My real name is Abass Akande Adeniyi but I am popularly known as Obesere. I am an indigene of Ibadan. I was brought up in Lagos, Ebute-Metta precisely. I schooled at Simpson Pry School and Jubril Martins School 3, now known as Iponri High School in Surulere.
I came from a bloodline of musicians; my grandfather was a griot and a drummer, my late uncle, Tatalo Alamu, was also a popular musician. Music flows in my blood.
I have been practicing music since primary school days but it was only for fun but to find my footings in life, I tried a lot of things; I learnt printing, did boxing, learnt welding and electrical engineering. I am a very hardworking guy to the core. I am what some people will refer to as a working cliché. From my childhood days; I hate being a burden to anyone. I love to depend on myself but all in all, it was the people that are part of my life that pointed me to my career and through them also God established me as a household name in Fuji music.
JUST LIKE THAT?
Not as easy as I narrated. My father in particular wanted me to be educated to any level as his other children but destiny took over my path and schedule and I was disowned by my parents for intending to go into music professionally.
I wonder why my father never wanted me or any of his children do music generally but when the trouble became so high, I left home and joined a friend of mine living alone in a rented apartment in Ebute Metta axis of Lagos. For us to pay the thirty naira rent for the apartment, I had to make a daily 'ajo' or 'esusu' contribution of one naira from my daily runs.
I was a hustler to the core; there was a time I would go to Iponrin as a jobber, canvassing customers who patronise the market to buy beer. I would offer my assistance by helping them negotiate a good deal, loading into their vans for whatever stipends they and the sellers can offer.
One day, I went to an event where Ayuba Atanda was performing. After he has satisfied his guests, he gave me the microphone to thrill the guests that are still passing time at the occassion. It was there that one of the guests who knew my mom contacted my mom witnessed my stagemanship, ran home without my knowledge, convinced her to bless my endeavour and advised her to let me be what I chose to be.
After then, my mom sought me, located my house, and entered my room for the first time. In the room was only a plywood bed without a mattress and a small National cassette player. I was about 18 years then. She gave me her blessing and told me to be whatsoever I decided to be for as long as it is not illegal or immoral and for as long as it is what my heart chose.
Although, I haven't created my own band then but I used to follow one Alhaji Ajisafe Aremu as a back-up singer and whenever chance presented itself, he would allow me to perform on the stage. I followed him diligently and devotedly for about two years.
He was a funny character; he might come behind on the stage, slapped you hard and questioned, 'Is that how to sing?' or 'Is that the right way to synchronise your voice?' but I kept enduring the humiliation and hardship. I did every kind of job, band boy, errand boy, and parker just to have a place in his band. I would be there before other guys arrived. I would join the parkers to load into the van and whatever amount of money we make, nobody dared question Ajisafe about wages or dues. I served like a slave.
THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
I only know of workers going on strike, Alhaji Ajisafe Aremu was the only employer I have witnessed going on strike at will. He might just woke up one morning and told us, he was no longer singing and we would start begging him to let us be part of his band and after a while he would call us back.
In those days, we used to perform at Canary Club in Ojuelegba every Sunday and as it was Ajisafe's usual practice, he went on strike again and the manager of the club contacted me and the band boys, encouraged me to at least lead the Sunday – Sunday Jump. He said at least every patron to the club enjoyed my lyrics and performance each time I mounted the stage – and just like that, we did, and after a couple of weeks, Ajisafe called us the band boys, asked us to return to his band but I said, “No, I am not going back! I am now an oga, I can't be a back-up singer again.”
And just like that; it was like I took a shine off his band. Other guys returned to him but I didn't. I gather a new set of boys for my Obesere Band and his career took a nosedive and mine soar.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PERFORMING ON STAGE?
About 34 years – I celebrated 25 years on stage in 2006.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED?
Many from the beginning; the family disagreements, my experience with Alhaji Ajisafe and several others but the main thing is not about how many times we have fallen, it is all about how we have gotten up each time we fall and how farther we soar despite the contrary winds.
WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU WERE FUMAN PRESIDENT?
I was never the President FUMAN; it was Saka Orobo and the new president is Moruf Shadow. I am the just the National Chairman. All we are doing is trying to unite ourselves because Fuji artistes are not united. The undue rivalry is stiff. As for me, I really don't see anyone as a competitor, I do my things my way; I am sure my style is unique – and I enjoy doing it my way but there are people who are just fond of rivalry for nothing sake. Although, competition can be good if it is meant to perform better or outdo others in order to command a larger percentage of the market share but it becomes a terrible thing when it breeds bitterness, hatred and all sorts of hooliganisms. No matter how hard you try, there are people who are bent in pulling you down; they believe that you, being up there, are an impediment to their growth and so they fight tooth-and-nail to bring you down. As a matter of fact; there is no unity among the Fuji musicians – all we have is rivalry and unnecessary competitions and we are trying as much as possible to curb that anomaly.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
God is my inspiration – and as I said I came from a bloodline of musicians. Everything I do is natural – my singing, my dancing, and the way I entertain fans on the stage. I don't drink and I don't smoke. I am purely natural in all my ways.
IS THERE ANYTHING GOING ON BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR LADY-DANCERS APART FROM WHAT WE SEE ON STAGE?
Nothing whatsoever! We are entertainers and we mount the stage to entertain people. All we do on the stage is just to entertain, fascinate and amuse our fans. After the show, there is nothing between us – absolutely nothing!
HOW TRUE IS IT THAT YOU ARE A TEETOTALER AND NOT A WOMANISER?
