What Manner Of Agony (Ogbe Okan) Is This?

What can give a man the worst kind of agony in life? Could it be losing his job after giving so much to helping the company grow? Could it be betrayer from his best friend who plans his downfall behind him? Or could it be this…

He comes home happy to meet his pretty wife with whom he keeps exchanging banters and laughing like they just won a jackpot till late hours of the night. Being a very comfortable couple living in a big house, they have got their separate rooms in the house but would only knock on each other’s door whenever they wanted to have a “fire for fire” experience expected between a couple in the dead of the night.

And that fateful night, the wife had gone to bed earlier than her husband and while preparing to retire into his own room too for the night, there is a deafening banging on the main door to the house. “Who is that?” The husband inquires nervously. “We are armed robbers,” the voices outside respond confidently. “Open this door immediately or we open fire on it to gain entrance. And if that happens, there would surely be a grave consequence!” The robbers warn.

Despairingly, the husband turns the key in its hole open with his hand shaking, nay, vibrating like a Nokia 9310 of those days. And the moment they bounce in, just two of them, the robbers begin to dish out instructions to the helpless man under his roof without him being able to turn them down. Since he knows turning them down could only result in one possibility: they gunning him down. And the robbers are not looking like they would temper any mercy with their jungle justice!

Since all he has to do is to obey every instruction to the letter, immediately the robbers ask where he keeps his money, the husband takes them straight to the doorstep to his wife’s room. “Khoor, khoor, khoor…,” the husband knocks on the door repeatedly. And a sleepy voice answers from inside, “who is that?” Then the husband answers “it’s me.” “Na wa o! I hope my husband is not coming for ‘fire for fire’ this night again. I feel very tired o,” the wife must have said to herself. Notwithstanding, as an obedient Muslim wife, she knows she would not have much of a choice if that is the case, so she opens the door.

Lo and behold, she comes face to face with the robbers wielding instruments of “fire for fire” but unfortunately, not the kind she is familiar with. “Where is the money?” They bark and she takes them straight to the wardrobe where a briefcase containing money is kept. After taken the money as well as her expensive jewelries, like Oliver Twist, the robbers want more. The wife is wearing a sexy and very revealing night gown which irresistibly made the robbers to remember a contextually wicked proverb that says the taste of the pudding is in the eating.

But the robbers would not go straight for the “forbidden fruit”; rather they first put the wife in a dilemma by giving her two terrible choices. “Between killing your husband and sleeping with you, take one!” Having a split second to take her decision, the wife goes for what she feels is the lesser evil and you can guess what that is.

After taking turns on the wife from left, right and centre while the husband looks on, the robbers are still appreciative for the unusual hospitality presented to them. And as a token of gratitude, they give out a piece from the jewelries they stole from the wife to the husband for maintaining the centre of gravity of his wife so much that it feels, “ inwards”, almost like that of a virgin and one could only imagine the kind of pleasure that they got from their unholy access to the pot of honey.

And that point marks the beginning of the husband's agony (Ogbe Okan) as he keeps agonizing over the unpleasant experience to the extent that he feels the only way to put everything behind him is to send the wife packing!

And what happens next? The story spins different layers of intrigues which keep gathering momentum as the suspense heightens. And you know what; that is the story line behind a creatively packaged joint Islamic album produced by velvety voiced Alhaja Rukayat Gawat Oyefeso as the wife, award-winning Alhaji (Dr.) Abdul-Kabir Bukola Alayande aka Ere Asalatu as the husband, award-winning Alhaja Aminat Babalola better known as Omotayebi as the husband’s younger sister who keeps adding insult to the wife’s injury and ageless veteran, Alhaji Wasiu Kayode As-Sideeq as the wife’s father who tries to make peace.

While some other fast-rising Islamic artistes featured in it, the musical video shot by award-winning director, Dare Zaka, also featured talented actors like Ojopagogo, Kunle Adegbite, Lizzy Anjorin and Moji Olaiya who interpreted their given roles just like they do in the regular movies they act in. And to crown it all, the part 1, part 2 of the intriguing story as well as the about to be released part 3 of the musical, are being marketed by the award-winning Okiki Films and Music Productions also known as Aperire Marketer.

As a matter of fact, the final saga, part 3 of the award deserving creative work is billed for launching at an event tagged: Imole Day 2015 on Sunday, 1st November at 10 Degrees Event Centre, Plot A2, Billings Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos. Where would you rather be on the date? And wait for this teaser. Guest Lecturer is Sheikh Muyideen Ajani Bello while some of the artistes to grace the stage include: Baba n Waka, Ayeloyun, Saoti Arewa, Ere Asalatu, Omotayebi, Iya n Kaola, Gbemisoke, Temi Ni Success, Akogba, Cisse, Talesu, Oore Otun, Olorire, Aare, Aponle, to mention a few.

How to attend? Call: Bukky Success on 08035246724, 08073396179, Modinat on 09024626772, Suliyat on 08127794791, or Luqman on 08028254177.

You can rest assured of this, SAHEED OJUBANIRE ONLINE would be at the event, what about you?

