Remembering Oke Aminu, olohun iyo: Four decades after

I had initially done a story on Chief Ebenezer Obey’s classic number, Board Members which was aposted on my Facebook page.

Board members was one of the evergreen albums released in the 70’s by legendary Juju exponent, Ebenezer Obey.

The song however became the subject matter of an argument as to which year was the hit track, Board members originally released. This contentious view took a dynamic turn when one of the contributors to the interlocution insisted that it could not be 1976 because according to the person, his father’s voice was on that particular album.

Curiosity took the better part of me and I asked who was your daddy? He answered the Late Kęhinde O̩ke̩ Aminu.

The said person was Ayo̩dele O̩ke̩ Aminu. His late father (Ke̩hinde O̩ke̩ Aminu) wa an integral part of Ebenezer Obey band that sang Board members in 1972. Sadly, the sonorous back-up singer passed on in 1973.

In the mid 60s when Chief Ebenezer Obey wanted to form his musical band, he searched for friends and colleagues that could add value to his band and one of them was O̩ke̩ Aminu who was referred to as Olohun Iyo̩ (the man with sweet voice).

The Late O̩ke̩ Aminu alias Baba Dupe̩ was blessed with such a sweet voice that added a magical effect to the symphony of the Obey’s earliest compositions. Such was tenor part to the musical ensemble that it fittingly embellishing the sounds just the same way salt added taste to anything you cook.

O̩ke̩ Aminu was born in Ado Odo, in O̩ta/Ado Odo Local Goverment of Ogun State. His path met with Ebenezer Obey at Mushin area of Lagos state during a church program. Although the name O̩ke̩ Aminu sound rather like a Muslim but he was a devoted Christian that attended a white garment church.

He was part of the church chior who rendered sweet melodies that later attracted Ebenezer Obey to him. He was particularly a God fearing man, diligent in his duties and careful in handling things.

The Late O̩ke̩ Aminu (o̩ko̩ Iya Dupe̩) was staying very close to Ebenezer Obey’s house around Papa Ajao area of Mushin behind the former standard hotel. They saw regularly and were close to each other. The band had just released an album in 1973 titled The Horse,The Man and His Son (Ke̩te̩ke̩te̩).

In that album there was a particular track O̩ke̩ Aminu influenced ”Ile Aiye Fun Gba Di E̩ Ni”. It was a philosophical song about vanity and the need for us to be good to one another. The track explored intricately the theme of while on death and the ephemeral nature of mortality. Little did members of the band knew that was going to be his last recording with them.

On Saturday, August 25th 1973, the band had a general meeting with Baba Commander at his house in Mushin. They were billed to perform that evening at Rowe Park stadium at Yaba.

In preparation of the performance, the band had met to discuss on logistics. While they were all seated in the sitting room, Ebenezer Obey asked one of the band members Giwa Arigidi, “Where is O̩ke̩ Aminu”? Giwa responded the band leader that O̩ke̩ was seated beside him.

To chagrin of the band members, they were surprised that Baba Commander did not notice that O̩ke̩ was beside him. After the meeting, he called O̩ke̩ aside and talked at length with him before they all departed.

O̩ke̩ Aminu was very vital to the band. If things needed to go on well, he was delegated to carry out that function. In addition to his musical talent, O̩ke̩ Aminu had leadership qualities, a leader in the boys scout organization. He was always prepared and organized but it did not occur to the band that they were not going to see O̩ke̩ Aminu again.

They all departed from the meeting with the hope that they will all meet at the party venue of Arigidi Topper’s club at Rowe Park.

Arigidi Topper’s club was a Yoruba social cultural club from Arigidi town in Akoko area of Ondo state. One of the band members, Giwa Arigidi belonged to the social club.

They were having their annual general meeting and he had influenced the Inter Reformers Band to perform for them. Usually Giwa Arigidi and O̩ke̩ Aminu were always together but because Arigidi was busy with arrangement of the club party he did not follow O̩ke̩ Aminu on that sad day.

The stage was set but the Olohun Iyo̩, O̩ke̩ Aminu, was nowhere to be found which got Baba Commander worried because it was very unusual of him to come late.

Suddenly a fan of the band, Jide Oshinusi, arrived at the Rowe park and broke the news to them that he had sighted O̩ke̩ Aminu’s motorcycle around Idi Araba area.

According to Oshinusi, O̩ke̩ Aminu was involved in a fatal accident involving his motorcycle colliding with a car. O̩ke̩ was said to have been rushed to the Lagos state teaching hospital (LUTH) at Idi-Araba.

Then it occurred to Chief commander that the signs of his special interest in O̩ke̩ Aminu since morning was a bad omen for what had happened to him.

The band managed to perform for the Arigidi Topper’s Club but they were not at their best. After the party, Ebenezer Obey with others rushed to LUTH and they were told O̩ke̩ Aminu was gone. “Baba Dupe̩ ti lo̩” (Dupe’s father is no more) said his friend, Giwa Arigidi.

Expectedly, the band did a special posthumous album in honour of O̩ke̩ Aminu before the end of 1973 titled “O̩ke̩ Aminu”. The Late O̩ke̩ Aminu was eulogised and Baba Commander sang in a sorrowful mood and melody for him.

He sang thus:
“O̩ke̩ Aminu to ku, iku ti se o ro, iku mu O̩ke̩ Aminu lo̩! O̩ke̩ Aminu ti ku! O̩ke̩ Aminu Olohun iyo̩, ni o̩jo̩ Saturday 25th of August 1973, O̩ke o! O̩mo̩ Aminu! O̩ke̩ o! O̩mo̩ Aminu! To ba de o̩run, ma je̩ ekolo lo̩run, ma je̩ o̩kunrun, ma je̩ ekolo! Ko se o̩run re” (meaning: Meaning that death was a debt we all owe and must be paid).

The vocal input of O̩ke̩ Aminu to the band of Ebenezer Obey remains inerasable till date.

Below picture was Ebenezer Obey’s Photograph with his Band Members in the early 70’s. The International Brother’s Band.

Standing from left, Monday John, Vasco Dagama, Ebenezer Obey Himself, The Band’s Captain, Samson Ogunlade, Israel Adio, Jossy Ojo and Knelling from Left was, Gabriel Adedeji, Mutiu Kekere, O̩ke̩ Aminu, Ayo̩dele Director and Giwa Ojo Arigidi.

Credit: 𝙷𝙾𝙼𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝙷𝙸𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