I neither drink nor smoke because of the grace of God upon me. If you hear I don't do any of those acts; it is not because I am perfect, it is because God has kept me clean. I don't have to womanise to socialise; my work is enough fun and I don't have to drink to be energetic, it is God's gift from within.
YOU NEVER DID AT ALL OR YOU QUIT?
Huh ... when I was like 17 or thereabouts, I tried drinking beer but I realised after consuming the second bottle, I would start misbehaving then I made up my mind not to ever take anything that will rubbish me or ruin my life and career and since that time till date and until forever, I will never take things like that.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMPOSER APART FROM YOURSELF?
Not at all! I write and perform my songs. Although, many people do come to lend me ideas; if it is suitable for my brand – I take to it and if not, I will stylishly reject it so as not to make the person feel bad.
WHY?
Because someone who gave a counsel that will dilute your brand today might come with the one that will scintillate the brand tomorrow – everybody and every idea is important. Besides, what doesn't work today might become a sensation next time.
WHICH OF YOUR STAGE NAMES DO YOU PREFER MOST?
The latest one is Alhaji Agba. People still call me 'Omo Rapala,' 'Alasakasa' and others call me what appeals to them but the commonest and most popular one is 'Obesere'.
DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER FUJI ARTISTES?
Cordial! I love every-one of them, I appreciate them all – all of us are good in our unique ways. If they are not there, there would have been no Obesere. If there is nothing good about me or others, many won't have anything to compare. It is because of our varied brands of Fuji music that we have hygienic competitions and if those things weren't there, there will be nothing to keep the debate going in town. For example, I never had any rival or see anyone as a competitor of any sort; my type of Fuji is highly genuine and original – no other person can sing, dance, and perform in an exact way as me and when I look or listen to other Fuji artistes, I see those glaring differences.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN YOUR YOUTHFUL DAYS THAT YOU HAVE STOPPED DOING?
Nothing whatsoever I had done in my youthful days that I had abandoned. I was never a bad guy.
WHAT OF YOUR DANCING STYLES?
People no longer dance these days as they did in the past. It is now more of demonstration than rigorous, energetic dances as before.
WHY DID YOU QUIT BOXING FOR MUSIC?
I did boxing when I was still trying to find my footings in life. I didn't learn boxing to be like anyone; I just wanted what will inscribe my name in gold in the minds of the people and actually make me a set-man for life but as I dug deeper, I found out that music resonated better with my soul and spirit than any other venture and I am grateful to God, I settled for it.
DID YOUR PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA AFFECT YOUR MUSIC IN ANY WAY?
Not at all; I have always been releasing albums, going to shows and performing at various parties as I had done over the years. I never stopped performing. In the past months, I have released two albums, Alhaji Agba and Igara – and there is another one, Oju Eko, to be released soon; it will be marketed by Olasco Records. You know people can say a lot of things to take you off circulation or cast you down but when your destiny is in God's hands, He will take you farther beyond your own imagination and even to the chagrin of your antagonists.
HOW MANY LABELS HAVE YOU WORKED WITH SO FAR?
I cannot mention. They are all my friends and business associates. I still enjoy cordial relationships with them.
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY?
Apart from music, I enjoy plying table tennis and I practise it often. People might think it was football but no, it is ping-pong. I only sponsor a football club, Obesere Football Club – which I recently discovered is not properly managed to my satisfaction. The guy who previously managed it has left and I am yet to see a capable hand who will take up that side without me having to prioritise other ventures above my first love which is music.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO YOUR WIFE?
First thing was her beauty and I later discovered she possessed the good characters every godly woman should have. Beauty first, then good characters glued me to her. She is so accommodating; never looked down on anyone and that is a quality that men like me, who works with the people need. You know, in our type of profession, people might love you because of the way your wife treats them and they might also resent you based on her character. If there is anything I really commend her for; it is her warmth and hospitality.
TELL US ABOUT THE RAPE CASE
Rape – me of all people! I thank God that I was cleared. Nobody is above the law; had it been I committed the act, I would have been punished adequately but thank God I didn't do it. When it all began, I thought it was a joke, I just waved it off but if I had known beforehand that the Okota Police Station DPO was sleeping with the lady, I would have alerted his superiors of the matter. When it all dawned on me that it wasn't a joke, I just had to fight for my defence, and after the whole matter has been investigated, the police discovered that the lady was a fraud. The address she gave at the station was a fake. That was when they realised that the whole thing was a charade; it was just a game to dupe me of my hard earned money.
WHAT SHOULD YOUR FANS EXPECT FROM YOU?
Aiye Digital, Alhaji Agba, and Igara are selling fast in the market. The marketers are also concluding efforts to circulate Oju Eko and as the Paramount King of Music, I have just recorded 15 tracks of hip-hop music to make my fans feel my impact. When the hip-hop album hits the market, even the hip-hop guys will be wondering what Alhaji is up to.
WHY HIP-HOP?
Many are responding to and accepting that genre of music these days and if you as a musician refuse to follow the trend, the trend will leave you behind. God forbid that our focus is contrary to the swarming of the populace.
WORD FOR YOUR FANS
I really appreciate my fans. I thank them for being there for me all the time. My God will always refill their pockets with plenty. I pray that the love they have been showing for me will be replicated in their businesses and their homes will never lack peace. Keep listening to Omo Rapala Alasakasa – without you guys supporting God's value in me, I would have become valueless. I pray we will all continue to be relevant to our world. Amen!
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