SINGER Dele Taiwo has likened music artistes to preachers, especially old musicians, saying that most time the things they sing or talk about in their songs are like what they foresaw was going to happen.
He disclosed this while answering questions as guest on the radio show, Talking Points On Radio, hosted by Femi Akintunde Johnson (Vintage F.A.J) on Top Radio, 90.9 FM.
Responding to why his records are more of “village people vibes”, the musician of over 35 years standing said, “Most of the time, most of the things that come out of our mouths are like we have foreseen what is going to happen. We are like a preacher that foresees what is likely to come up in years to come.
Speaking on his vintage music career, evergreen album, Magic Moment, persistence through and thin, change from Gentleman Dele Taiwo to Asiwaju Dele Taiwo, the United Kingdom based indigeneous music heavyweight said, “I give God the glory for making me who I am today. I just want to seize this opportunity to give kudos to those that has been there for me all through the years. I want to let them know that I still have them in my archive.
“The likes of Chief Dele Momodu, Gboyega Okegbenro, Kunle Bakare, Mayor Akinpelu, Kayode Ajala, and others and Uncle FAJ… you people did a lot in my life…I remember when I started then, you people used to come to my show, and when you came then, you gave us moral and physical support. With your support it made us to be somebody.”
He stated that while at Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), he was unable to do music and study simultaneously; hence, he left.
“One of my lecturers told me that my purpose of making it in life is to make money. Later on there was a guy working with me named Percy Ademokun, he was the one that said I could still continue my education, one way or the other.
“He used all his efforts to enroll me at Ogun State Polytechnic now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (Mapoly) all known as Ojere. I continued with Public Relations. There was a social club I joined then, G-Men’s Club…everybody had Gentleman added to his name. That’s how I came by that title,” Taiwo added.
He continued, “Years back, I went to play for King Sunny Ade, one of his daughters was getting married in Ondo. I wanted to impress him, we performed seriously that day. All of a sudden he collected the microphone and said you are now ‘Asiwaju’ of Juju Music. It was not something planned.”
Explaining why he has been away from Nigeria, and if he has given up on the country, the musician said, “Not at all. Since 1994, 1995, when Abacha was still alive, that was when I realised if someone is not having something to be backing him or herself up, it is going to be putting oneself into problem. That was the time I thought of calling my family to come abroad.
“With the kind of my job I was shuttling then. As time went on, my family put me in the system of which whether I like it or not, I need to be more over there than Nigeria. It wasn’t as if I left the country but I’m just more here (United Kingdom) because of the family.”
Asked if he believed his message in the single, Wise Up, which was released in the build up of the 2023 general elections was heard, and if people listen to what he delivered, the ‘Omoge wa jo’ crooner said, “I will say yes and no in the sense that like I said earlier, we are like a preacher, if the pastor is speaking in the church, the congregation will listen. It is now left for who and who to accept.
“Yes, in one aspect, because the kind of fear that can be put on people’s minds for that kind of election was going to be very brutal. We thank God everything went on fine.”
On the challenges faced upon arrival in UK, Taiwo said, “He who doesn’t plan, plans to fail. I have already planned myself because when I brought my family down here, I never stayed with them. I was shuttling. I am still shuttling and I am still relevant in my field.”
The funky juju maestro on May 12, this year, released a single titled ‘Funmi Loro So’ as part of activities for his birthday celebration. The song is a duet with gospel singer, Esther Igbekele.
According to the singer, the new record which a total departure from my usual funky juju blend was geared towards changing his music rhythm for good.
“Funmi Loro So’ is a different dish where I begged God for relevance in every area of endeavour. It is a total departure from my usual funky juju blend with few gospel lines,” Taiwo stated
He added that last single, ‘Dance O’Clock’ and Funmi Loro are is his birthday gift to his fans globally. “I didn’t want gifts or greetings other than for all my fans globally to download my birthday release track.
“I want them to use it to pray for their lives and the lives of well-wishers because it’s working for me positively and I want to extend sincere love globally,” he said.
The musician explained that the inspiration behind ‘Dance O’Clock’ was that I noticed a lot of things are really happening awkwardly in the Nigeria, stressing that as people, we need to make ourselves happy no matter the difficulties.
“Also, it is to let people know that the world is coming to an end and so by this, we should all move closer to God and be more prayerful.”
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