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| The Comrade Chief Olaonipekun with one of his daughters, Biola with the GDA |
Comrade Chief Olaniyi
Abolaji Olaonipekun is the father of the late Oladapo Olaonipekun aka Dagrin, who is the pioneer of
indigenous Yoruba Hip-Pop Rap Music in Nigeria. He died in April 2010 after a
ghastly car accident in Mushin area of the state while coming back from a night
event.
Abolaji Olaonipekun is the father of the late Oladapo Olaonipekun aka Dagrin, who is the pioneer of
indigenous Yoruba Hip-Pop Rap Music in Nigeria. He died in April 2010 after a
ghastly car accident in Mushin area of the state while coming back from a night
event.
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The Patriarch of the Olaonipekun dynasty was recently
installed as the Balogun of Alabelapo
land in Itori Kingdom in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun
State-South West Nigeria on December 5th, 2015. Nine days later
precisely on Sunday December 13th, the Owu
born Comrade gave out his daughter, Oluwabukola
who is late Dagrin’s immediate
younger sister in a traditional marriage inside his Kola Oretuga, Meiran-Lagos
home. Your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog Asabeafrika was at the event and we later had an exclusive chat
with Chief Olaonipekun who opened up on his new traditional title, life
without Dagrin, his Owu heritage and
other interesting facts you don’t know about him. Enjoy the excerpts.
installed as the Balogun of Alabelapo
land in Itori Kingdom in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun
State-South West Nigeria on December 5th, 2015. Nine days later
precisely on Sunday December 13th, the Owu
born Comrade gave out his daughter, Oluwabukola
who is late Dagrin’s immediate
younger sister in a traditional marriage inside his Kola Oretuga, Meiran-Lagos
home. Your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog Asabeafrika was at the event and we later had an exclusive chat
with Chief Olaonipekun who opened up on his new traditional title, life
without Dagrin, his Owu heritage and
other interesting facts you don’t know about him. Enjoy the excerpts.
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| Dagrin’s Dad to Asabeafrika…’The Owus are the most honest People you can find around’ |
Today is a great day in your life,
your daughter Bukola has just being taken into wedlock by Wale Gbojuwo. How do
you feel?
your daughter Bukola has just being taken into wedlock by Wale Gbojuwo. How do
you feel?
I feel great
I feel elated and happy, as you can see the entire family is happy, we are all
happy and thankful to God for giving us a day like this to celebrate one of the
most important events that characterizes humanity which is marriage. My daughter
brought home a reputable young man from a great family and we are happy to
become one large family.
I feel elated and happy, as you can see the entire family is happy, we are all
happy and thankful to God for giving us a day like this to celebrate one of the
most important events that characterizes humanity which is marriage. My daughter
brought home a reputable young man from a great family and we are happy to
become one large family.
“The Owus are very significant people; we are very generous and very
faithful. You are seeing that in General
Obasanjo’s life, he is very straightforward. An Owu man will not play double game with you”
Nine days ago, you were made the
Balogun of Alabelapo land in Itori, Ewekero LGA of Ogun state. I know Chief
Obasanjo is the Balogun of Owu kingdom while you are now the Balogun of
Alabelapo, what does Balogun title mean to you?
Balogun of Alabelapo land in Itori, Ewekero LGA of Ogun state. I know Chief
Obasanjo is the Balogun of Owu kingdom while you are now the Balogun of
Alabelapo, what does Balogun title mean to you?
Alabelapo is a unique community carved from Ewekoro
Local Government Area and it was founded by the Owus. My late forefathers are warriors, they are Egba
warriors and hunters and that is what gave the name A-l-a-b-e-l-a-p-o! Itori
as a town in Ewekoro is 85%
dominated by the Owus, the Owus from Egba and my own forefather was the first settler in Alabelapo. The name Alabelapo came from the fact that the
land was dominated by great warriors and hunters of Owu extraction of Egba.
That is the history of Alabelapo.
Local Government Area and it was founded by the Owus. My late forefathers are warriors, they are Egba
warriors and hunters and that is what gave the name A-l-a-b-e-l-a-p-o! Itori
as a town in Ewekoro is 85%
dominated by the Owus, the Owus from Egba and my own forefather was the first settler in Alabelapo. The name Alabelapo came from the fact that the
land was dominated by great warriors and hunters of Owu extraction of Egba.
That is the history of Alabelapo.
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| One-on-One with the new Balogun of Alabelapo Land |
Who is your forefather?
