‘I Grew Up In Oshodi Listening To Ijala, Aro Genres Of Yoruba Folk Songs’

Foluke Iyabode Opalade is perhaps one of Nigeria’s best exports to the world in terms of her unique tradition flavour voice and art performance. With an excellent voice, confidence and passionate stage performance, Foluke is no doubt one of Africa’s best Ijala, Aro genre of the Yoruba folk music. She has taken her unique brand to the world. Born and raised in popular Oshodi area of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, the graduate of music from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in this interview with DAYO EMMANUEL describes her passion and genre of music. Excerpts:

You have a unique voice and stage performance, when did you discover these attributes?

I’m a home girl. I was born in Oshodi and lived there. That was where I stayed till about my teenage age when I left Oshodi. Traditional Nigerian songs has been part of me since when I was in primary school. When I was to write my exams I listened to music. My daddy used to get new albums and I would listen. You can imagine when I would have exams and be listening to raw local music at age 11 and 12. That had been my background. My parents encouraged me a lot and they supported me singing. Most time when I took solo and singing/praise chanting, my daddy would sneak in and seat among the crowd. I have seen my dad wept many times watching me perform. I don’t know if they were tears of joy or something. I don’t know but many times he came to watch me he would cry and I always knew I am their pride. Right from the outset they were in support.

What were some of those music that inspired you back then as a child?

I listened to a song then and I was inspired. At that tender age I listened to Dauda Epo Akara, Ayinla Omo Wura and the rest. There was always this traditional play on TV back then, I always liked to watch and listen to. The unique things were the way they dressed and danced, I like the Aro Sisun. I started falling in love with it. My late husband Professor Adewoye came to watch me in Abuja, he said to me ‘hello is everything fine, are you okay are you sure you’re okay?’ I said I was okay. He said ‘Would you stop crying, was that just an act on stage?’ I was just acting. I am off stage and okay now.

How would you advise young people who like to sing and act like you are doing?

Love what you are doing. Be original and stay focused. It’s my first love. I have tried to do so many things but I feel so comfortable in my ‘ijala’ ‘aro sisun’ . I just want to be that raw, local, traditional and unique me. I want to give it out the way it is, I just want you to feel me.

How was it at the beginning of your career?

The first time I when I started what I did actually was classical music. I did Handel, I did Church songs. There was this aunty that called me, Aunty Yeside, she is now a lecturer at the Lagos State University. She called me to come and do ‘Ijala’ and I did one. It was my first time of singing in Yoruba language with the genre is rendered. I knew this is what I wanted to do I just wanted to do something different and unique. It was in the Amphitheatre at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. It was around 1997/98. It was a rehearsal then. Then I just saw a man coming out of his office; a cubicle-like office at the Amphitheatre, he said who is that girl? Bring her to me! I was scared actually that what does he want. He asked who is that girl with that voice? I said this is me, he said I have been looking for that voice. Where have you been ? He said this voice is needed in the traditional theatre.Yhat man became my mentor, Dr. Bakare Ojo Rasaki. Whom i later worked with closely on stage productions doing my ‘Ijala’ ‘aro sisun’ such as ‘Drums of war’ etc.t is time I want to give it all out. I want to give it all out with shouting. I cannot contain doing it low as it is done in music any longer.

Oshodi is today synonymous with Lagos. The exact place for commercial activities where every Nigerian want to visit. How was Oshodi in your days?

Oshodi of my days was calm and cool. I didn’t go out then. The only thing I knew was school which was like seven minutes’ walk from home. We lived in what is popularly called a face-me-I-face you house in Nigerian parlance. But you dare not step out of your room. I was always in my room even if my mummy was not around. My daddy had his turn table, he had his rules. I was always busy listening to our own traditional songs. Oshodi then was calm and cool, I don’t know how it is now rowdy; may be because there are now many people in Oshodi. I am so enthusiastic and ready to share this great genre with the world. It is raw and unique.