The Alaafin 1st Offered Me MAIYEGUN Title In 2009

3 Hour Interview With King Of FUJI Music, K1

As you read this, K1 is in Oyo town to become the new Maiyegun of Yorubaland. When the news broke a few weeks ago that the undisputed King of Fuji music, K1 was to be installed as the new Maiyegun of Yorubaland by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi we knew we had to get him for an interview. Why? Anything K1 says sells any day, any time. It is always a delight to hear K1 speak about his life.

This is because he has come a long way. He has also paid his dues in the music industry. He is a music icon. He is a living legend.

And he is well respected. He is 63, but he looks refreshingly young. He is very fit and strong. He is very stylish and classy in his dressing. He wears the best from his neck-chain to his wristwatch down to his shoes.

Last Thursday afternoon, City People Team went in search of the man who modernised Fuji music. We met him in Ikeja looking relaxed and happy. He was in the middle of the preparations for the coronation ceremony.

He had all his boys around him. He had some of the fans around him too. And every one deferred to the brand new Maiyegun of Yorubaland. People now greet him with a lot more respect.

Now, he is just not the King of Fuji he is also the Chief Peacemaker across the entire Yorubaland. The title has made him change his lifestyle. It has made him change his way of doing things. It has brought a lot more dignity and respect to K1. It has put him on a higher pedestal. He has now become a clear leader in Yorubaland. He is also now a respected elder among other elders. And guess what?

It is going to enhance his rating as a Musician. Right now, there is a mad rush by his fans who want to be the 1st to have him play at their event after the coronation.

These and many more were the issues we wanted him to talk about. By the time we were through with the interview, we had spent 3 hours of quality conversation with the grandmaster of Fuji music. Below are excerpts of the interview City People had with K1. The interview was conducted by City People Team of SEYE KEHINDE, BIOLA ORISILE & SOLA BAMIDELE.

Being the Maiyegun of Yorubaland makes you a mediator. About 2 weeks ago, you performed the role of a mediator on stage when you reconciled the 15-month rift, between 2 top NAHCO big boys. How do you feel receiving this title from the Alaafin of Oyo?

This is part of me, a role that I have been playing over the years. Since I was young I have always played the role of a mediator. I always make it a point of duty to settle rifts between people. I won’t be on this side, either on the other side. I will be in the middle so that I can be in a position to see things and be able to resolve their issues at the end of the day. There will always be squabbles and disagreements. But somebody must step in to help resolve the issues and foster unity among people.

That I have been doing ever since I was young. It is something that has been part of me. It got to a point that on the street, the people that know us always call me a Peacemaker, Maiyegun General. That went on until 2009 when Kabiyeesi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi sent for me and I went to Oyo. That was when the arrangement for the conferment of the title of Maiyegun of Yorubaland started. That was when it actually started.

A little after that, Kabiyeesi fixed after the fasting period of that year 2009. Ramadan was about one week to commence. Kabiyeesi and I had an agreement that immediately after the Muslim fasting period, we should come and it will be done. But unfortunately I fell sick. At that time, I went for my surgery. I had the collapse of the lungs then. When I returned from abroad they wrote to me again to come and see Kabiyeesi but that was also the period of my recovery after the surgery. The recovery took a long time. But I was managing. I then said to them that I will come for it when I am fully okay, and perfectly well. To God be the glory, this is the time that pleases God. I give thanks to Almighty God. I give thanks to Kabiyeesi for being patient over the years, as a good father that he is, which he has been doing for everybody. The rest is now history. A date has been set and we are looking forward to the 13th of January, a day I believe the Almighty God has ordained.

What is the significance of the Maiyegun title?

I feel honoured with the basic responsibility of Maiyegun. Honestly, I feel honoured that such a big task fell on my laps. It’s a call to serve. That means it gives me the opportunity to keep searching for unity, especially among the Yoruba people, me as an Ijebu man, to see that there is this unity that we need, to keep us going as people of one nation. It is very very important. The Igbos too must have the Maiyegun title in their own area. The Hausas have their own. It is a great opportunity to connect with other people, and see that Peace, Tranquility exist in our land, and everybody, both old and young, visitors and freeborn, all live together in harmony and we can prove truly what is called One Nigeria, a Nation with a Mission.

That is my target. That is my prayer. Almighty God will give me the power to be able to achieve all that.

Will I be correct to say that with this title your lifestyle will change?

Oh yes. Definitely. One’s lifestyle will change. There is going to be a lot of changes in my life, the way I relate to people things have to completely change because a huge responsibility has been bestowed on me, and I want to carry the flag. There are so many things that you won’t see the Maiyegun doing either in the open or behind closed doors. The Wasiu of yesterday or the K1 of yesterday will definitely change to the new K1 or Wasiu of today because he has become the Maiyegun of Yorubaland today.

You are one of the most blessed artistes in Nigeria. Your children are taking after you. You are blessed with a good and unique voice and you recently came up with a recent lyrics Olofo lo Binu Ologo. How do you get that inspiration to put together the song? What do you have in your stomach? Ki Le Gbe Si Ikun?

(Laughs) What I have in my stomach is the truth (Otito Inu) I am the same Action man, very serious in all I do. I criticise myself. All I want to do, I subject them to criticism. I criticise them like somebody is criticising me. Whatever you are doing that you don’t do checks and balances, then you have lost it. I am not that perfect, but I have the Grace of God, and at the same time, I have good people around me, that we deliberate together. I have no secret to hide, so I talk a lot in the presence of a lot of people. I don’t have a hidden secret. Nothing is hidden. God sees all of us. I have Oto Inu. I am a frank person. I will tell you as it is. The inspiration definitely must come because I make use of my brain at all times. I don’t like dull moments. I can’t be caged. I want to be in the midst of people at all times. I want to be free. I want to be in a place where I can move freely. All that happens around me keeps me going.

Tell us the meaning of that your song Olofo lo n binu Ologo…

(Laughs) Olofo lo nbinu Ologo means someone who has never achieved Greatness in his or her life, will see someone who is achieving Greatness and be envious. Always Rejoice with those God has done something good for, if not you can’t receive blessings. Only Olofo eeyan that will be angry with someone God has blessed. That is the message.

What I don’t have today, I can have tomorrow. When I have it tomorrow it is exciting to me. That is when I got mine. If you see what someone else has and you want it, pray for it and work for it.

Let’s talk about one of your lyrics Ade ori Okin. What’s the message? What does Ade ori Okin signify?

Ade ori Okin is the crown on the Peacock. For you to understand it you have to go and buy the Peacock and study it and see it yourself. To every Peacock that comes to this world, it comes to this world with a crown (Ade) Okin ti gbe Ade re wa from heaven. My song is Ade ori Okin, ki se fun eye keye meaning a Peacocks crown is not for every bird. Any time I am on stage saying that I always put my hand in the middle of my head to show my fans that the crown is always on the head of a Peacock.

Each person comes to this world with his own unique crown. Religion tells us that everything you will become on earth you will begin to like it once you are born. You come with it. You are born with it Iseda, Akole.

Yes. Some people specialise in changing other people’s destiny (Kadara). That is why we pray against such devilish people. Awon a ba te ni je. Once they see that you are an Omo Ologo they can change it spiritually to harm you. That is why we need to keep praying.