SEE WHAT THESE BABES SAY OTHER BABES SHOULD WEAR TO THEIR BIRTHDAY BASH!

Their birthday is on Saturday, 31st October, 2015. The venue is Club Elysium, 14 Taoridi off Babs Animashaun, by Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos. See what the two pweety babes say other babes should wear to their party below…

POPULAR FUJI ARTISTE WELCOMES BOUNCING BABY BOY

Like it is said in a Yoruba idiom, if this Fuji artiste's stomach was a race course and you take a horse ride through it, certainly, you'll never trip as it surely would be a smooth ride. And the simple interpretation of that is that popular classical Fuji artiste, Alhaji Ramoni Akanni aka Raymond King is currently in a very happy mood. Reason? His wife earlier today (Thursday, 22nd October, 2015), was delivered of a bouncing baby boy.

Speaking on phone with Saheed Ojubanire Online shortly after the delivery, Lecturer as the accomplished artiste is also called by fans could not contain his joy as he gushed:"mo bimo o," amidst laughter.

And don't get it twisted; the boy is not his first born. As a matter of fact, as this blog published few weeks back, his first daughter recently had her introduction ceremony with her Dubai based fiancé at one of Raymond King's houses in Ogbomosho, Oyo State. Hence, the well-sought-after musician was only being excited by the bundle of joy which has come to swell the number his house-hold has already been blessed with.

POPULAR MUSIC PRODUCER FINDS LOVE, SEE TELL-TALE PIX

In case you don't know, his name is Issa Alabede also known as Agbara Orin. He is one of the well respected music producers in both the Fuji and Islamic music genre. He produced the recent albums of Fuji music Star, Shefiu Alao Adekunle and that of a number of popular female Islamic artistes.

And wait for this...Agbara Orin has apparently found love in this beautiful babe giving him all the cupid assurances he needs with the look on her face. 

Or what do you think? And mind you, the pix was stolen from Alabede's BBM display picture.

ISLAMIC MUSIC STAR, SAOTY AREWA, PICKS UP HIS ISLAMIC ARTISTE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Several weeks after emerging as the Male Islamic Artiste of the Year at the 2015 City People Entertainment Awards, ever improving Islamic music star, Alhaji Abdul-Salam  Azeez Abiodun Ajiroba better known as Saoty Arewa, has eventually picked up his award.

He was presented with his well deserved plaque earlier today, Thursday, 8th October, 2015,  by a City People representative at a music Video shoot location in Lagos, in which himself, Alhaja Sophiat Qamardeen aka Iya n’Kaola and Alhaja Rukayat Gawat Oyefeso featured.

It would be recalled that the 2015 City People Entertainment Awards held in Lagos on Sunday 16th August, 2015 and Saoty Arewa who already had a musical engagement in Oyo State before the date of the awards was communicated to him could not make it back to town before the awards event ended on the day, as planned.

And efforts for him to pick up the award belatedly at the City People Magazine's Office in Lagos had been abortive as plans kept changing at the last minute. But the long wait for him to see his award came to a joyous end today.

MEDIA PERSONALITY, JUMOKE GIWA, LAUNCHES FOUNDATION ON BIRTHDAY

For Jumoke GIWA, a journalist and columnist with some online and traditional media platforms, passion to be her brother's keeper runs like blood in her veins. And that was what reportedly informed her decision to launch what she called a Government Support Programme and tagged: Street Children Campaign Organisation on Tuesday,29th September, 2015, which happened to be her birthday.

Speaking at a press conference which held in a hall at Zappas, 64, Freeman Street, off Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos Island, Jumoke also used the avenue to unveil her media firm named: 29th Media which would focus on image management for personalities who desire positive public perception.

Talking about why she is setting up the foundation, Jumoke disclosed that she got the inspiration from her experience some time in 2012 when she met a 14 year old boy without a home because he was an orphan living with foster parents but had to leave home due to maltreatment from them.

She said her new organisation which would be run alongside five other partners would be taking roaming children out of the streets of Lagos with Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba and Lagos Island being the main areas of focus and the children would either be taken back home or to correctional centres as the case may be.

She further hinted that a good number of corporate organizations and some social groups have started showing interest in working with the Street Children Campaign Organization to mop up as many street urchins as they can and bring back orderliness and sanity to the society.

After a question and answer session had been entertained at the press conference, the event climaxed into a low-key marking of Jumoke's birthday with cutting of birthday cake and sharing of takeaway meal to all the attendees.

I Brought Several Innovations Into Islamic Music

Islamic Music Star, Ere Asalatu Speaks

              

Like a heavy rain unheralded by a cloudy sky, his emergence on the music scene sometime in 2008, caught most music lovers unaware. The release then of his first musical effort titled: “Ere Asalatu” caused some positive confusions. Sounding very much like Tungba Gospel Music creator, Yinka Ayefele in tone, tune and beat of his music, but singing Islamic gospel music, many began to imagine if Yinka Ayefele had converted to Islam. But a more painstaking enquiry revealed the artiste behind the new dimension in Islamic music as Abdul-Kabir Bukola Alayande, who has apart from adopting the title of the said first album as a stage-name today, has also become an Alhaji with even a reference of Dr. added to his titles. By not resting on his oars, Ere Asalatu has remained a force to reckon with in his genre of music since bursting into limelight and has also won the award of Best Islamic Artiste in Nigeria amongst several others internationally. In this interview with SAHEED OJUBANIRE ONLINE, he spoke on issues regarding the Islamic music industry, his experience, source of inspiration, innovations and more. Excerpts:

  

Q: Of recent, Islamic artistes are fond of producing more joint albums than individual albums, is joint album now more profitable than individual album?

