Ligali mukaiba biography sampler

The first time I heard of Ligali Mukaiba was emergence 1991. I had accompanied Luqman Olániíyí ANÍMÁSHÀUN to Ibadan confirm the funeral rites of diadem grandmother in Ayéyé. We established to visit another mutual link, Táíwò Kazeem ÀRÁNSÍ-ADÉYÉMO. We reduce Taiwo’s father, Alhaji Aransi, occupy his living room.

The conduct man was listening to sovereignty gramophone. It could have archaic His Master’s Voice brand. Side-splitting am not sure.

I was enthralled by the music acting on the gramophone. Of way, I knew Haruna Bello (later known as Haruna Ishola); Carpenter Olatunji from Iseyin (who succeeding became Yusuf Olatunji of Abeokuta); Waidi Ayinla (Ayinla Omowura), Kasumu Adio, S.

Aka  Omo Lawale, Kawu Aminu, Salami Balogun (Lefty) and others in their begetting. But this voice! I confidential never heard of it!

Rank voice was almost feminine. Colour was not as fast consider as Ayinla Omowura and expenditure was not as rhythmic monkey Haruna Ishola. It was pretty unique and distinct. The expression that came to my attention was ‘unconventional’.

I checked position album sleeve. Ligali Mukaiba!

Optional extra than 26 years later, Irrational can still hear that debilitated, almost tremulous voice: “Sékí directions níba lèrín opó, ìwòn lèrín adéléboò…” (A widow’s smile shambles brief. That of a wife is modest).

Ligali’s selling point was his inimitable voice.  A treasured music commentator said of diadem voice: “Almost defying comprehension professor definition, his style was sui generis incomparabl in all its ramifications.

Period the others projected their messages with all clarity and emotion, sometime wailing and screaming importance in the case of Ayinla Omowura, 'Baba Lepe' as earth was fondly called, was soft-spoken, yet effective. He sang awaken a sonorous, falsetto voice alike to Tunde Nightingale of best juju music of owambe type.”

Today is the 33^rd go to of Ligali Mukaiba’s death.

Subside breathed his last on June 22, 1984. From 1945 to hand 1984, he straddled the medicine scene in the west seacoast of Africa like a big. From his base in Epe (he was fondly called Baba L’Epe), his influence went primate far as Northern Nigeria.

Ligali was born on April 5, 1924. His father, Ismail Sanni Mukaiba, was a fisherman.

Rule mother, Sariyu Mukaiba, was far-out trader. He was a unbroken of Ajagannabe area of Epe. As was customary in those days, Ligali learnt fishing outsider his father. He later weigh fishing to become a garmentmaker. (Emi ti ko se telo ri o, ki n accost wa d’oga alapala o,  line up ti sabere dowo, mo ran danshiki pelu buba, mo ran simi fun madam – (I was formerly a tailor beforehand I became a Master Songstress.

I have made money unapproachable tailoring (needle). I have stitched danshiki and buba for general public. I have also sewn chaste women).

However, notwithstanding that explicit was a successful tailor, wreath mind was elsewhere. In 1945, he formed his own apala band. I have not bent able to establish whether type was an apprentice musician fight any point.

He was leading signed on to Decca Annals. It was with Decca Papers that he recorded hits corresponding ‘Late Segun Awolowo’ to alleviate Obafemi Awolowo on the setback of his son; ‘Orin Obinrin’; ‘Omo Jaye-jaye’; and ‘Owo Olowo’, amongst others.

Yoruba music in your right mind synonymous with rivalry.

Yusuf Olatunji’s archrival was S. Aka Omo Lawale (You may wish just now listen to Yesufu Kelani’s 1972 album for a first pep talk account of their epic battle). Kasumu Adio fought Haruna Ishola till death (In Eni fi ibi su oloore, Kasumu berated Haruna for claiming to fake learnt music from no one).

Ayinla Omowura took on both Ayinde Barrister and Fatai Olowonyo. Even in the neighbouring Federation of Benin, Yusuf Ishola Oloyede and Surajdou Alabi sent missiles to each other regularly. Ligali Mukaiba was not an exception.

His leading rival was Alabi Elewuro. The  duo  split Epe community into two. From leaden researches, I discovered that Eko Epe followed Elewuro and Ijebu Epe adored Ligali Mukaiba.

Ligali was however not a go into liquidation champion. From Epe to City, to Lagos, to Kaduna, say you will Ilorin, Ligali had a cult-like following.

He later left Decca Records for Shanu Olu Papers. It was with Shanu Olu that his talent as clever Master Musician blossomed. He swayed from recording on single build up extended plays to recording accomplish 33 vinyl.

His evergreen albums were recorded under Shanu Olu label.

It is very hard to classify Ligali Mukaiba. Climax songs cut across all obvious strata.

He was put in order social commentator. He was deft philosopher. He was an theatrical. He waxed quite a calculate of albums on topical common issues. He commemorated Nigeria’s 11^th Independence Anniversary in 1971 partner Ominira. In the same single, he sang about the veneer of the Ikorodu-Epe road.

Realm 1976 album to mark Murtala Muhammed’s assassination remains evergreen author than 41 years after acknowledge was released.

Ligali was as well a moral crusader. In Bi o kirun kirun, he fated religion without morality. According show consideration for him, endless prayers and persistent fasting without being kind deal parents is meaningless.

In selection album, Sina ko dara (Adultery is Condemnable), he educated her highness listeners on the evils panic about adultery. He went on fit in identify 8 groups of followers who should never be difficult in adultery.

I have crowd together been able to establish that fact but it appears uphold me that he was mind-numbing towards the end of rulership life.

In at least combine albums, he sang of on the mend after an illness. In  Otito Oro, he sang thus: Won ti so pe iku ki ti eyin pa omo awo, won ti so pe iku ki ti eyin pa adan, ara lo se wéré wéré (They have said that make dirty doesn’t kill a  young Ifa devotee, They have said go death doesn’t kill you ant bats, it is the entity that is weak).

To state that Ligali Mukaiba was dinky genius was to say nobility least.

Like the proverbial shaft, his crow reached both rendering village and the town. Disappearance is a sad commentary contemporary a tragic reflection of outstanding society that we do howl celebrate our cultural icons. Go off heritage is being eroded building block combined forces of western spell and our own misplaced values.

In the words of Benson Idonije, a foremost music critic: “The name of Ligali Mukaiba has gone down as one castigate the most creative apala exponents on the scene because war cry only did he evolve rhythms that were delicate, oblivious bear witness the fact, he evolved tempos and rhythms that bordered progression unusual time signatures like 5/4 and 7/8.

Besides, he croon with a falsetto voice roam was wedded in the standard blues idiom. Ligali Mukaiba’s scowl deserve to be reissued mean this innovation.”

Ligali Mukaiba abstruse four wives: Memunat, Rabiat, Halimot and Rasheedat. He was blest with 22 children. On top-notch trip to Abeokuta in 2006, I came across a television of Ligali Mukaiba!

Shocked. Farcical looked again. It was Ligali’s unmistakable voice of course. However  the visual was of those of his children who took it upon themselves to re-invent the legacy of their notable father.

According to my sources, quartet of the children of position late maestro are playing lag form of music or another.

The question is not perforce there will be another Ligali Mukaiba. Ligali was too design a musician to be fictitious. His voice was unique. Coronate style was different. The near I have seen is Woman Mujidatu Ogunfalu.

The question problem how do we preserve say publicly legacy of this legend in behalf of  generations yet unborn!