The news of her forthcoming 60th birthday is all over town, and many society people are bracing up for Queen Ayotunde Balogun’s 60th birthday party on Sunday 10th December 2017. She will be having a Thanksgiving Service and a big party at the same venue in Lagos.
Already, Aso Ebi is in high demand and very many people are planning parties for her. The birthday girl herself is very excited. She is bubbling And she does not look 60 in any way. She is still as vibrants trendy and stylish as ever. And she still plays back-to-back even on week days. This is because Queen Ayotunde Balogun is good at what she does. She is energetic and full of life. When City People made her Queen of Juju music, many years ago at an impressive ceremony, many people didn’t see what we saw in her. Many didn’t see her talent, creativity, energy and dexterity Years after, she has remained the main issue in juju music, as many of those before her are all in their late 60s and 70s. She has remained the bridge builder between the Old and the Young. She is also the link between the male folk and the female juju singers. No wonder everyone calls her Auntie Ayo. Musically, she has put in 22 years.
And she has been able to maintain her band the Harmonic Voices. She began music in 1995 by performing at a friends parents burial ceremony She was then a music coordinator in her church, a position she attained through her unrelenting effort and passion for good quality music production. Her background as a church chorister had always guided her performance even as a secular artiste.
She was raised from a humble background. Her father was a Teacher and mother petty trader. Both hail from Ilesha, Osun State where she was recently honoured by the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland. She began primary school in 1966 at Methodist Primary School, Agbeni, Ibadan in Oyo State and left in 1972 and Victory High School, Ikeja, Lagos, a secondary education which she completed in 1978 having left Ibadan to Lagos with her parents after her primary school education. After completion of her secondary education, she began working as a front desk Secretary, while still pursuing her passion for music as a Chorister in her church. She rose to the position of Choir Coordinator and at this point she decided to have formal knowledge in music. She proceeded to bag a Diploma Certificate in Music from Martins School of Music, Ojuelegba, Lagos.
After that, she took a Correspondence course in Music from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music London, to further broaden her formal and professional knowledge of music.
Queen Ayo Balogun today is by all standards a very successful music artiste. She is one of the most sought after artistes and all the women call on her to thrill them.
Last week, City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE and Reporter, ADEOLA FAGBIYE spent an evening with this beautiful woman who looks ageless. We got her to tell us her story at 60. Below are excerpts of the interview.
How do you feel at 60?
It makes me feel good, that oh year! I’m climbing the ladder laughs…
But you don’t look 60, what’s the secret?
I’ll say it’s just the grace of God. Sometimes when I stand in front of a mirror l ask myself “Am I really 60 years old?
Do you feel 60?
Well, the answer is yes and no. when you think of where you are coming from, you will know that yes! You’ve actually gotten there. But like I said when I look at myself in the mirror I know I don’t look 60 and people keep telling me but I’ll just say well, it’s the Lord’s doing.
At 60, what are the lessons that life has taught you?
Hmm… Yes! I’ve learnt to actually worry less because. I realized that many of the things we worry ourselves over, will come and go problems will come and they will go.
But we over worry ourselves thereby giving ourselves unnecessary pressure and sometimes, some people will worry themselves to the extent of having “ High Blood Pressure” and all that but I believe that life is not just worth it. I’ve learnt that happiness matters in everything that you do, anything that is not making you happy, just to away with it. I’ve learnt that we have to work hard, that hardwork pays, I’ve learnt, ah!… I’ve learnt so many things and I can’t continue to count. I’ve learnt to be friendly to people, I’ve seen a lot in life that people that you look down on today, you find them up tomorrow. So, I learnt that it is good to be good to people.
Do you have that scary feeling people get when their getting older.
