Why I want to be world best percussionist - Tayo Conga

Tayo congaTayo Conga is one of the best percussionist in Nigeria, he plays virtually all kind  of instrument but specilzes in a drum called Conga or Tumbadora drum, according to him his decision to settle for conga drum is not only to be unique  but to the the world best in the  Afro Caribbean eat and  promote African culture and tradition. Tayo Conga has done beats for several notable artistes in Nigeria like Iyanya, Davido, Wizkid and several others. 

How do you come about Tayo Conga

I came up with conga drum because of the name conga, Conga is a percussive instrument made from the maccota drum, its an afro Caribbean instrument whereby you can use  for salsa dance  and any kind of music  so I  decided to add my name to that of the drum for people to identify me with the drum and understand the essence of the name. Another name for conga is Tumbadora, it is a Spanish name for conga drum

 At what point did decide to go into drum beating

I was born into drumming I started drumming at the age of 4 , I developed an idea by my experience  of years of playing akuba or agbamole drum so in 1998n I advance into Conga drum  when I noticed that there are some certain music that Agbamole cannot be used and Conga drum can flow into any kind of genre of music  so I started by developing a passion for it and later learn about the technique of playing the drum so I watch some video, it inspire me more,

 And how has it been ?

It has been very fantastic, very OK and I learn everyday because no man is an island of knowledge, soed to  I decided to learn about percussion to create different sounds I decided to go into African  drumming in order to promote our culture because I see conga drum as an African instrument which we should not allow the western world to take away from us, sound itself has its origin in Africa they speak African language so I speak and communicate in  Africa

tayo conga and Iyanya

But conga is alien to Nigeria so many people do not like it

Yes it is possible because some people seen a professional conga player performing , and the reason is that we are just few in Nigeria today because people are scared of the hardness of the surface of the word  and skin, conga drum is made of different type of skin , we have the one of fiber, kangaroo and others  so people  are always scare of the drum because they don’t want their palm to be hurt but for me I care less  about that because as  professional I must not look at those things  what I considered before taking up conga as my instrument was the fact that I saw everybody playing lead guitar, keyboard, drums and others and I ask myself why wont I do something special  something uncommon  and I know Conga drum is not common  and I  told myself I want to be the best and make it know to the world, represent my country and promote my culture  and to the glory of God it has been  good I am gradually making impact and achieving my target

Some people said Conga drum is being used during festival and rituals, is it true?

Not at  all, conga drum is also been play in the church and any where as well so it is not, the beat or sound may be familiar but Conga drum is for music and anywhere good music is being , yeah Conga drum is a traditional instrument but that doesn’t limit it to traditional activities or occultism

 What is the future of Conga drum in Nigeria?

If you listen to the music our producers are producing now they cannot do without conga  tunes, you will surely have percussive sounds listen  to the sound  like  they have been using conga since the days of Orlando Owo, Sir, Victor Olaiya,, conga drum still exists  if you listen to all this circular musician  as well they uses conga beat in order to nourish their tunes, people like wizkid cannot do without conga, people like Banky  sings R and B  and he cant do without conga sound so Konga has a very bright future in  Nigeria entertainment industry.

Have you release any album?

I am working on my project , I am working on an album

 Do you look forward to collaborate with any of the reigning arts in Nigeria now

Yes I look forward for more collaboration

Have you done anyone before?

I have worked with different artists, I have worked with BankyW, Wizkid, Nyanya, praise, Waje and so many of them including gospel artists like midnight crew, mikeAremu, I have worked with Tosin Martins,  Soji Isreal Big Bolaji, tosin Sars, patricia kings  and many of them

  How do you maintained the band in term of loyalty

I maintained my band and we are cordial , always tell them that it is not every show you go that you will make money but irrespective of what happen at the show be a good ambassador of the group, be able to do well, be able to just do your ting let people see the originality  in you, its not about you playing it  without happiness, be happy , have passion for what you are doing and at the end of it you will enjoy your labour  and they are complying  because the policy is working out fine.

 Can you tell us one of the memorable events?

