Tolu Obey is the first son of the legendary Juju maestro, Chief Ebenezer Obey, to have taken after his dad in music. He is not just Obey’s son, he looks much like his dad in many ways. He has a striking look like his dad (Ebenezer Obey). They both spot grey hair and sing the same genre of music, Juju.
Tolu Obey was born on the 15th July, 1972, to the family of Evang. (Prof) Ebenezer Olasupo Oluremilekun Fabiyi “Popularly known as Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey and Late Lady Evangelist Juliana Obey Fabiyi, in Lagos as the fifth child of the family.
A few days back, he was at the 3rd City People Music Award on Victoria Island, Lagos where he performed some of his songs. He also spoke with City People’s Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE and Senior Reporter, ISAAC ABIMBADE in an exclusive interview. Below are excerpts.
Can you please share with us how the journey has been looking at your story?
My story is a very challenging one because I was born into an empire of music and maintaining that empire hasn’t been easy. My father has been there for over 50years. People judge using my father’s standard, so I have a standard to maintain. And also I need to take that legacy to my generation and also hand it over to my children, so it has been very challenging because, for my father who is Chief Ebeneser Obey himself, sings philosophical songs, he is there. And you know, I’m to stand in his shoes. The people who would judge me are not members of my family but the world at large. That’s the only challenging thing for me.
At the end of the day, I have found out that I love doing what I do and that has helped me to where I am today. By the grace of God, I have been able to travel to Europe, USA, Canada, Ireland to mention a few to play my music. I also represent my father right now. Anywhere he is not able to go, I go to represent him. Even when he goes, he sings for a while then hands over the mic to me. Even at that, I work tirelessly, to keep up the baton.
What’s the difference between the kind of music you sing and the one your father sings?
Well basically, there is and there is no difference in the kind of music we sing. I play to the core like him, but because of the newer generation, I Increase the tempo to carry them along with what I’m doing?
Is there anything you have infused into your songs to make it more acceptable to the youth of this generation?
Yes, we have added a lot of percussions and increased the tempo of the music. We have also added a lot of horns to the music. if you go to YouTube, you would see my full band performing live and direct. Why I did that was because my father started with a guitar, talking drum and a base. But right now, on the stage, we have three guitars, one steel guitar, two bases depending on what he wants.
He was the first person to introduce these instruments to juju music in Nigeria. And he was the first person who added drum, which people called jazz drum as far back as 1980 because when he bought it, I was at home and I saw the drums. So all along I was with him at Papa Ajao where we grew up. He also had a place where we normally have the rehearsals so any new equipment he wanted to add, he added to it on the rehearsal ground before taking it on stage. That Is how I added the horns to it and it has been fantastic.
Was music imposed on you or was it something you had a passion for?
Music can never be imposed on anybody. You will never know it. You can quote me anywhere. It takes passion, dedication and a lot of discipline to play music. I can tell you categorically that for a person to come out to sing, he must have invested a lot of time on rehearsals. It takes me about One month to rehearse for a performance of 30 minutes to one hour. So now, for my father, I love him so much and I want to be what he is. If he had been a carpenter, that is what I would have been. He didn’t impose anything on me. He was even surprised when I told him I wanted to do music and he was impressed.
So, what were you doing before music?
All my life, I have been doing music. I started playing music at age six. I started putting my band together at age eight on the paper. Then I used to be a drummer for a band. It was then I decided I wanted to do music like my Dad. So, precisely in 1982, I became one of the best drummers in town and 1987, one of the best guitarist. In those days, we use to have Lagbaja play at Quito’s at Bread and butter at Allen. So if you are a good instrumentalist, you come to bring out your instruments and play. So, I also go there to play guitar. Good musicians go there to test themselves. So one day I was playing beside him, it has been a challenging one but we thank God.
Talking about your children, are you also thinking of bringing your children into this profession?
All my children are into music, but like my father told me in those days that you must go to school. My first son plays the drum and my second son sings professionally. His stage name is Royce Prince. His younger brother is a producer and he is very good with the keyboard. Right now, he plays keyboard with my father to tell you how good he is. My father would not allow you feature with him if you are not good. His name is Olaniran Obey Fabiyi.
Are you taking after your father with your hair?
Yes, I am, a lot of people do not know that my father has grey hair and he had been dying his hair since he was 34yrs. So, some time ago, I left my hair to show that I was older than my younger brother, who was taller and bigger. So, there was a time I cut my hair and a lot of people were impersonating me as Obeys son, so I now decided to leave the grey hair as a trademark.