When you know that there is nothing you can do about a situation you just have to accept anything that comes you way. Like I said age is just a number but we all know that Old age will from 60 but when you get to the age of 60, you realize that it has come because there’s nothing you can do about it than to try and enjoy it. And what I mean by enjoying you old age is that, ensure you worry less, make sure you get more friendly with people, go out with people, make sure you are united with you family. That is very very important because these are the things that will give you happiness in your old age. Be around your people, because these are the things that will give you happiness in old age. Be around your people, be around your children, take care of your family especially now that I have grandchildren… laughs
How did you celebrate when you turned 40, 45, and 50, respectively?
At 45, when I turned 45, I was just a very small celebration in one the clubs I used to play at that time precisely in the early and it was a very lovely and beautiful gathering of quality people that have been with me, been there for me over the years when I was playing in the earlys.
Then when I turned 50 it was a different thing entirely. I had like 3 different parties, the very day I turned 50 I went to church, I had the church service and by the time I got back to my house was filled up, everybody bringing things and the party that I didn’t plan just started, I didn’t plan the party. I saw Dipo Gators in my house with a band, I was like “ Oh my God” how will I handle this, every body started bringing things I saw Saheeto Small Chops and I was really really grateful to God.
And I had a party which I called my own party, then later City People celebration me I had like 3 to 4 parties when I turned 50 and now I don’t even know how many I’m going to have now that I’m 60. But my plan for this 60th birthday, I’ll do something that I’ve always been doing which is in 1:00hrs we play at a special night, we gathered the money an then take it to an orphanage for assistance and I plan something like that again and I want it bigger than what it used to be because the only thing we can do right now, is to help the needy, so I’ll have that show organized and then whatever proceeds that come from. It will go to the orphanage and now that I’m 60. I don’t know how its going to be.
Musically, at what point is Queen Ayo Balogun?
Well, I feel fulfilled, I’ve gotten to a point that is so over whelming and do nothing but to just continue saying thank you to God, thanks you to all my fans out there because I did not know I would rise to this level but God has made it possible, my fans and friends have made it possible and I’m so grateful to them.
How do you see the state of Juju “Music today?
Juju” music of today is different from what we used to have because there was a time that people were saying “Juju” music is dead but right now, more and more people are doing it new faces are even coming in some women even launched their albums lately, both male and female “Juju” artistes are springing up and I also realized that even those that have been there before are still doing very very, well and those coming behind are really running to keep the peace. So, I think we are moving.
How many years have you put in musically?
I actually started my band in 1995 which gives me about 23 years now.
How has it been since you started?
It’s been awesome, it been so, so amazing because I did not plan to be a “Juju” artiste actually but when people discovered that I’m able to do well as an entertainer and they started giving me shows, gradually I started moving till I got to this level. So, its been really, really beautiful.
Tell us about then influence of your church on your music?
Well, like the saying goes “ A river that forgets its source will run dry” so that is where I started from. Yes, I read music but I never knew how to put lyrics in heavy percussions, I learnt from my church.
Which church is that?
C & S Church Movement
Ayo Ni O, Surulere, KM 4 Apapa/ Oshodi Expressway Lagos. It’s a very wonderful church. It’s a church that whatever you what to be when you get there asides from being able to relate with God, whatever you want to become, you would surely become. It’s a church that teaches you everything, the Bible, way of life, everything you need to know.
How did you become part of the church.
Hmm… I would say both my mum and dad influenced me. We were going to a Methodist Church but my father just decided that yes, I want to be a Cherubim and Seraphim and I started as a Chorister in Methodist Church. So, that was what I took to C & S Church because after I got married, myself and my husband who was very close to my dad during his life time, my dad took us to C & S Movement and I said Okay, I have to continue what I’ve been doing in Methodist Church, become part of the choir but when I joined, I realize that it wasn’t just dream….. they did there, it was very heavy percussions and I was scared being a lead singer and all that but as a fast learner I was able to actually learn so much.
How have you been able to balance your musical career and family?
Seriously, its not been easy because most times, when you’re out there working, your family will be at home but thank God and I said it in one of my interview recently that I was matured before I went into entertainment and it really helped me.
I was able to think fast when in situations, so, thank I did not have babies as at that time and that really helped with the understanding of my family that really helped me.
