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Friday, 29 January, 2016
W
HEN I celebrated my 70th birthday at Ilesa three years ago, I announced that I was returning home “ULE YA”. I am glad I made the announcement. When I made the announcement, my children (in particular) never like the choice I had made. My daughter in Ireland, Fehintola, who had come from Dundalk, Ireland to celebrate my 70th birthday with her husband, had asked me: “Daddy, who will take care of you here at Ilesa? I laughed in my reply to her. I assured her that I was going to receive the best care she, as my daughter, would wish for me at Ilesa (my hometown). I said the African people believe that no matter man’s journey on earth, home is home. The Yoruba believe that home is the final journey for a man who had travelled abroad for economic survival in life. I have not regretted returning home. I thank God that as an old man living with my people in Ijesaland, I am able to serve my God with all my heart. It takes me an easy time to move from my Ilesa residence to my Church – the Otapete Methodist Cathedral, Ilesa. We experience no traffic hold up at Ilesa. When we finish service, I am able to discuss and exchange ideas with my friends who have come to the Church for the Sunday service. One person I am always happy to see is Professor Olu Odeyemi, the former Popular Rector of Esa-Oke Polytechnic. We are both regular members of the English morning service at Otapete Methodist Cathedral, Ilesa. I will have cause to return to my ULE-YA decision later on. In my 73 years on earth, there are certain towns in Yorubaland that I can never forget until I return to the bossom of God. Ifaki, Ilesa, Iperu in Ijebuland, Ibadan and Osogbo. These towns were crucial in my childhood days. I mentioned last week why Ifaki in Ekiti State will forever be in my mind. I have written on this page why I will want my children, particularly my first child on earth, Mrs. Gbonjubola Alao (whose mother is an Ifaki princess) and my friends and associates to arrange a memorial service at Ifaki whenever I am gone. Ifaki was where I was born. Ifaki has remained much in my heart. I appeal to all my readers not to be bored with my constant mention of Ifaki on this page. When I was young, I used to hear people say that children of clergymen are rascally and very special in their behavior. I used to wonder why this belief was always expressed by people. On reflection, I have now agreed with the ideas when I talk on my early life. I give praise to God that I have given my life to God. I believe in Christ as my Lord and Saviour. In my early life at Ifaki, Ilesa, Iperu, Ibadan and Osogbo, though I was compelled, being the son of a clergyman, to attend church services every Sunday, I had plenty of time to myself to find out about other matters like other religions. I did this secretly without ever allowing my parents to know. At Ifaki Ekiti, I have entered “Igbo Oro” (the Oro forest) to eat (pounded yam with Okro soup in particular). At Iperu in Ijebu Remo division of Ogun State when my father was there as the vicar in-charge of the Methodist Church, Iperu, I had followed with keen interest the Egungun (masquerade) festival in the town, I was seven years old at that time. There are certain songs we used to sing while following the masquerades which I still can recite correctly even now at 73. Aworomo Raje O, Aworomo raje, Emafiya jeo Adodo Osanyin, Aworomo raje Iya esuna oloju werepe o o, Iya esuna, oloju werepe, Oma mi bami damoron Urun we ma gba, wema maro sibe, Sajo o, sajo mila Debusa mole, Aso ofi mireju remu iipan nise, Kiweruse se, kiweruse se, Kola ma gbamala, laroko, Ogbe laya bi eye atiala. At Ibadan, I followed nearly all the masquerades in the town. My father had traveled to finish his divinity studies at Umuahia in the present day Abia State at that time. I followed masquerades like Atipako, Iponriku, Alapansanpa, Afibi elege, Oloolu (who must never be seen by women) etc.
With
Ebenezer Babatope
0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)
73rd birthday notes (2)
Chief Ebenezer Babatope
At Osogbo, our centre of attraction was the pharmacy shop owned by a popular politician, Senator Ayo Fasanmi. The shop was at Fagbewesa Street, almost next door to the Pax Hotel, owned by the father of one of my friends Gboyega Adepitan. Senator Fasanmi was then a radical follower of the Avatar, Papa Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the Action Group (AG). We as young people were just delighted to know him (Fasanmi). Senator Fasanmi at that time was just exceptional as a politician (and he still is up till today). At Ilesa, we the young elements of the town formed a Club called the Young Ijesa Students Society. We were then led by Akingbade, aka “Aki”, and later by Obi Gbadebo aka Obi Debson. Both Obi Gbadebo and Akingbade now live in America. Akingbade, who worked at the Central Bank in Lagos before moving to America to work at the World Bank, has never been seen at Ilesa for years now. Joe Abiola aka Joe Atuma was our Secretary at that time. Other members of the society are, Oyewumi aka Omo Oye who nicknamed me “Top Secret”, Adisa Oginni, Sanya Adegbayibi, late ‘Tayo Olojo, Alake, Ajayi who lived in America for many years, the late Femi Layinka, Joe Abiola’s cousin, the late Ambassador Isaac Aluko Olokun and several others including me. We are now old and many of our friends and colleagues today live at Ibadan. Our other childhood friends at Ilesa used to congregate every night those days at the musical store owned by our Egbon, the late Uncle Luyi Fajuke. We were always there to listen to the best highlife music, particularly from Ghana at that time. Uncle Fajuke’s musical store was simply the best in town at Ilesa in the 50s. Obi Gbadebo and myself caught the Ghana Highlife music fever from Egbon
Fajuke. We have remained (even till now) enthusiasts of the Highlife music of the Broadway Dance Band that later became the Uhuru (freedom) dance band, E.T. Mensah and his Tempos Band, the Stargazers of Kumasi, Ted Osei and the Comets, the Ghana Massagers Dance Band, E.K Nyame’s Guitar Band, Onyina’s Guitar Band, the Black Beats Dance Band, the Rambers Dance Band etc. May I appeal to anyone who may have the records of the above stars, to kindly make them available to me through the Tribune newspapers. At 73, I still think about my Ghana records of the 50s. Honourable Pastor Davie Salako has assisted me in having compilations of the ace records of Victor Abimbola Olaiya, and Roy Chicago of those years. I once again thank God that at 73, I still affirm the correctness of my ULE YA declaration made three years ago. I wake up in peace and sleep in peace at Ilesa. I believe it is from Ilesa in Ijesaland that Nigerians will wake up one day to read and hear about my translation to eternal life. I pray that this should still be a longtime from now. Praise God! Ebino is 73!! Life is full of ups and downs!!! I plead that all those that I may have offended in my 73 years on earth should forgive me. It will be well with all of us! •EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK: WALE ADEBANWI’S BOOK ON MAMA H.I.D. (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE)