•Photo: Lagbaja
By Ebere Obinagwam, Special correspondent, Lagos
Masked musician, Lagbaja, known to his school mates at his former Government College Ibadan, as Lagbaja omo baba muko muko, is doubtless a musician with a difference.
Multi-talented, this Ijagbo, Kwara State born musician has a captivating style that makes music appear easy to a lot of people. His uncanny ability to weave culture into everything he does certainly puts him in a class of his own.
Recently, this ex student of University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), at his Motherland fun spot, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, unveiled his newest album, 200 million Mumu..
The album released with a video, Omo Jayejaje, done with his new song bird, Olaitan Olanrewajie, (Ollah on stage) has a mixture of hymns that expose his new relationship with God.
Speaking on the controversy being generated by another claiming to be Lagbaja on the internet, he affirms, “I am Lagbaja and every other person is counterfeit, the guy on line claiming to be me is not me, I’m older than him, though the funny thing is that there is an older Lagbaja before me that I used to coordinate songs for before I discovered that I can do it better because I have never thought of singing but the pictures is not me”.
He assures that he will only unveil his mask when things get better but, except God desires it; he might not be in this country to see these changes since nothing appears to have changed much since he has been a child. “it will only take the grace of God to see that change happen.” According to him, his mask symbolizes the faceless, voiceless and common man in the society.
Confirming the robbery in his Omole Phase 1residence, he explains that the robbers didn’t meet anyone, not even the security man in the house when they came.
Concerning the quietness at his fun spot, he reveals that activities will resume in February 2013 at Motherland. However, he rules out night shows saying; “only evening shows, between 7p.m to 11p.m. will be featured on week days.
Disclosing the idea behind the conception of Motherland, he reveals, “it was first conceived to sign out artists and to stage shows and not for all night shows. We were at a time performing in G.R.A, Ikeja but when we realized that we were not getting what we wanted, we acquired this place Motherland.
He went on to explain that Motherland went into night shows at a time for security reasons. “At a time it was dangerous for people to drive very late in the Lagos,” he adds.
Dismissing insinuations from certain quarters, the masked musician states, “I am not struggling to compete with anybody. I stick to my belief in our cultures. For those hip hop singers, it is their time. They are young; I am too old for that and I can never use their style”
He however concludes that everybody has a choice in life. I don’t want to live a life of a celebrity but rather a simple life which is peaceful and freedom filled. We all have our own definition of success; to me, success is, if I can pay my children’s fees and provide for my family. I don’t judge by all I have.”