Ogun Top Juju/Highlife Crooner, Big Tee Speaks
Taiwo Oguntade better known as Big Tee is one of the top artistes rocking the Ogun State entertainment space. The bulky singer also referred to as Taiwo Elesemeta is very talented as he has the uncanny ability to dish out of his repertoire, all genre of music, like a cross-over singer, according to what the mood of his audience demands. And that is not all. The baritone voiced artiste can also switch smoothly from performing as a one man band to a full band musician which many other artistes find difficult to do. Big Tee is set to launch is forth album titled: “Gratitude” on Sunday, 26th February, 2017, at Daktad Hotels & Suites, Quarry Road, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State. He spoke with SAHEED OJUBANIRE ONLINE in this no holds barred interview about his flourishing career, achievements and his forthcoming event amidst other issues. Please read on:
What brand of music does Taiwo Elesemeta sing?
I play Highlife music because I love it very well. I play Juju too; any kind of music.
So we can safely say you are a Juju/Highlife artiste…
Yes, a Juju/Highlife artiste.
How did music per se, start for Taiwo Elesemeta?
We thank God. I was once a member of Cathedral Choir at Ake in Abeokuta here. The Church’s name is Cathedral Church of Snt. Peter’s, Ake. I was a member of Cathedral Church of Snt. Peter’s Brigade and from there; I got the interest in music. Meanwhile, Pope was my mentor then; the late Dipo Sodipo. Then, One Mr. Yemi Odediran, he is the current organist of the Cathedral Choir. I used to follow him then.
(Cuts in) How many years ago are we talking about?
Like 20/22 years back, I think. And I was also with Lord’s Kenge. I used to play trumpet for him then; because I know how to play trumpet very well.
What did you do behind Pope?
Well, I said he was my mentor and I loved his lifestyle but I didn’t play with him. He was just like a good brother to me then. Meanwhile, I was Mr. Yemi Odediran back-up singer then and also his manager. He is also known as Oddy. And from that point, I started getting interested in setting up my own band and gradually, I stood on my own.
Can you still remember the year you set up your own band?
Let’s say ‘92/’93, yes.
What name did you give to your band when setting it up?
Big Tee Organization; and from there, people started calling Taiwo Elesemeta; Elesemeta and that is it.
Why exactly did the nick-name Taiwo Elesemeta come up?
Well, the meaning of that Elesemeta is my work. Before I started travelling out of the country to America, to London, to Europe; my live CDs and records had been there before me and that is assumed as my third leg. And people were then willing to see me and later on, I took my two other legs to meet my third leg in those foreign countries.
So we can say it was when you started travelling out that the name Elesemeta came into being…
Yes.
Now the Big Tee they also call you, is it because of your big stature?
Yes, Big Tee means Big Taiwo. You know I’m somehow big (laughs).
This brand of music, Juju/Highlife that you sing, do you think it makes you competitive with artistes singing other brands of music in this environment?
Well, I always believe in myself and everybody has their own type of music to sing. And again, for me, the calibre of fans I’m rolling with are the Highlife and Juju type, they are not really Fuji music people. Although, I also play Fuji too when the occasion demands for it because when we get to a party and we look at the gathering and we realize the brand of music they like, we give it to them. So, we can inject Fuji flavour into our brand of music as well. And even if it is not Fuji, we would still give them whatever they want to enjoy the occasion. So, we can say we have the advantage of singing all brands of music as the occasion demands.
The headquarters of entertainment in Nigeria is Lagos, so why are you based in Abeokuta and not Lagos?
Well, I’m from Abeokuta and I love Abeokuta but most of my shows come from Lagos. I’m only based here in Abeokuta and it costs me nothing to go to Lagos at any time. People always call me from Lagos, in fact, most of my big fans have been saying I should come and relocate to Lagos but I just prefer Abeokuta. The truth is, if anyone calls me up now and says Taiwo, there is an event in Lagos at which we want you to perform, I’ll be there without disappointing them. Since Abeokuta is very close to Lagos, I can always breeze in and breeze out.
So far, has there ever been any regret by you for being an artiste?
Not at all; it has never been. I’m enjoying what I’m doing.
So far, how many albums have come out of your stable?
The first one is “ E Bawa Se K’oda”, the second one is “Advice”, the third one is “Destiny”, so the forth one is “Gratitude” which I’m planning to launch on February 26th, 2017, at Daktad Hotel and Suites, Off Quarry Road, Abeokuta.
How would you describe your relationship with fellow artistes in Abeokuta here?
My relationship with them is very cordial. There is no rivalry because I’m a very free person and I believe God is doing my own for me. So, I don’t see anybody as my rival, rather I see them as colleagues. I’m never the jealous type.
Let me put name to some of the key figures in the industry here. What is your relationship with Fuji star, Sefiu Alao Adekunle like?
Very cordial. Sefiu Alao is my brother and I love him so much. In fact, we used to live in the same neighbourhood before he moved to his house and I moved to mine too. As a matter of fact, our windows were almost touching each other at that point in time due to the closeness of the houses we lived in back then. And that’s how close we were.
What of Wole Papa and Alayo Melody Singer?
My relationship with both of them is very cordial too; and not just the two of them but also every artiste in Abeokuta here. And even the younger ones.
What would you say music has done for you?
Music has done a lot of things for me. Like I said, with this music I have been to London, I have been to America; I have been to Europe several times. Music built my house for me and bought every other thing that I have for me. From this music, I have also gone into rentals too. Music has helped me a lot because I know what I’m doing.
Now let’s talk about your family, what kind of woman is your wife?
Well, I got married to my destined wife. You know, I’m a town person, a society person so to speak and I decided not to marry another society person. My wife is a nurse and she is taking good care of my children. She is my everything; and for once, I have not had a regret getting married to her. Though, babes in town would always try to cause distractions but I always know what I’m doing. I never get distracted, though I’m not perfect.
Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?
I pray to God to take me to places because I still wish to be very popular like King Sunny Ade, Chief Ebenezer Obey Commander and other top musicians. And I believe God will take me there.
What is your message to your fans home and abroad?
Well, I want to thank all of them for being there for me. And by God’s grace, I promise not to disappoint them in any way. And like I said, my new album is coming out soon and I believe they will love it when it is released. I am counting on them always.
You have a baritone voice that attracts people when you sing, did you do a voice training or it’s natural?
That is my natural gift from God. And that is why I said I go on Highlife because if you have good baritone voice, you’ll feel it in the music. It is God’s gift any way.
Finally, at times, you perform with a band and some other times, you perform as a one man band, how are you able to do that easily?
That is my job. You see the one man band stuff; I said I used to go to Lagos and that most of my shows are in Lagos, the one man band show, they always call for it in Lagos because they love it. It is not everybody that wants noise; you’ll see this one, I want to mark my 50th birthday, that one, I want to mark my mum’s birthday for her and they will just put me in one corner of the house and I’ll give them light music. You know, the banks, the industries, they all call me, exclusive and private gatherings. I go to Lagos at times, four or five days in a week for shows, that is for the one man band show because they love it since it is a quiet something. And on the other side, the full band thing is also there, you know, burial, weddings and the rest. I’m talented to do both. I can play keyboard by myself for the one man band thing, and that is why I’m somehow different from others. Even, when I travel abroad and I see a keyboard, I’ll play and entertain without waiting for Gangan drummer or a guitarist and my listeners would still love my performance to the fullest. And that is what I always do abroad but a lot of my contemporaries out there cannot do it.
Thank you very much for your time…
You are welcome.
