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Did Ayinla Omowura kill Epo Akara’s band members in 1975? | By Festus Adedayo

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For 45 years now, a subsisting rumour has circulated in the Yoruba music world, gaining the currency of reality everyday. It is the allegation that a fatal accident in 1975 which involved Ibadan-based musician and Awurebe music crooner, Dauda Epo Akara and which killed two of his band boys – Dauda and Omoboade – had the hands of late Apala music maestro, Ayinla Omowura, in it.

The accident generated so much hoopla. Ayinla reportedly placed a spell on Epo Akara’s vehicle. The theory was that, having cursed a Dauda, Epo Akara’s powerful native drug neutralizer rebounded the curse off him, which then went to Dauda, his band member.

Taking the speculation a notch higher, it was said that a few weeks after the accident, Omowura went to Epo Akara’s Popo Yemoja home in Ibadan and on meeting his father, congratulated him for having effectively soaked his son in phials that deflected his incantations off his head.

In memorializing the accident where 14 of them travelled and had an accident at Alapako, outskirts of Ibadan, Epo Akara sang, Awa merinla, awa merinla r’ajo o…

In my book, Ayinla Omowura: Life and Times of an Apala Legend which will be on sale from May 6, 2020, I sought to take the wind off the sail of this allegation. Sule Epo, one of Epo Akara’s band boys, whose stage name was Oyinmiyinmi, in an interview, described this as mere rumour and indeed, baseless.

He described the duo of Ayinla and Epo Akara as bosom friends and attributed the unfounded allegation to the handiwork of their foes. He said that Ayinla never cursed Epo Akara or the vehicle the band was travelling in and that the accident was caused by a huge fog which affected the visibility of the driver.

Another person interviewed was Sakaniyawu Ishola, one of Epo Akara’s band members. He joined the band in 1973. He was with Epo till his death. Sakaniyawu was in the ill-fated vehicle and he confirmed that the band boys were dead drunk on the journey. He said that on the said day, the Epo band had gone for a marriage ceremony which took place in Ilupeju, Lagos. The band met Omowura singing at the event as he was engaged to sing for the afternoon. According to Sakaniyawu, the Epo band got there at around 3pm.

“As we got there and our musical instruments were being brought down by the parker boys, Epo Akara went and met Ayinla Omowura where he was playing on the bandstand and the two brothers embraced and greeted each other. When we also began our own play, Ayinla came to the stage to salute Epo Akara. They both greeted each other again. That was what I saw,” Sakaniyawu said.

Asked how true the claim was that on that day, many of the people who had gathered to watch the gigs of the duo left Ayinla and flocked to Dauda’s stage, Sakaniyawu said it was true. He attributed this to the fact that many of those who were there had never heard the voice of Dauda before. Another source attributed it to the fact that many of those who gathered at the function were Ibadan sons and daughters who saw in Epo Akara, a gravitation towards home.

Could a line of a song by Ayinla, to wit, “won ba wa laba won fe sako, ori ere ni moto won mi a jabo – they met us in the village and are gallivanting; your vehicle would have an accident!” be the link of Omowura to the accident? Ayinla sang that song in 1973.

It couldn’t have been directed at Epo Akara because the accident under reference happened in 1975.

Epo Akara, great musician and one of the best from Ibadan, literally died unsung. His house beside Guru Maharaj Ji’s den is uncompleted. The state government never did anything to memorialize him.

Ayinla’s lot is different. Ex-Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State changed the face of Omowura’s home in Itoko, probably an acknowledgment of how he put Egbaland and Ogun State on the map of world musical history.

Omowura’s children I interviewed for my book were full of profuse praises for this past government in Ogun. Will Governor Seyi Makinde do same for Epo Akara?

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Iyabo Ojo Reveals Painful Past: “I Was Raped Five Times in My Life”

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Popular Nollywood actress, lyabo Ojo, has opened up about her traumatic experiences with sexual assault, revealing that she was a victim of rape on five separate occasions.

The emotional disclosure came during an interview with fellow actress, Biola Bayo on the talk show Talk to B.

In the heartfelt conversation, lyabo explained her staunch stance against sexual violence and her zero tolerance for rape apologists. She stressed that she would not hesitate to confront anyone guilty of the crime, even if it were her own son.

“I was raped five times in my life,” she said. “I discovered we have a lot of rape apologists. I don’t care who the person is; if that person is my son, I am going to come for him unapologetically.”

The actress also shared details of her challenging upbringing, revealing that she was raised by her grandmother and only met her mother at the age of seven.

“I grew up with my grandmother, who is half Delta and half Igbo. I think I was seven before I knew my mother,” she recounted.

lyabo further revealed the strained relationship she had with her father, who disowned her when she chose to marry her ex-husband against his wishes. Tragically, her father’s struggles with alcohol and drug addiction cut his life short at the age of 49.

“My dad did everything- alcohol and drugs -so it messed him up at a young age. He died at 49,” she said.

The actress also addressed rumours about her relationship with controversial singer, Naira Marley, clarifying that despite public perception, she has never met him in person.

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Wizkid Becomes First African Artist to Surpass 8 Billion Spotify Streams

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Nigerian music sensation Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has achieved a monumental milestone, becoming the first African artist to amass over eight billion streams on Spotify.

This feat solidifies his reputation as a global music phenomenon and a trailblazer in the Afrobeats genre.

Leading this historic achievement is One Dance, his chart-topping collaboration with Canadian superstar Drake, which has garnered over 2 billion streams, making it his most-streamed track on the platform.

Also, Wizkid’s Made in Lagos (Deluxe Edition) album has racked up close to 1 billion streams, marking it as his most successful body of work to date.

In comparison, fellow Afrobeats heavyweight Burna Boy follows closely with 7.2 billion streams, placing him as the second most-streamed African artist on Spotify. Wizkid also reigns as the most-followed Afrobeats artist on the platform, a testament to his ever-expanding fanbase and global influence.

This remarkable achievement underscores the growing global appeal of Afrobeats and highlights Wizkid’s pivotal role in bringing African music to the forefront of the international stage. It is an inspiration for emerging artists across the continent, proving that African music has the power to break barriers and set new records on a global scale.

Wizkid’s groundbreaking success is not just a personal victory but also a significant moment for African music, which continues to captivate audiences around the world.

 

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Funke Akindele Breaks Records Again! ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ Hits N500M in Just 12 Days

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Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has once again redefined box office success with her latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa.

The film has made history as the fastest Nollywood production to gross N500 million, achieving the milestone in just 12 days.

The blockbuster had earlier set another record for the highest-grossing one-day performance of all time, raking in N87.8 million on its best day.

Announcing the milestone through her Instagram account, Akindele expressed heartfelt gratitude to her fans for their unwavering support.

Sharing a celebratory graphic highlighting the movie’s N511 million earnings, she wrote, “Thank you, Lord!! Thank you everyone!!! I couldn’t have done this without your love and support!!!! God bless you all!!”

Everybody Loves Jenifa is the latest installment in the popular Jenifa series, chronicling the comedic yet relatable escapades of the titular character, Jenifa, played by Akindele.

The movie features a star-studded cast, including Falz, Nancy Isime, Stan Nze, and Layi, who bring depth and charm to the production.

Akindele’s achievements in the film industry continue to set new standards. Her 2023 movie, A Tribe Called Judah, still holds the title of the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time.

Fans and critics alike have hailed Everybody Loves Jenifa for its humor, relatability, and stellar performances, making it a must-watch in Nigerian cinemas. With this latest feat, Funke Akindele reaffirms her position as a trailblazer in Nollywood.

 

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