Chief Ola Olaonipekun of blessed memory
What is strange about you Owu People,
there is this belief that Owu people are powerful and influential. Chief
Obasanjo the former President is an Owu man likewise Governor Ibikunle Amosun
of Ogun State?
there is this belief that Owu people are powerful and influential. Chief
Obasanjo the former President is an Owu man likewise Governor Ibikunle Amosun
of Ogun State?
The Owus
are very significant people; we are very generous and very faithful. You are
seeing that in General Obasanjo’s
life, he is very straightforward. An Owu man will not play double game
with you.
are very significant people; we are very generous and very faithful. You are
seeing that in General Obasanjo’s
life, he is very straightforward. An Owu man will not play double game
with you.
But there is this belief that Owu
people are unforgiving, the Yoruba will say “Owu kii ranro, amoo,
Owu kii gbagbe Oro”. I hope I got it right?
people are unforgiving, the Yoruba will say “Owu kii ranro, amoo,
Owu kii gbagbe Oro”. I hope I got it right?
No, it goes
like this “Ara Owu kii ranro, awii menu
kuro ni towu” which simply means we never revenge but we don’t forget. We
never revenge but we won’t forget anything you do to us, if anybody tells you
that he has forgiven you or he has forgotten whatever bad thing you did to him
or her, it is a lie. One day he will wake up to remember again (Laughter). But
once you are very straightforward, I will not revenge what you did to me
because I have forgiven you but I will always talk about it, that is the
peculiar nature about us, we also have an Oriki that says “Iwo sun Odede, ki emi sun Odede
oun ni kii je ka mo lila lorile Owu” that means if I have a passage, I
will invite you to sleep there, I will invite other people to sleep there as
well. So, it will be very, very difficult for a stranger to know who exactly
owns the passage. So, it speaks about our sense of humility in the face of
riches. You won’t be able to quantify the riches of anybody because we are all
generous people. We don’t look down or
classify ourselves based on wealth or riches but we try as much to live a
decent and humble lifestyle.
like this “Ara Owu kii ranro, awii menu
kuro ni towu” which simply means we never revenge but we don’t forget. We
never revenge but we won’t forget anything you do to us, if anybody tells you
that he has forgiven you or he has forgotten whatever bad thing you did to him
or her, it is a lie. One day he will wake up to remember again (Laughter). But
once you are very straightforward, I will not revenge what you did to me
because I have forgiven you but I will always talk about it, that is the
peculiar nature about us, we also have an Oriki that says “Iwo sun Odede, ki emi sun Odede
oun ni kii je ka mo lila lorile Owu” that means if I have a passage, I
will invite you to sleep there, I will invite other people to sleep there as
well. So, it will be very, very difficult for a stranger to know who exactly
owns the passage. So, it speaks about our sense of humility in the face of
riches. You won’t be able to quantify the riches of anybody because we are all
generous people. We don’t look down or
classify ourselves based on wealth or riches but we try as much to live a
decent and humble lifestyle.
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| Comrade Comrade Chief Olaniyi Abolaji Olaonipekun with his in-laws |
What is the significance of your role
as Balogun of Alabelapo land?
as Balogun of Alabelapo land?
Well, I will
say I was only honored with the title of Balogun
because they saw the leadership quality in me and I have played my own role in
my own little way to a community that meant a lot to me and my heritage. I will
like to mention and appreciate the significance of one person here, he is Baale Musibau Shobayo, he is the
Principal of Iganmode Grammar School in Ota, he is presently the Principal
of that great institution and he is equally the Baale of Alabelapo. I will give kudos to him for giving me the
honor of Balogun because he saw the
leadership quality in me and he gave me the rare honor to become the Balogun of Alabelapo. It is a very huge
honor and I am not taking it lightly in terms of mutual communal
responsibility.
say I was only honored with the title of Balogun
because they saw the leadership quality in me and I have played my own role in
my own little way to a community that meant a lot to me and my heritage. I will
like to mention and appreciate the significance of one person here, he is Baale Musibau Shobayo, he is the
Principal of Iganmode Grammar School in Ota, he is presently the Principal
of that great institution and he is equally the Baale of Alabelapo. I will give kudos to him for giving me the
honor of Balogun because he saw the
leadership quality in me and he gave me the rare honor to become the Balogun of Alabelapo. It is a very huge
honor and I am not taking it lightly in terms of mutual communal
responsibility.
You are also a leader in this
community of Meiran, so how would you be joggling your new role as Balogun of
Alabelapo with your leadership role in Meiran?
community of Meiran, so how would you be joggling your new role as Balogun of
Alabelapo with your leadership role in Meiran?
