Maturity: The philosophy of Fuji music, by Gani Balogun

Despite my familiarity with the album, yet I am always blown away by the title track of this 1987 album whenever I listened to it.
The album, which was dedicated to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who passed into glory that year, represents the two extremes of the genre.
The side dedicated to the late sage was a celebration of his life and the dirge on his demise. His achievements and the eternal impact of his legacy, as well as his death denying the Yoruba of his genius and his visionary leadership.

But my write up is about the flip side, the title track of the album: Maturity.

For the first time perhaps, since his maiden single in 1966, Barry dedicated a whole side of an album singing only in riddles and proverbs. He praised no one, he described no place, he celebrated no landmarks, only summing up life struggles and human nature.

From the opening verse of Maturity lo ni aiye to the closing verse of joje lo laiye o, he spoke only to the deep, the way only he can.

Won pe yin, won fe ra oja, e so igba yin o.