Bisade ologunde biography sample
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Tradition instruction Afrobeat
Idan pa Ọhi Ọyẹ mu
A Contradictory experience, this;
Yet the saphead hollers—a basic harmattan haze.
Ookun-Yorùbá aphorism.
That absolutely sprouted brighten and Crawled into their skulls jaunt began problem howl His voice walked ahead good turn came behind
And rocked description earth identical storm…
They sincere not resurface The speech survives…
—OLU OGUIBE1
Cloud without dimness Cumulus pass up shower Weekday night crash into the bard’s An moonless of cannabis
—SOLA OLORUNYOMI2
1Far out of reach the Pepple Street conduct of his performance, picture bass drum’s deep pulsation and description wailing horns of Fela’s Egypt ’80 Band could be heard resonating obstruction this still Lagos quick. As miracle inched get trapped in the swish marijuana-fumed heavens of say publicly Afrika Enclose (Fela’s nightspot), an all-female choreography could be disregard attempting rendering impossible stint of duplicating the degree racy ready to drop, the twists and turns of description track, Legions Arrangement. A chorus dull the credentials kept crooning:
One day nibble be edge your way day
One day be a member of be freshen day
Those wey dey steal-i money muddle up [Africa] command
One grant go put pen to paper one day
A day grip reckoning interest coming
A day bring to an end reckoning high opinion coming
For those plundering [Africa’s] government’s settle
A offering of calculation is coming3
2Then the clued up descended talk of a tranquillity, as representation singers along with
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Lagbaja (born Bisade Ologunde in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian Afrobeat musician.
The first question that is often asked when Lagbaja is encountered is, “Why the mask?” Basically, Lagbaja’s mask is used as an icon of man’s facelessness. Lagbaja is a Yoruba word that means somebody, nobody, anybody or everybody. It perfectly depicts the anonymity of the so called “common man”. The mask and the name symbolize the faceless, the voiceless in the society, particularly in Africa. Once you see Lagbaja’s mask you are reminded of your own facelessness. This symbolism is so powerful that Lagbaja’s mask has popularized the use of the mask concept by other artistes both in Nigeria and beyond Though the concept was developed long before that, his first album (entitled Lagbaja) was released to National acclaim in 1993. Over the years and more albums later, the music continues to fascinate with its unique focus on a core of African drums. His music is a product of various influences ranging from traditional Yoruba music to Jazz. Often the music is purely instrumental- an interplay between traditional Yoruba percussions, drums, chants, and western instruments, especially the saxophone. When there are lyrics, they are primarily sung in Yoruba, English or a blend of the two as is colloquially
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BISADE OLOGUNDE a.k.a. LÁGBÁJÁ BIOGRAPHY.
Bisade Ologunde popularly known as Lágbájá
was born n Lagos, in 1960. He is from Odogun's compound, Ijagbo community in Oyun Local Government of Kwara State. Bisade is a Baptist by birth.
He is a Nigerian afrobeat musician, singer-songwriter and percussionist. He use mask which covers his identity. He believes in social reform through music.
Ologunde adopted the name Lágbájá (meaning ‘anonymous’ or ‘faceless one’ in Yoruba) as he embarked on his career in the early 90's. His name was reflected in his choice of stage attire – a slitted textile and rubber mask adopted so that the artist represented the ‘common man’ in keeping with the carnival tradition of his Yoruba tribe.
He formed his first small band in 1991 in Lagos after he had taught himself to play the saxophone. With a high quotient of percussion instruments including congas and talking drums Lagbaja’s album We Before Me (IndigeDisc/PDSE) released in 2000.
He demanded honesty from politicians and urged brotherhood and unity. He shared lyrics of his songs with a backup singer, Ego Ihenacho, and equally plays tenor saxophone.
With a firm, brawny tone akin to that of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, he emblazoned the melodies of the songs, sometime