No. Producing joint albums is not in any way more profitable than producing individual albums but we are doing it because that seems to be what our fans and listeners prefer for now. As a matter of fact, what we are paid for partaking in joint albums is not up to one quarter of what we get for producing our individual albums. However, joint albums sell far more at the moment than individual albums of many of my colleagues. And again, there has been more ample ground to pass more messages with the joint albums better than in the individual albums. Mind you, I pass as much messages in my personal albums as I pass in the joint albums but that does not apply to every Islamic artiste. So, the collaborations take more painstaking measures in terms of the messages being passed across, no matter the artistes involved. But in terms of profitability, individual album is more profitable than the joint album for the artiste.

Q: A section of Islamic artistes are of the opinion that the up and coming artistes need the joint albums to be popular by featuring already established stars in the albums. But for someone like you who became popular with a solo effort, how would you react to the assertion that joint albums are needed to make some artistes popular?

No, I disagree with that school of thought. The truth is we have all been destined to become popular as artistes in different ways, whether with a solo or a joint album. Besides, at the time I burst into the limelight with my first album titled “Ere Asalatu”, joint album was not yet in vogue by Islamic artistes. Although, the Fuji and Hip hop artistes were already doing it but it was still alien to Islamic music then. However, I still don’t want to reckon that collaboration has the magic wand of making an artiste popular. As a matter of fact, there is a good number of artistes in our industry who have featured in so many collaborations but yet, they are not popular. So, it is only Almighty God who determines who He wants to make popular or not. It is not about how talented, beautiful or handsome an artiste is, but just by God’s grace. It is just like the law of nature; it takes one blessed sperm out of multitude to make a baby.

Q: Are there measures the association of Islamic artistes is taking to regulate the production of the joint albums so that they don’t become too excessive in the market?

Well, there has not been any regulatory measure taken so far but there are steps about to be taken to control outflow of joint albums to curb its excessiveness. And again, some of our people don’t know what they are doing, they are just doing it. And they will still be happy and be laughing about it. I know the body of Islamic artistes would soon be setting up a committee to look into regulating joint albums.

Q: If you are to compare Islamic music with other genre of music, where will you place it?

Islamic music is number one. 

Q: Why do you have that conviction?

Yes, Islamic music is number one. And that is because you’ll only find Islamic music in only godly places. And whoever is seen in a godly place is number one as far as I’m concerned. We may not be as rich as those in other genre of music but we are not lagging behind. Besides, money is not the only measure of success. I can bet it that people buy more of our albums than others and we are living good lives like others in other genre of music too.

Q: Is there an album you have just released or still working on?

Yes. I have just released two albums and there is one about to be released. One of the newly released albums is “Ore Gbankogbi” and the other is Video CD of a previous album “American Secret”. And the one I’m walking on is titled “Reality” which would be coming out soon.

Q: What gives you inspiration to compose?

There is nothing in specific. When I am happy, I get inspiration from happiness and if it is otherwise, I get inspiration from it. My inspiration comes from my mood or what I see around me. Especially, things that are unusual.

Q: You are also known as “Innovator” in Islamic music, what are some of the innovations you brought into your genre of music?

If you look at Islamic music, you’ll know that my style is very different from others. My style incorporates High life, Juju and the rest of it, it is very dynamic. And that is the innovation. My dress sense is also different, my thinking is different, my composition is different and my delivery is quite different. And the environment you’ll find me is also different. That is the reason I was given the appellation “Innovator” in London.

Q: What kind of relationship exists between you and other Islamic artistes?

There is a very cordial relationship between me and all my colleagues, both males and females in the industry.

Q: Is there any unforgettable experience you have had as an Islamic artiste?

Yes, there are so many. But I don’t want to start mentioning them so that they would not be misunderstood by some people. May Almighty Allah continue to protect us all.

Q: How would you react to the assertion that Islamic artistes are not in true cordial relationship with one another?

Thank you. That is only a fake rumour; for one, I have a cordial relationship with all my colleagues and I believe that is the way it is with every one of us.

Q: As an Islamic artiste who has performed into both London and America, how acceptable would you say Islamic music is out there?

Islamic music is very well accepted by Nigerians abroad and some other black people like us, both in London and America. Even, some white people dance to the melody of my music; after all, music is a universal language.

Q: Apart from being an artiste, you are also a music producer. Which are you more comfortable with?

I am very comfortable with both. Even at times, I feel like inviting someone to come and produce for me when I’m recording my album because two heads are always better than one.

Q: Finally, what is your message for your teeming fans home and abroad?

My message is that they should always be of good characters so that good things would always locate us. There is a lot of good in being good. And I want them to know that I love them all.