I have been
a leader in this community for over twenty years; I was an executive member of
the community development association and a community leader of this Kola Oretuga community for over 20
years until the day I said ‘I am tired’. Because they kept coming for my role
because I am one of the first settlers in this area and until the day I said to
them ‘I am tired’ but there are still issues that crop up from time to time and
they will want me to contribute intellectually and other ways round. So, I was
instrumental to so many good things in this community. I don’t think becoming
the Balogun of Alabelapo will mean a
lot task from my normal schedule. It is my birth community and becoming the Balogun is only a step ahead to
service.
a leader in this community for over twenty years; I was an executive member of
the community development association and a community leader of this Kola Oretuga community for over 20
years until the day I said ‘I am tired’. Because they kept coming for my role
because I am one of the first settlers in this area and until the day I said to
them ‘I am tired’ but there are still issues that crop up from time to time and
they will want me to contribute intellectually and other ways round. So, I was
instrumental to so many good things in this community. I don’t think becoming
the Balogun of Alabelapo will mean a
lot task from my normal schedule. It is my birth community and becoming the Balogun is only a step ahead to
service.
“I grew up as a son of the late Quarter Master General of the Nigeria Port Authority. My father Captain
Ayodele Olaonipekun was the late Quarter Master General of the Nigerian
Ports Authority and my late mother was Chief Store Keeper, Federal Ministry of
Works, Iponri Branch”.
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| Comrade Chief Olaniyi Abolaji Olaonipekun, Late Dagrin’s father |
You earlier mentioned General
Obasanjo as a World Class Leader, what do you mean?
Obasanjo as a World Class Leader, what do you mean?
To me, I
will want President Obasanjo to be
recognized as a world leader. You can only compare Obasanjo to people like Nelson
Mandela or people like (Barrack) Obama
in terms of esteem and leadership
quality. Obasanjo was the only
African leader in my life time, that will go to a country where a coup was
taking place and he went to meet the soldier that seized the power, took the
power from him and gave it back to the ousted civilian and he restored
democratic power back immediately. I think it is high time we start to
recognize people like Chief Obasanjo as world leaders and classical
leaders of our time; and to a larger extent, that speaks of the steadfastness
of the Owus. We are ready to do
anything to achieve peace and stability but it is quite a great irony that
people in our clime, especially in the political arena, allow people to die
before they start to appreciate them which is very wrong. Let us appreciate our
leaders when they are still here with us so that they will be encouraged to do
more and offer more service to the development of nationhood.
will want President Obasanjo to be
recognized as a world leader. You can only compare Obasanjo to people like Nelson
Mandela or people like (Barrack) Obama
in terms of esteem and leadership
quality. Obasanjo was the only
African leader in my life time, that will go to a country where a coup was
taking place and he went to meet the soldier that seized the power, took the
power from him and gave it back to the ousted civilian and he restored
democratic power back immediately. I think it is high time we start to
recognize people like Chief Obasanjo as world leaders and classical
leaders of our time; and to a larger extent, that speaks of the steadfastness
of the Owus. We are ready to do
anything to achieve peace and stability but it is quite a great irony that
people in our clime, especially in the political arena, allow people to die
before they start to appreciate them which is very wrong. Let us appreciate our
leaders when they are still here with us so that they will be encouraged to do
more and offer more service to the development of nationhood.
Can you tell me something about your
growing up days? What was it like?
growing up days? What was it like?
I grew up as
a son of the late Quarter Master General
of the Nigeria Port Authority. My father Captain Ayodele Olaonipekun was the
late Quarter Master General of the Nigerian Ports Authority and my late mother
was Chief Store Keeper, Federal Ministry of
Works, Iponri Branch. Yeah my parents were both aristocrats but I
grew up as a street boy anyway, and I have been into entertainment and music
all through my life. For all the five decades of my life I have been doing
music and entertainment.
a son of the late Quarter Master General
of the Nigeria Port Authority. My father Captain Ayodele Olaonipekun was the
late Quarter Master General of the Nigerian Ports Authority and my late mother
was Chief Store Keeper, Federal Ministry of
Works, Iponri Branch. Yeah my parents were both aristocrats but I
grew up as a street boy anyway, and I have been into entertainment and music
all through my life. For all the five decades of my life I have been doing
music and entertainment.
I learnt you rent out musical
instruments and all that?
instruments and all that?
I don’t just
do that alone, I have been promoting musicians as well and I can tell you
confidently today that a lot of musicians passed through me. Lot of them passed
through me.
do that alone, I have been promoting musicians as well and I can tell you
confidently today that a lot of musicians passed through me. Lot of them passed
through me.
