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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.

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Multi-talented and first African female talking drummer cum actress, Aralola Olamuyiwa Apeke famously called Ara has concluded arrangement for the VIP premiere of her latest movie named Osunfunke.

The VIP screening for the movie holds in September 2017 in Osogbo, Osun State.

Shot with the latest high definition cameras in the tourist areas of Osogbo in Osun State, southwest Nigeria with the support of the State Government in a quest to bring life and hope to the citizenry of the state, Osunfunke parades many top thespians including Ricardo Agbor, Alhaji Kateem Adepoju Baba Wande, Doris Simeon, Yemi Shodimu, Peju Ogunmola, Ijesha, Femi Jacobs, Olamide Badoo and Ara Olamuyiwa among others as directed by Dj Tee.

Osunfunke is centered on the life of a lady from a royal family, the Adegbites, who are the Arugba (Calabash Carrier) during the Osun Osogbo Festival and along the line during her days in school a terrible thing happened and right of being an Arugba was stripped off her. She met a guy after her NYSC who was one of the reasons she lost her position as an Arugba.

The heat of attraction, betrayal, trust and a lonely window of deceit intersects as she struggles to deal with her festered past that consumes her present aspirations for so long.

It was gathered that Ara was optimistic and opined that Osogbo in Osun State has the best tourist attractions in the whole South-West of Nigeria, and exploring good ambience and serene environment created for the state by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was one of the things that inspired the shoot of Osunfunke in Osogbo, Osun State.

Ara, reputed for perfection and solid work ethic and committed to achieving the highest standard of performance disclosed that her movie, Osunfunke is set to be unveiled for notable celebrities, entertainers, media gurus, associates, fans and well-wishers across the country.

She added that every good movie lover that has passion for tourism and culture deserves to be at the VIP screening for Osunfunke.

Ara however expressed appreciation to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the executive governor of Osun, State, the tourism board and those that made it possible for her dream to come true with the production of Osunfunke.

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