Ha  2015 felabration, I was opportune to perform  at the grand finale of the felabration  2015, and after my performance the atmosphere was hot and everybody was happy so to keep the tempo  on they called 2face idibia on stage immediately after my performance , it’s a day I can never  forger, it was a great privileged for me sharing a stage with 2face idibia, I’ve always been playing at felabration but with different artists but I coming there with my band is a great privileged and platform for me

 Lets have an insight into your background

I was born in Ajegunle, in Aj City most young guys like doing some crazy things with their talent and that stands them out in whatever they are doing so as a young boy, myself  and some of my neigbhour in the hood  use to set up a stage at the  front  of  our house or open arena  and be playing music with different funny instrument such as Milk tin, bottle, open tray bucket and other things that bring sounds so I always lead and direct what sound to play and lead the music and that was how it all started in Ajegunle, while we play some people will be dancing and it gradually developed into a gyrational thing  when people will come around to watch our performances on Friday and Sunday  we get some instruments  and later when I moved to Ibadan , I started wit Akuba, I went back to Lagos we have a vibrato things, from school we have a group  and after  graduation we form a group called The Vibrator which I was the PRO  we were able to move well, later  spitted  because some of us got corporate job and some of us decided not to go into corporate world but to continue with the music

Did your parent support you going into music?

I am an orphan, I lost my dad in 1989 and my mum in 1993 so ever since then I have been trying to work hard I belief in myself I am a superstar because that spirit that everything will be possible in this country, it has not been easy becoming a conga player, for people to accept that drum you have to just work, it has been very challenging in convincing Nigerians about the  drum conga  but we are making headway.

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Tope Eluyefa

Ooni: Custodian of Yoruba cradle

Ile-Ife in the history of the Yoruba nation is symbolic to their origin and culture. SINA FADARE in this report x-rays the importance and significance of the ancient city.

Ife is a symbol of Yoruba and the king of the ancient town is not only revered but seen as the mouth piece of the almighty God on earth.

Though, there are two schools of thoughts that traced the origin of Yoruba to Ile-ife in different circumstances, but the fact still remained that the ancient town is believed by as the origin and cradle of Yoruba and her progenitor.

The mythology

The first school of thought argued that the first settlers came all the way from the present Mecca and eventually settled in ile-ife. When there was crisis in Mecca, a powerful ifa priest was said to have been consulted and he told them to migrate to a place where the ground is flat. It was at the present Ile-Ife that the ground was flat and Oduduwa who is believed to be the father of Yoruba settled down. That was why the place was named Ile-Ife, a place that the ground was flat. This account was corroborated by archeological excavations of terracotta’s, carved figures, brass castings, stools and monoliths in granite and quartz found in several parts of the town. All these gave the suggestion that the Yorubas have the similarity of cultural origin with Egypt.

However, the second school of thought however argued that at the creation of the earth, God (Olodumare) ordered a deity ‘Obatala’ to create the earth but could not achieve it because he got intoxicated through excessive drinking of palm wine.

The prevailing situation prompted his younger brother ‘Oduduwa’ to take over from him. He took the three items of creation from him including a cockerel. Oduduwa climbed down from the heavens on a chain and threw a handful of earth on the ocean and got a cockerel to assist him spread the sand to form land on which Ile-Ife and the world thrive today.

According to historians, the town’s habitation can be traced as far back as 350 BCE The meaning of the word “ife” in the Yoruba language is “expansion;” “Ile-Ife” means in reference to the myth of origin “The House of Expansion”

It is also believed that all dead bodies have a ‘stop over’ in Ile-Ife before going to the world beyond, in some Yoruba burial rites, it’s often recited that the dead person should not stay too long in Ile-Ife but proceed straight to the other world. It is also believed that till date there is a path in Ile-Ife that leads straight to the other world which is only accessible by the dead.

However the common ground in all the various historical narrations of the origin of the Yoruba race is the undisputable acceptance of Oduduwa as their founder and progenitor. This has been the unbreakable bond of unification among the Yorubas.

Spiritual home of all Yoruba

Ile-Ife is the ancestral and spiritual home of all Yorubas, bonafide in Nigeria and the diaspora. The spiritual headship of the Yoruba race by the Oni cannot be queried either. Ile-Ife is well known as the city of 401 deities. It is said that every day of the year, except one day, which is not known to the general public, the traditional worshippers celebrate a festival of one of these deities. The most celebrated of the deities is the Ogun festival, which is named Olojo festival, when the king only appears in public, wearing a special crown called ‘Are’ and uses the occasion to bless his subjects.

Discovery

During the colonial era, a notable artefact known as Ori- Olokun which has been existing over a thousand of years was purportedly said to have been discovered by that renowned German archaeologist Leo Frobenius in 1910. The pure-copper sculpture took the entire arts world by storm at the time of its discovery to the extent that experts from the West argued that the artefact was a mystery that was too sophisticated to have been an handiwork of any African man.

However, after a thorough search of the ancient town it was discovered that there are other sophisticated arts work around the ancient town. It was then that the world accepted the facts that the people of Ile-Ife are advance in production of notable artefacts. They have the expertise of wielded the technology to turn iron to alloy but also of moulding abstract artworks out of the product. Consequently, it is now accepted by the curatorial community that the advanced artistic techniques used to create the sculpture were more advanced than those of Renaissance Italy, and comparable to those of Donatello (renowned artist). That was why the ancient city was referred to as ‘source’ of civilization.