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| Comrade Chief Olaniyi Abolaji Olaonipekun with family |
But your late son, Oladapo Olaonipekun
passed out of you?
passed out of you?
He was my
son and he did Music.
son and he did Music.
How do you feel 5 years without him,
he started the whole thing about indigenous rapping and today, music stars like
Olamide are making a fortune out of indigenous rap?
he started the whole thing about indigenous rapping and today, music stars like
Olamide are making a fortune out of indigenous rap?
That is the
uniqueness of a late Owu boy again.
The Owus
are very unique; when they do things, they give it a unique identity and Dagrin is not the only son I have that
is in the music line. I have a daughter in the music line and I still have a
son in the music line.
uniqueness of a late Owu boy again.
The Owus
are very unique; when they do things, they give it a unique identity and Dagrin is not the only son I have that
is in the music line. I have a daughter in the music line and I still have a
son in the music line.
You mean they are presently being
prop up by you?
prop up by you?
Being
brought up even in the Hip Hop Music Industry, T-Black is one of my senior sister’s kids.
brought up even in the Hip Hop Music Industry, T-Black is one of my senior sister’s kids.
You mean T-Black the hip-hop guy, are
you sure?
you sure?
(Laughs
Heartily) Am I sure? My senior sister, in fact she was at my coronation as Balogun and she was also installed as
the Yeye
Baale of Alabelapo land. I mean my senior sister who is T-black’s mother. So, it is a big
creative family.
Heartily) Am I sure? My senior sister, in fact she was at my coronation as Balogun and she was also installed as
the Yeye
Baale of Alabelapo land. I mean my senior sister who is T-black’s mother. So, it is a big
creative family.
But why are the stars springing up
from your family?
from your family?
That is the
uniqueness of the Owus. We take our art serious, we do our volition passionately
and we don’t joke with whatever we find for our hands to do. We work hard.
uniqueness of the Owus. We take our art serious, we do our volition passionately
and we don’t joke with whatever we find for our hands to do. We work hard.
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| Comrade Chief Olaniyi Abolaji Olaonipekun to Asabeafrika…’Although my parents are aristocrats but i grew up as a street boy’ |
So, what is life without Dagrin and
what do you think he would have become if he didn’t leave so sudden?
what do you think he would have become if he didn’t leave so sudden?
Look, I am a
realist I don’t base my life on assumption. Dagrin has come, he created the brand of indigenous rap music,
created his own name and he has gone. But I will tell you one single fact
today, up till today I still receive awards on Dagrin. Up till this moment, I still get awards on his behalf,
several organizations and bodies do honor him and I get awards for his
creativity.
realist I don’t base my life on assumption. Dagrin has come, he created the brand of indigenous rap music,
created his own name and he has gone. But I will tell you one single fact
today, up till today I still receive awards on Dagrin. Up till this moment, I still get awards on his behalf,
several organizations and bodies do honor him and I get awards for his
creativity.
“I do tell people that Dagrin was the gentlest of my children.
Very sincere, very sincere and very reserved. He believed in music and I
allowed him to go ahead. Every moment of his life with me was spent on music;
he was either composing or trying to record”
Any time you think about him what
happens to you?
happens to you?
I am happy I
am being honored even through him despite the fact that he is late. Is that not
a glory to me?
am being honored even through him despite the fact that he is late. Is that not
a glory to me?
Oh, sir, it is a glory, a glory
indeed?
indeed?
If I happen
to be the father of a legend it is a glory to me, Dagrin is a legend just like Bob
Marley who died at age 35 but gave us one of the best musical season in his
lifetime. Of course, Dagrin is a
glory to me, so, no mourning moments, no mourning moment about Dagrin. Whenever I remember him I just
appreciate the fact that he came out of me and he has returned to his creator.
to be the father of a legend it is a glory to me, Dagrin is a legend just like Bob
Marley who died at age 35 but gave us one of the best musical season in his
lifetime. Of course, Dagrin is a
glory to me, so, no mourning moments, no mourning moment about Dagrin. Whenever I remember him I just
appreciate the fact that he came out of me and he has returned to his creator.
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| Comrade Chief Olaniyi Abolaji Olaonipekun meets the GDA |
Do you equally get royalty from his
works?
works?
Since I am
not tired at five decades plus, I don’t even put my mind there. I am still
working, I am still active and I can fend for myself and family, maybe when I
retire I will begin to look towards that. For royalties, I have not been
looking towards that now.
not tired at five decades plus, I don’t even put my mind there. I am still
working, I am still active and I can fend for myself and family, maybe when I
retire I will begin to look towards that. For royalties, I have not been
looking towards that now.
