My Grandad Taught Me How To Play Sakara Music In My Dream

•Late YUSUF OLATUNJI’s  Grandson, ABIDEEN YUSUF OLATUNJI

Abideen Ajasa Yusuf Olatunji is a Sakara Music star. Sakara is a genre of African traditional music played by the Yoruba. He is the grandson of the legendary, late Yusuf Olatunji, popularly known as Baba Legba, a Sakara drum player, who popularized the Sakara music style.

Sakara is a form of popular music based on the traditions of Yoruba music. It is mostly in the form of praise songs, that use only traditional Yoruba instruments such as the solemn-sounding “Goje Violin”, and the small round “Sakara drum”, which is similar to a Tambourine and is beaten with a stick.

Abideen plays just like his late grandfather. He is a skilful musician who does Sakara music with passion and dexterity. No wonder, lovers of the music rank him high among the very few musicians that uphold the brand of music. They so much enjoy watching his classy performance on stage which brings back the memory of those old good days. City People has been spotting him at quite a number of top parties recently and how many of his audience continually fall in love with his captivating display on stage. Meanwhile, we got the highly skilful musician to speak on his brand of music and how he got the skills of playing Sakara music. Below are the excerpts from the chat:

You play Sakara music so well, where does this come from?

I will say it is in the blood. I inherited it from my grandfather. I can’t really explain how I got the skill. People do say I play exactly like my grandfather. Playing his brand of music has taken me to places. For instance, I’m here today.  Tomorrow again, we have another event. That’s how God has been assisting us.

How smooth was your journey into music?

I have been singing since my primary school days. We used to perform to entertain at school occasions such as sent forth for our teachers and our seniors in primary 6 passing out to secondary school.   I did that till I got to primary 6. By the time I got to JSS 1, I had started going to shows to sing Fuji music. Then I started considering it as my line of career. But then I was still focusing on my education. I go to school and when I return I have a friend and playmate in class that was my backup singer. Then at school, we usually sit at the back roll, singing while the teacher is teaching. I started my music career as a Fuji Musician. When I wanted to venture into music, I went to my dad, Late Tajudeen Alabi Yusuf Olatunji. He was the first son of Baba Yusuf Olatunji. I am his 6th child. When I began singing Fuji music, my father didn’t approve of me going into the music line. He said he doesn’t want any of his children to experience what his father encountered in music. He said playing music entailed a lot. I could remember that there was a day, around the festive period; a show was organized to encourage those of us that sing well in the community. So they got us instruments and we were set to perform. I was so anxious because that would be my first time performing at a show holding a microphone. My previous outings and performances were done with my voice alone. We were set to mount the stage for the show not knowing that someone had gone to congratulate and inform my dad that I was going to sing at the show. My dad rushed to the venue of the show on his white wrapper which he used to sleep at night to stop me from singing. I was in so much pain that I couldn’t perform that day. Despite the pleading from his friends and neighbours to allow me sing, he refused vehemently. I later left Abeokuta for Lagos to have my way and follow my passion for music. When I got to Lagos I continued my Fuji music career. I began to go to shows day and night. I usually go with my friend, Abayomi and we had nice outings.

Why did you switch from Fuji music to playing Sakara?

There was a day I went to do some work at an aluminium village when an elderly man told me that whoever picks his father’s line of business would succeed in life. I never gave it a thought until I was preparing to go home at night. Then I began to ask myself, “Can I really do it? Something in me told me, you will. So the next day, I went to Abeokuta to go and meet my dad. I told him I want to be playing Sakara. He couldn’t believe me; he said I had better stick to the fuji music I was playing. He said he was no longer having issues with my decision to sing. I insist that I want to switch to Sakara music. He then asked me who would teach me how to play the Goje instrument since he didn’t know how to play it being the first born of the late music icon. Despite that, I still had the conviction that I would play Sakara, my grandfather’s style of music.

One night, I dreamt and saw my grandfather teaching me how to play the instrument. I had earlier gone around seeking for someone who would teach me the basic skills of playing the instrument but I couldn’t find a teacher. I even went to the elderly men that knew how to play it. They did not teach me. They said I should go and be practicing and playing with the instrument until I get used to its sound. I discovered that after my grandfather taught me how to play Goje in my dream, I started getting it right.  

What advice did I have for parents that are still reluctant to let their children go into music?

Everything in life is determined by destiny. Parents that prevent their children from choosing a career in music have their reasons too. Any child that wants to go into music has to be convincing by going to school and responsible.

-JAMIU ABUBAKAR

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