Also, Ile-Ife is the site or Opa Oranmiyan that stands over five meters tall in moopa area of the town with a fenced wall. Few symbolic trees are scattered around the staff with some dotted marks, which the custodian says are marks of bullet during the several wars fought by Oranmiyan. High chief Johnson Owoyemi, the Akogun of Ife is the current custodian of the Opa Oranmiyan – a staff that Oranmiyan, the grandson of Oduduwa used to take to war. The staff made of granite obelisk with iron stud stands within the Oranmiyan shrine manned by Chief Eredumi as chief priest who is believed by Yoruba as the link between the dead and the living.

Ooni as the father of Yoruba

The palace of the Ooni is a monument of the highest order while the monarch himself is a symbol of Yoruba existence. The Oòni otherwise known as Arole Oodua, is traditionally considered the 401st spirit (Orisa), the only one that speaks. The royal dynasty of Ife traces its origin back to the founding of the city, more than two thousand years ago.

In the days of old the palace of the Ooni of Ife was a structure, built of authentic enameled bricks, decorated with artistic porcelain tiles and all sorts of ornaments. To show the highest respect the people have for the stool, the Ooni of Ife occasionally appears in the public and if he does his face is always covered with a special crown that has veils decorated with ornaments and beads.

To demonstrate how revered and highly placed the place of Ooni in the Yoruba Empire was , in 1903, the British Colonial government invited the then Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Olubuse ll, the great grand fathers of the immediate past Ooni, Oba Sijuwade Olubuse to testify in a case between the Akarigbo of Remo and Elepe if any of them qualify to wear the beaded crown In those days, no one could look in the face of the Ooni. All Yoruba kings under his authority and who domiciled along the route the Ooni was to pass to Lagos moved out of their bases and they did not return until the Ooni returned to Ile-Ife.

The aura, candour and the opulence surrounded the Ooni stool embedded with core values of Yoruba culture make whoever occupies the place to abhor speaking English within and outside the country, especially in public fora. That was why the late Ooni, Sijuwade engaged the service of an English lady secretary any time he was outside the country who translate for him and Funmilola Olorunisola was always available in the country to do same.

His Royal Highness claimed that the irumoles forbade him to speak any other language, other than his mother tongue, Yoruba. He is always maintaining the strict posture in commune with the gods, the irumoles and his ancestors.

Taye Currency New Album, “ BBM” Hits Market With Bang

Popular Musician and Apesin of Fuji, Alhaji Taiwo Adebisi has said that he would hit the music stand with his new album ``Birthday Bash and Message (BBM)’’ today 7th, Dec. 2015.
This was contained in a statement signed by his spokesperson Tope Eluyefa and made available to journalists.

He says, Taiwo Adebisi,  popularly known as `Taye Currency’ was not leaving any stone upturned to continue thrilling Nigerians to good music, adding that the album preaches peace.



“I can authoritatively confirm that people has been phoning while others are continuously besiege the house of Taye Currency and marketers within and outside the States including Abuja, Jos, Kaduna and Sokoto are booking for copies of the music and by the end of today all markers in Nigeria should have receive the copies of Birthday Bash and Message (BBM) CDs” Tope said

``As an hardworking man, who works everyday to improve on my music and to effect positive change in the fuji industry, I research carefully before coming up with evergreen songs for all categories of people,’’ Tope said.


He said that the upcoming album was unique and would reign in the history of mixing and production of fuji songs, describing it as educative, inspiring, entertaining and informative.


He said that the 2in1 album with 10 tracks is unique and totally different from other dual albums in town

Adebisi stressed that the album `BBM’ preaches the way of life and the importance of individuals sustaining high level of sound integrity.

The album being produced by Golden Point Music is expected to rock the airwaves across Nigeria, as people are eager having waited for almost two years to have the feel of the music


The fuji musician assured his fans of his best always, promising them that the album would not fall short of their expectation.

