Legendary ijala chanter, Alabi Ogundepo, has relived some of his experiences with deceased ewi (poetry) icon, Olanrewaju Adepoju. According to him, so successful a musical poet was Adepoju that he bought his first car with proceeds from an album he dedicated to the passage of the Timi of Ede, Oba Adetoyese Laoye. He also recalled that the car was stolen not too long after, but Adepoju later bought another one.
In a chat with Phenomenal.com.ng, Ogundepo, who is now 82 but still performs ijala, says a rich talent, courage and a good voice marked out Adepoju’s poetry career.
“We used to work together with the late Adebayo Faleti at the WNTS radio. Chief Faleti was the producer of an early morning ewi programme in which we all participated, rendering our crafts for the enjoyment of the people. That was when our talents began to flourish, each dishing out inspiring works. Olatubosun Oladapo too is our contemporary.”
Ogundepo adds that although Faleti was not very strong at rendition, he was the master in terms of depth and other intellectual resources.
Adepoju died on December 10 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he had lived as a performing poet and later an Islamic missioner.
