EXCLUSIVE: FUJI MUSIC STAR, SHEFIU ALAO OPENS UP ON WHY HE NOW CALLS SELF “AGBARA ORIN”

Some weeks back, the news was broken to you on this blog that Abeokuta, Ogun State based Fuji music star, Alhaji Shefiu Alao Adekunle a.k.a. Baba Oko has adopted a new nick-name of “Agbara Orin”. And like it was further revealed to you on this blog, the nick-name which the talented artiste has already titled one of his forth-coming 2-in-1 album with, is bound to generate some controversies as Fuji music industry already has some stars not only laying claims to being “Agbara” or “Ase” (Orin) but same has already heightened the bad blood between the two Fuji music brands, one of whom resides in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, and the other in Omole, Lagos State.

Meanwhile, Saheed Ojubanire Online paid a visit to Baba Oko’s beautiful abode off Quarry Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, few days back to find out why he apparently want to join the fray by adopting same nick-name of “Agbara Orin” and he took his time to shed more light on the matter. Hear him: “What do they call Orin (music)? The voice is what is called Orin. And when we talk about Agbara Orin (the Power of Music), you are only emphasizing the importance of good voice to music. Meaning that good voice is the Power of Music (Agbara Orin) and this is something everyone knows I am abundantly blessed with, that is good voice. For instance, the Fuji music creator, late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister once said in his music that whoever tries to imitate him would never be able to imitate all the varying musical tones of his voice (jomi jomi ko lohun mi l’enu).”

And singing a part of the late Barrister’s song where he extolled the beauty of the different tone of his voice to emphasize his point, Shefiu Alao went thus: “… toba wunmi, wun o lo mono, toba wunmi, wun o lo treble, toba wunmi, wun ofi base gbe e, emi lo ‘Lohun fun Ayinde o” (… if I like, I can sing in mono, if I like I can sing in treble, and if I like I can choose base, I’m fully endowed with all the pitches of voice).” And expatiating on that musical dexterity, Shefiu Alao contended that it is only someone who can switch fluidly in-between the 3 varying pitches in his music that truly has the Power of Music (Agbara Orin). “Meanwhile, since the demise of Barrister, I am arguably the only Fuji artiste that can boast of possessing the 3 pitches in my voice. Yes, other Fuji artistes out there are talented in their different ways, but they are all ‘one way’ when it comes to the pitches of the voice,” he argued.

“For the sake of emphasis, the only Fuji artiste also blessed with the varying pitches was Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and since his demise, I make bold to say I am the only one who can boast of that and I say that with all conviction. For instance, I can decide to sound exactly like late Orlando Owoh or Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal or any other artiste for that matter. But how many Fuji artistes can do that, just ask them. So I have good music as well as all the varying pitches of human voice. That is an edge none of them can catch up with. And that is what is truly called the Power of Music (Agbara Orin).”

And wait for this, to cap everything up, hear what Shefiu Alao asserted: “if truly there is anyone deserving to be crowned the King of Music, there is none deserving it like a singer who has the varying pitches of the voice. And who has that in Fuji music today? It is only Shefiu Alao. And let me also shock you with this, there is an old musical console called ‘Linear’ or ‘Ahuja Echoe’, and I say it with all conviction that if put on that machine to sing, you can hardly find any Fuji artiste who can cope except Shefiu Alao and the reason for that is simple. The engineers would find it extremely difficult to set the tone of their (other Fuji artistes) voice on it. But if I sing on it and you listen to the live recording, you’ll marvel at it. So aside from being a talented, deep and philosophical artiste, Shefiu Alao is an artiste for all seasons,” he contended.

And frankly and fairly, Shefiu Alao, Agbara Orin, seems to have a very valid point. Or what do you think?