Press Week: Oyo NUJ commends NURTW over peaceful election

 

Mr Gbenga Opadotun , the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),Oyo State Chapter has commended the Nigerian Union of Road Transports Workers(NURTW), Oyo Chapter for conducting a peaceful election.
He disclosed this of Friday in Ibadan after the Jumat Service held at Letmauck Barracks, Mokola to herald the 2015 Oyo NUJ Press Week.
Opadotun, while commending the Oyo NURTW Chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde, popularly known as `Fele’, who hosted the members to a reception, said that Oyerinde’s reign in the union had been peaceful.
``Gone are those days, when the Oyo NURTW is synonymous with violence. Their election is always conducted in a free for all atmospheres, which invariably disrupt the peace of the city.
``We thank God that the present administration of Oyo NURTW under the leadership of Oyerinde, who has just been returned for a second term, has written their name in gold.
``We pray that the good foundation laid by Oyerinde in the union be sustained,’’ he said.
He prayed that leaders like Oyerinde deserved higher positions in the union to inculcate into other members worthy legacies, a replica of his good works in Oyo.
In his response, Oyerinde commended the NUJ for the good work they have been doing as professionals.
He said that the NURTW would remain peaceful, having set the standard for peaceful co-existence of its members.
``We are always ready to be good partners of the NUJ and we will never relent in our efforts at sustaining peace in the NURTW and the state at large.
Oyerinde implored NUJ members to always discharge their duties diligently, adding that they should always be fair to all parties in their reportage.
``Please always verify any information bothering on the NURTW from our secretariat before publishing. I assure you that we will always be ready and willing to respond to you adequately,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Sulaiman Olanrewaju, the Chairman, NUJ Press Week Committee, urged members to turn out in large numbers for the ongoing 2015 Oyo NUJ Press Week.
He said that the theme of the week ``Nigeria beyond oil’’ has been carefully chosen and to be delivered by experts like Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) and Prof. Adeola Adenikinju to enrich the knowledge of members.
The event featured a prayer session  for the union, led by Imam Shuaibu Muhammed of Letmauck Barrack Central Mosque.

BY Tope Eluyefa

BOOK YOUR COPY.
"BIRTHDAY BASH AND MESSAGE" BBM
OUT ON MONDAY DECEMBER 7, 2015.

Bagii Chieftaincy Title: On Abdur-Rasheed we stand- Kingmakers

The eight Kingmakers of the Bagii chieftaincy council of Saki in Oyo State has insisted on the selection
of Prince Adegoke Abdur-Rasheed as the new Bagii of Saki They called on Gov. Abiola Ajimobi to approve the appointment in a letter signed by the kingmakers and which was made available to journalists in Ibadan today.
Those who signed the letter are Chief Shittu Olayiwola (Apeeki of Saki), Chief Samson Atanda (Agoro Bagii), Chief Ganiyu Adebayo (Sobaloju), Chief Yekeen Salami( Baale Ibata),Chief Kareem Abokede
(Baale Ayetoro).
Others are Chief Benjamin Olulande (Ikolaba Bagii), Chief Yekeen Oyedokun (Baba Bagii) and Chief Falohun (Baale Soloko)

The kingmakers had reacted over a purported directive of the state government through a letter dated Nov. 23 with reference number C.B 141/25/442 that the selection process, which has been concluded be
re-opened.
It was recalled that Abdur-Rasheed was selected by the kingmakers in an election between him and Prince Yusuff Olabode, who were presented by the Kujeniya ruling house.
The selection of new Bagii came up after the demise of the immediate past occupant of the stool, Late Chief Muritala Oladepo.
The kingmakers stated that the Management of Saki Local Government had on Sept. 29 wrote the Kujeniya ruling house of Baggi, whose turn it was to produce the next Bagii of Saki.
They said that the ruling house had at her meeting of Oct. 6 nominated Abdur-Rasheed and Olabode and forwarded to the kingmakers.
They said that they wrote a letter, dated 0ct. 7 to informant the management of Saki West local government, the head of Kujeniya ruling house with five members and the candidates.
The letter was to inform them about the selection meeting scheduled for Oct. 8 at the Apeeki palace, Oke-Odo in Otun area of Saki by 10am.
The kingmakers said that all the invited stakeholders and security agencies witnessed the election, which saw the emergence of Abdur-Rasheed.
They said that they unanimously voted for Abdur-Rasheed, having observed all customary rites and oath of allegiance as required by the tradition that governs the selection to the chieftaincy.
``The pattern of our votes was a product of not only physical consultation but spiritual and divine guidance,’’ they said.
They added that they have followed the Bagii Chieftaincy Declaration of 1958, which was approved and registered, and the Chiefs Law of Oyo State.
``Your Excellency, our respective titles and roles as kingmakers of Bagii of Saki is traditional and inherited from our forbears, from which we did not depart.
``There has never been a situation where kingmakers sit to re-conduct a selection process that has been concluded. It is a sacrilege,’’ they said.
They called on the governor to approve the appointment of Abdur-Rasheed and allow any aggrieved member to seek legal redress, pleading that they would be able to meet the governor’s judgment with
justice.