Can you tell us about the Dagrin you
knew as his father, he was famously known as a musician but who is Dagrin
behind the thrills of fame?
knew as his father, he was famously known as a musician but who is Dagrin
behind the thrills of fame?
I do tell
people that Dagrin was the gentlest
of my children. Very sincere, very sincere and very reserved. He believed in
music and I allowed him to go ahead. Every moment of his life with me was spent
on music; he was either composing or trying to record. And if you listen to any
of his tracks and you listen to a second one, you will see a clear marked
difference. No one song is like the other, that was his craft and he was good
at it. I have another young boy coming up now called Trod (The Return of Dagrin—TROD). I will bring him to your next
event.
people that Dagrin was the gentlest
of my children. Very sincere, very sincere and very reserved. He believed in
music and I allowed him to go ahead. Every moment of his life with me was spent
on music; he was either composing or trying to record. And if you listen to any
of his tracks and you listen to a second one, you will see a clear marked
difference. No one song is like the other, that was his craft and he was good
at it. I have another young boy coming up now called Trod (The Return of Dagrin—TROD). I will bring him to your next
event.
When Dagrin sang the song “If I Die”
and you heard it did you call him and warned him about the implication of the
song?
and you heard it did you call him and warned him about the implication of the
song?
What
happened was that I never heard about the song until it was released on air, I
was never aware of that particular song. It went on air after his demise and I
heard it like any other Nigerian did.
happened was that I never heard about the song until it was released on air, I
was never aware of that particular song. It went on air after his demise and I
heard it like any other Nigerian did.
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| The Comrade Chief Olaonipekun with his In-law, Kunle Gbojuwo and his daughters Bukola & Biola |
But he came home here to greet you
that very evening before he had the fatal accident that claimed his life, how
did you feel when you learnt about his predicament?
that very evening before he had the fatal accident that claimed his life, how
did you feel when you learnt about his predicament?
Yes, he was
with me that very day, we were together, he came to pay me a normal visit and
he told me about his ongoing work, he said he was going to studio that night
and I wished him good luck until when I was called the next morning on phone
that he had an accident. We tried our best and I told people, He that giveth
taketh.
with me that very day, we were together, he came to pay me a normal visit and
he told me about his ongoing work, he said he was going to studio that night
and I wished him good luck until when I was called the next morning on phone
that he had an accident. We tried our best and I told people, He that giveth
taketh.
What are you wishing your beautiful
daughter, Busola today for her traditional wedding and introduction?
daughter, Busola today for her traditional wedding and introduction?
Happy
married life. I told her earlier that she is the ambassador of
Olaonipekun family, she has to display that over there to show home
training. And on that note, I wish her a very happy married life.
married life. I told her earlier that she is the ambassador of
Olaonipekun family, she has to display that over there to show home
training. And on that note, I wish her a very happy married life.
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| Comrade Chief Olaniyi Abolaji Olaonipekun to Asabeafrika…’We Owus dont revenge but we dont forget’ |
As the new Balogun of Alabelapo, say
a word to your people in Alabelapo?
a word to your people in Alabelapo?
(Spoke in
Yoruba Dialect) Ah, gbogbo eyin Oloye
Alabelapo, lati ori Baale Musibau Shobayo dori Aare, dori Asiwaju, dori Otun,
Iyalode, Iyalaje, Jagunna, Lukotun, Ekerin ati gbogbo awon ti mi o ranti lati
daruko won, Isokan taa nse lalabe, isokan yen a gbe wa oo, alabe oo ni baje
ooo…asiko ti gbogbo dori oye, ire ibe aa tin ri bayi, ko to wa lowo, ko to wa
lenu, ko je ajemonu fun gbogbo wa…Alabelapo…Isokan….
Yoruba Dialect) Ah, gbogbo eyin Oloye
Alabelapo, lati ori Baale Musibau Shobayo dori Aare, dori Asiwaju, dori Otun,
Iyalode, Iyalaje, Jagunna, Lukotun, Ekerin ati gbogbo awon ti mi o ranti lati
daruko won, Isokan taa nse lalabe, isokan yen a gbe wa oo, alabe oo ni baje
ooo…asiko ti gbogbo dori oye, ire ibe aa tin ri bayi, ko to wa lowo, ko to wa
lenu, ko je ajemonu fun gbogbo wa…Alabelapo…Isokan….
