Shola Mapaderun a.k.a Bishop! Happy New Year bro! I wish you good health and all of life’s good tidings. Remember one time I went on and on about one Fujician who was quite popular in the late 80s, and into the early part of the 90s? His name? Isiaka Ajani, alias Easy Kabaka! Well he started his brand of Fuji in those days at Ogunmokun Street, Mushin or so. Tall, dark, lanky dude till he started “Shirleylilizing” and he became a “Torotoro.” Those were the epidemic days of “Vitiligo” where the inner city folks- some of whom ventured to bed dark-skinned, as chunks of coal at bedtime to suddenly wake up next morning heavily coated in the lightning glow just like those Japanese-made “Yoyos”.
Well…I lived at Odunlade Street, in the most popular address on the block. It only took about 20 minutes to walk to Watchtower, Onipanu and about 5 more minutes to knock on any door at Kayode Street and about 2 more minutes to cross those rail-lines that internally, and equally dissected Kayode and Ogunmokun into two separate streets.
Easy Kabaka in his heydays was the number two Fuji Commander in the extensive Mushin-Oshodi-Ilupeju axis. He was closely behind Sir Shina Akanni Aroworeyin Ogolorinwa ‘Scupido’. Ajani was actually the “Original African Fuji Micheal Jackson” before Abass Akande Obesere Omorapala successfully ‘bullied’ him out of the silly moniker.
Back to my main point, listen to this YouTube submission of one of his best records ever. Ignore the most annoying ‘clicks’, the ‘crackles’ and the ‘needle-jumps’, and enjoy the fast-paced, joyously-coded rhythm led by the Omele, as commandered by a skinny dude known simply as Adewale. Enjoy, of course the Saje vocals from Ajani, the Fuji Senior Lecturer himself!
In the unfortunate event you missed this era Bishop, it was the time when Fridays were “Jump-nights” everywhere in the inner cities. Live Fuji music was supplied by up and coming stars from late nights till way up into the early mornings. It was pretty much…like damn mini-Woodstock every weekend!
In the event you struggle to decipher some of his language, don’t panic one bit! He’s only singing in the prevailing street language of the time. Those were the hip-lingos of Igboro!
Most importantly good buddy, pay close attention to the Omele or the Sakara guy, he’s the one actually loading up the super rhythm. In truth, If Ajani Easy Kabaka was the Star-Singer, Adewale Olomele was the Star-Percussionist!
