By Semore Badejo
You know Beautiful Nubia? You don’t know him? You are familiar with some of his works? Or you are just getting to know him via this medium? Okay.
Beautiful Nubia and the Roots Renaissance Band is Nigeria’s foremost contemporary folk and roots music group. Formed and fronted by songwriter and poet Segun Akinlolu (aka Beautiful Nubia), the group’s songs and albums have achieved cult status among their loyal and growing fans spread across the world. Segun Akinlolu is an advocate of social reform and achieves this via his folk music.
Prior to his active involvement in creative arts,Segun Akinlolu graduated from the University of Ibadan with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree 29 years ago and worked as a Veterinary Surgeon for about 8 years. He also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma from the Nigeria Institute of Journalism.
Beautiful Nubia’s songs are built on rich folkloric traditions and native wisdom but his message is universal in thrust and theme: value life, respect nature and learn to live in peace with others. The music speaks for the voiceless and champions the dream of a balanced society where individuals are truly free and equal. It preaches love and tolerance but also urges people to stand and defend their rights when trampled upon anywhere in the world.
He drew his early influence from the traditional culture which was prevalent in the form of oral poetry, theatre, music and folklore. In 1997, he established EniObanke, a music production and marketing company, under which his first album was released in 1997. All subsequent recordings have been released on this label and, in 2010, the company commenced the first-ever folk and roots music festival in Nigeria, the annual EniObanke Music Festival (EMUfest). In 1998, the artist invited several young musicians in Lagos to form a backing band to which he gave the name The Roots Renaissance Band.
Throughout the years, Beautiful Nubia has remained the songwriter, music composer, arranger and bandleader – contributing acoustic/rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals and percussion.
Reward came in 2002 with the release of the ground-breaking third album Jangbalajugbu. It is estimated, by radio journalists, that more than 50 million Nigerians wake up each day to “Owuro L’Ojo (How D’You Do?)”, one of the hit tracks in the album. To date, Jangbalajugbu has sold in excess of a million copies (not including the large numbers sold in the open market by pirates). Since then, the band has released more than 14 studio albums, all of which confirm what can be described as the Beautiful Nubia style and his stubborn refusal to be pigeon-holed.
The over 200 original songs – didactic, philosophical and deeply moving – have cemented his reputation in Nigeria and beyond as an advocate for employing traditional wisdom in achieving personal and community development and social justice. It is the combination of enjoyable entertainment and provocative thoughtfulness that has come to define Beautiful Nubia’s style. The music has garnered excellent reviews in leading African/world music publications. It has been nominated for music awards and topped international/world charts on community, grassroots and campus radio stations.
Now, Beautiful Nubia is in town. He is running a concert starting from today in Oshogbo, then Abeokuta tomorrow and Lagos on Sunday.
See poster below for schedule.
Let me serenade you with one of my favourite tracks in his album
“Baba Mimo.” It is good to hear from the source and originator. Be there.
TGIF.
Baba mimo, iwo Olorun gbogbo agbaye
Baba wa ko wa, ka le ma feran ara wa
Baba mimo, a teriba s’iwaju ite re
B’oju wo wa, k’o s’anu fun wa
Baba mimo, iwo eleda gbogbo ohun to nmi
Wa ko wa k’a le ma feran ara wa
Baba mimo, a teriba s’iwaju ite re
B’oju wo wa, ko saanu fun wa
Olorun, Olorun agbaye
Oluwa wa o, eleda gbogbo enia…
Translation
Holy Father, God of the entire universe
Please teach us to love each other.
Holy Father, we bow down in supplication before your throne
Look down from your throne above and have mercy upon us.
Holy Father, the creator of everything that has breathe
Teach us to love each other
For more information on Beautiful Nubia and his works, check his profile on the various search engines or Wikipedia.
