There is something charming about this flawless beauty with a great physique, endowed with outstanding personality and unusuallyly deep musical composition prowess. There is no doubt that Gospel singer, Shola Allyson has successfully added an evergreen song to the repertoire of Nigerian love songs that will stand the test of time for many years to come.
As a music collector and enthusiast, I will like to define an evergreen song as a song that remains meaningful for a long time after its release. It can also be defined as a song that perpetually remains fresh and is automatically valid in terms of messages all year round.
Looking at Shola’s songs, their compositions have always focused on the society and humanity at large. Though, she has quite a number of songs in her repertoire that have focused on womanhood, nature, birth, etc, I find Eji Owuro the most intriguing of all.
A quick review of the lyrics of the Evergreen song “Eji Owuro” could be revealing.
Durotimi O Ololufe Ife ti Ko Ni aba won Ni Ko BA mi lo.
(Stand by me my lover and don’t be deceitful in this our love affair)
Bami Se otito, mo Fe O toto
(Love me in truth because I love you in truth)
Bami Se ododo, mo Fe O pelu Ododo
(Love me in honesty, I love you in honesty)
Bi ogiri o ba lanu, alangba ko le wo ogiri
(The crack in the wall makes the entrance of the lizard effortless)
Gbe Okan kuro ninu afe aiye etan ko se ikan kan fun ni
Let us heed God’s words and desist from vanity of life, only divine love can give true happiness.
Having listened over and again to this song by Shola, one is left with several mind-boggling questions. What is the definition of true love? Does true love exist? Where can true love be found? Is this composition just a fragment of the artiste’s imagination about true love?
According to research finding, the dictionary defines True love as a strong and lasting affection between spouses or lovers who are in a happy, passionate and fulfilling relationship. An example of true love is the emotions shared between couples married for over 40 years and are still passionate about each other.
While Biblically, it is seen as the encompassment of various virtues such kindness, forgiveness, loyalty, compassion, truthfulness, humility, respect, understanding and trust, etc.
It may be very difficult for one to be able to accommodate or totally imbibe most of these virtues, owing to many different alienating factors in our society such as social, cultural, religious, economic etc. As such, it is in the interest of couples to have a deep understanding and selfless consideration for each other’s weaknesses to be able to foster a long-lasting relationship.
Different love songs have also been composed over the years by other notable Nigerian female musicians. Nelly Uchendu’s “Love Nwantiti” composed over 40 years ago and used in a Film adaptation of Chinue Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” has continued to remain an evergreen love classic.
“One Love” by the elegant stallion, Onyenka Onwenu, has also retained its greenness and a must play in many radio stations across the federation.
We must not also forget Queen Ayo Balogun one of the leading Queens of Juju music in Nigeria. Her song, “Oloruka” is also an evergreen.
Shola Allyson Obaniyi, the Nigerian Songbird and an indigene of Ikorodu, Lagos State, who is married and blessed with three children has, no doubt, left her footprints in the history of Nigerian evergreen songs with her irresistible Song, “Eji Owuro”.
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