At ninety, his voice, loud and clear but filled with pitiable
expression: In a telephone chat, Octogenarian talking drummer, Alhaji Rahmon
Alao Adewole famously called Onilu-Ola said, “I cannot recollect the exact date
but I was born in 1927but I don’t have money to hold an elaborate feast”.
However, Kayode Aponmade in this piece chronicles the
life of the legend and acclaimed most detailed talking drummer as he recently
turns 90. Born in Imala, Ogun State, Alhaji Rahmon Alao
Adewole, the lead talking drummer of the late Apala music sage, Ayinla Omowura
once narrated how the band was formed.
Legendary Adewole disclosed
that he invited the popular singer, Omowura to become the lead singer for the
group.
He said it was while beating
drums at public events across Abeokuta that some of his fans suggested to him
to look for a musician with good voice to complement his efforts.
“I was an Apala drummer, who entertained residents of Abeokuta
and environs,” he said in Yoruba language.
“When my fans cherished my performance and talent, they
called on me to get a musician with good voice to complement my efforts.”
“This was what led to my search, and I thereafter discovered
Ayinla, who was then a trainee with the late Apala musician, known as Osho Oba.”
Pa Adewole, popularly called Onilu-Ola
meaning successful drummer in Yoruba language, disclosed further that the first
time he approached Omowura to join him for a musical show, the latter expressed
fear that his boss would not allow him.
The prolific drummer said he
persuaded the singer to lie to his boss that he was sick.
The drummer said the first show
he attended alongside Omowura was at Igbogila, Yewa North Local Government Area
of Ogun State, southwest Nigeria.
He also revealed that it was
after the event that the band was encouraged to start producing albums.
Octogenarian Adewole also
narrated a conflict he had with the late musician, saying“I
dislike cheating. When money was coming in, he was not showing concern for my
welfare, after complaining severally and he was not yielding, I decided to pull
out from the band. But the quick intervention of some of our notable fans saved
the situation and thereafter we resolved our differences.”
Rebutting an insinuation that
Omowura was a drunkard, Pa Adewole described it as unfounded, saying “he
was a lazy drinker, who after taking two bottles of beer would not go beyond
that.”
Narrating how Eegunmogaji died
in 1980, the retired drummer explained that “Omowura was trying to retrieve a motorcycle
he bought for one of the band members, Bayewu, as a result of a
misunderstanding between them.
The singer trailed Bayewu to
a beer parlor in Ago-Oba area of Abeokuta, to retrieve the motorcycle. A fight
ensued between them and in the process, Bayewu was said to have allegedly smashed
a thick glass cup on Omowura’s head, slumped and
died thereafter”.
The aged drummer also said he
played a role in Omowura’s marriage after the bride’s
parents initially rejected the relationship due to what they believed was the musician’s
stubbornness.
He claimed his intervention
and appeal to the parents made them agree to the wedding.
Pa Adewole said the crew was
disbanded after the death of Omowura.
