from Old School to New School |
The Rage of Abioro
& the lesson of war…
& the lesson of war…
Chief Abioro then vowed to bring me down at whatever
cost. Thirty years after the expiration
of the contract, African Songs Limited is still hanging on to my master
tapes. Long before his death in 1996, I
reconciled with Chief Abioro. He even made me a director in one of his
companies, Record Manufacturers Nigeria Limited (RMNL). But his children are clinging to my property,
saying it is part of their inheritance.
Now, we are back in court, but they have been offering to settle,
perhaps out of court. The lesson I
learnt from the episode is that if an artiste is churning out hit records, he
needs to keep an eye on the business side of things. If not, he would be in a mess. Since then, I have become much wiser.
cost. Thirty years after the expiration
of the contract, African Songs Limited is still hanging on to my master
tapes. Long before his death in 1996, I
reconciled with Chief Abioro. He even made me a director in one of his
companies, Record Manufacturers Nigeria Limited (RMNL). But his children are clinging to my property,
saying it is part of their inheritance.
Now, we are back in court, but they have been offering to settle,
perhaps out of court. The lesson I
learnt from the episode is that if an artiste is churning out hit records, he
needs to keep an eye on the business side of things. If not, he would be in a mess. Since then, I have become much wiser.
 |
| KSA….The Enigma |
The spider war of
Abioro…
Abioro…
The
reprieve I obtained in the court seemed the equivalent a one-way ticket out of
turmoil and near-servitude at African Songs Limtied. On the surface, it marked the end of my
crisis as a musician. Soon, however, I
discovered that it was the beginnings of Chief Abioro’s attempt to strangle
my career to death. While I feel a bit of
reluctance to blame Chief Abioro for the upheaval that ensued, it is almost
inevitable to see his hand behind the scheme.
reprieve I obtained in the court seemed the equivalent a one-way ticket out of
turmoil and near-servitude at African Songs Limtied. On the surface, it marked the end of my
crisis as a musician. Soon, however, I
discovered that it was the beginnings of Chief Abioro’s attempt to strangle
my career to death. While I feel a bit of
reluctance to blame Chief Abioro for the upheaval that ensued, it is almost
inevitable to see his hand behind the scheme.
Shortly
after, three members of my band—Bob Aladeniyi, Bob Ohiri and Sharafa
Bello – expressed a desire to quit. Their reason was that they got
information that I had been cheating them.
Specifically, they accused me of receiving N17, 000 annually, as royalty
from African
Songs, while I usually declared half the sum to the band. They got journalists to publish it. I was gutted.
Yet, I pleaded with Aladeniyi not to leave, explaining
that the allegation was not true and that things would be better since we were
free from African Songs.
after, three members of my band—Bob Aladeniyi, Bob Ohiri and Sharafa
Bello – expressed a desire to quit. Their reason was that they got
information that I had been cheating them.
Specifically, they accused me of receiving N17, 000 annually, as royalty
from African
Songs, while I usually declared half the sum to the band. They got journalists to publish it. I was gutted.
Yet, I pleaded with Aladeniyi not to leave, explaining
that the allegation was not true and that things would be better since we were
free from African Songs.
 |
| KSA…First Juju Musician to own a Radio Station in Nigeria |
But
unknown to me, they had entered into an agreement with African Songs. When he insisted he was quitting, I begged
him not to return to African songs because it had cheated
us as a band. I also offered to assist
if he was going to form his own band and expressed my willingness to be his
guarantor if he wanted to buy instruments, for which he would pay in installments,
from Dr.
Victor Olaiya. He was
unimpressed and told me that his mind was made up because African Songs Limited
had offered to buy him a car, musical equipment and promised him what would be
in the region of N100, 000 today. A tidy
sum of money it was, no doubt.
unknown to me, they had entered into an agreement with African Songs. When he insisted he was quitting, I begged
him not to return to African songs because it had cheated
us as a band. I also offered to assist
if he was going to form his own band and expressed my willingness to be his
guarantor if he wanted to buy instruments, for which he would pay in installments,
from Dr.
Victor Olaiya. He was
unimpressed and told me that his mind was made up because African Songs Limited
had offered to buy him a car, musical equipment and promised him what would be
in the region of N100, 000 today. A tidy
sum of money it was, no doubt.
When
he finished, I felt a rush of amusement because I knew that his seduction, by African
Songs, was complete. Not long
after, Aladeniyi succeeded in convincing my talking drummer, Tunde
Alade. With the other guys, they
formed Bob Aladeniyi and Juju Rock Stars. While I expected their departure, its mode
and timing seemed cruel. We were to play
at a show, got to the venue and discovered that the four men were nowhere in
sight.
he finished, I felt a rush of amusement because I knew that his seduction, by African
Songs, was complete. Not long
after, Aladeniyi succeeded in convincing my talking drummer, Tunde
Alade. With the other guys, they
formed Bob Aladeniyi and Juju Rock Stars. While I expected their departure, its mode
and timing seemed cruel. We were to play
at a show, got to the venue and discovered that the four men were nowhere in
sight.
 |
| KSA…Re-Wrote the story of Juju Music in Africa |
Luckily,
I had a second band, led by Abbey City and he followed us
everywhere we went. From the band, I
called Jelili Lawal to play bass guitar as a replacement for Sharafa
Bello; Tiamiyu Olaitan for Alade; Segun Ilori for Aladeniyi
and Taye
replaced Ohiri. Somehow, their
absence was not noticeable, musically at least, as everything went smoothly
that night and afterwards. But a few
people came up to ask if it was true that they had left my band. My reply was ‘I don’t know. I am just hearing about it’. And I also asked them if they had seen anyone
defecting from the band and they said: ‘No’, when I found out that they had
teamed up with African songs as a band, I wished them good luck because that
was all I could do.
I had a second band, led by Abbey City and he followed us
everywhere we went. From the band, I
called Jelili Lawal to play bass guitar as a replacement for Sharafa
Bello; Tiamiyu Olaitan for Alade; Segun Ilori for Aladeniyi
and Taye
replaced Ohiri. Somehow, their
absence was not noticeable, musically at least, as everything went smoothly
that night and afterwards. But a few
people came up to ask if it was true that they had left my band. My reply was ‘I don’t know. I am just hearing about it’. And I also asked them if they had seen anyone
defecting from the band and they said: ‘No’, when I found out that they had
teamed up with African songs as a band, I wished them good luck because that
was all I could do.
 |
| KSA…The Juju Music Genius |
It
did not take them long to realize that they took a wrong decision. Once I left, African Songs started
propping up Emperor Pick Peters as my replacement. They adopted a two-pronged strategy of
weakening my band and promoting Pick Peters. The relentless promotion of Pick
Peters
seemed to rattle Aladeniyi and his friends in Juju Rock Stars. African
Songs seemed to prefer Pick Peters, who released a hit
record, on which many alleged he was instructed by Abioro to disparage me.
did not take them long to realize that they took a wrong decision. Once I left, African Songs started
propping up Emperor Pick Peters as my replacement. They adopted a two-pronged strategy of
weakening my band and promoting Pick Peters. The relentless promotion of Pick
Peters
seemed to rattle Aladeniyi and his friends in Juju Rock Stars. African
Songs seemed to prefer Pick Peters, who released a hit
record, on which many alleged he was instructed by Abioro to disparage me.
(Excerpts
from the book; KSA: My Life, My Music by
King Sunny Ade. Read ‘My dirty fights with Emperor Pick Peters’
tomorrow on this blog)
from the book; KSA: My Life, My Music by
King Sunny Ade. Read ‘My dirty fights with Emperor Pick Peters’
tomorrow on this blog)
