Wednesday’s passing of the maestro, Dr Victor Olaiya, has further diminished the Highlife Allstars Club comprising musicians who play the highlife genre and its enthusiasts.
Fondly called ‘The Evil Genius’ of highlife music, Olaiya passed on Wednesday afternoon at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) aged 89.
Managing Director of Evergreen Music Company, Bimbo Esho, announced the veteran’s passing on Facebook. She wrote: “We pray that the Doyen of highlife music finds repose with the creator while wishing the family and entire music community the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”
Evergreen Music, owned by Bimbo’s dad, Femi Esho, had years ago, released a CD compilation of Olaiya’s songs from 1954 to 2002 entitled ‘The Footprints of a Victor’. Though not a musician himself, Esho is a highlife enthusiast and member of the Allstars Club comprising some of the country’s leading highlife musicians.
Olaiya’s Stadium Hotel on Iyun Street, Surulere, was the main meeting venue for the Club which had other highlife enthusiasts like Prince Bambo Ademiluyi, Uncle Dejumo Lewis and the late Ambassador Segun Olusola.
Some prominent members of the Club were the late Fatai Rolling Dollar, Alaba Pedro, Orlando Julius and his wife, Latoya Aduke, Farofa King, Eppi Fanio (Adebambo Joseph), Eji Oyewole, Anjola Aboderin and Roy Olokungboye. In its heydays, the Club met regularly and often jammed together. They also featured at important gigs like the one held at Yoruba Tennis Club in 2009 for Uncle Tunji Oyelana. They raised the roof that night.
The Club’s highpoint would appear to be its 2011 deal with a copyright lawyer, Ope Banwo’s Stingomania Label. Upcoming artists on the label were to record some of Olaiya, Julius and Fanio’s hits with them. There was a contract signing ceremony at Stadium Hotel where one of the Club’s coordinators, Ademiluyi, explained that the documents were a tripartite agreement between the Club, the three musicians and Stingomania.
Banwo, on his part, said he bought into the idea because he noted that Highlife “didn’t reach back to inspire youth” and is no longer as popular as it used to be. The lawyer added that he didn’t want his artists only to remix the songs hence the decision to let the Highlife veterans have a hand in how it is reproduced.
Doing so, he noted, “Will rub off on the younger ones to rejuvenate Highlife and make it attractive to the young, not only the old.”
It is not clear what became of the deal, but some years after that milestone event, the Club appeared to somewhat lost steam. The demise of Alaba Pedro, Rolling Dollar and Ambassador Olusola affected the Allstars. At the same time, Orlando Julius’ relocation to his Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State hometown, also didn’t help matters.
The general insecurity, weak economy, difficulty members resident in Ibadan have coming to Lagos and Olaiya’s advancing age were also factors that affected the vibrancy of the Club. About four years ago, the meetings/jams were moved to Freedom Park but not every member still attended.
“Several factors prevented us from meeting regularly after some time,” Ibadan, Oyo State-based Aboderin told TCN on the phone. “There was the general insecurity around the country and the advancing age of members. Then, Dr Victor too was no longer active as he used to be. I realised I hadn’t seen him in a while and came to check him in Lagos sometime last year. He was sleeping when I got there, and I didn’t have the mind to wake him, so I returned to Ibadan without seeing him. I wish I had done so now,” he said.
Flautist Eji Oyewole, who also lives in Ibadan, echoed the same sentiment. “Dr Victor’s death is sad. He was our leader, and men like him are rare. He was a great man, immensely talented. Of his generation, only Pa Chris Ajilo who clocked 90 last year remains. He played a significant role in the Allstars Club, and I daresay his advancing age also affected us.”
One of the Club’s coordinators, Ademiluyi does not agree completely with the duo. He said while they have not had a show in recent years, they meet at Freedom Park. Ademiluyi added that the group’s WhatsApp platform has been very active since yesterday, with members mourning their beloved leaders.
The Club, he added, was planning a condolence visit to Olaiya’s family on February 23.
But whatever the case, it is expected that Olaiya’s demise, after the earlier departures of Pedro, Rolling Dollars and Olusola, would bring members together again.
Tributes galore
But as the Club’s revival is awaited, Nigerians are mourning and paying tribute to Dr Olaiya who left an immense body of work.
President Muhammadu Buhari joined the train on Thursday. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President paid tributes to the maestro and sympathised with his family and fans.
“His place in history is guaranteed. He sang, not just for the entertainment value, but also taught critical lessons on life, good neighbourliness, and national cohesion. He will be sorely missed.”
Another veteran musician, Bongos Ikwue, also mourned the departed. “Oh! Dear, brother! May your beautiful soul rest in peace. Dr Victor Olaiya, you lived an exemplary life, a scandal-free life, a quiet and contented life: We will miss you here. May God give your family the fortitude to bear this loss, Amen. Sun re, Ore,” he wrote on Twitter.
Music journalist and critic, Abdul Okwechime saluted the late musician. “They don’t come like this anymore. He was thoroughly accomplished. He was a great horns-man in any language. He spanned all generations. Even the Immortal Fela couldn’t resist playing with him early in life. And recently, 2Face Idibia took a ride in the man’s pool of creativity. Olaiya rejuvenated the young man’s beat. He was that awesome.”
