Akokostars’s Blog

I Was Detained For ‘Ijoba Alata’ -Tomogun Irun Akoko -Sola Omotosho Many people are born gifted. These people effortlessly, in their chosen endeavours, performed tasks beyond their fellow peers and even their bosses’ expectations, to the awe and admiration of all. Tomogun Olubunmi Olayinka is one such person, born gifted. This broadcaster, film producer/ director, singer, choreographer, writer and an entertainer extraordinaire is a bundle of talents. Tomorin, The beefy artiste from Irun- Akoko, in Ondo State, hope to release to the market, before the end of the year, another Ewi album titled, Ole ni wa is a staff of the Ondo State Ministry of Arts and Culture, became a member of the State’s cultural troupe as a guest artiste in 1982. The versatile singer, dancer and dramatist, however was given full employment in 1989.At that time, Ondo State Cultural Troupe was under the Ministry of Information. In the 70’s, while still in primary school and through his secondary school education, he was an artiste with the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC), through the help of Alhaji Kilani, an indigene of Afin- Akoko. As a member of a mobile theater group, he was touring Lagos and Ibadan with the other members; however he was prevailed upon to stop his touring, and to take up a job with his State and use his talents to develop his State. As a full fledged artiste, Tomogun has no interest in partisan politics “I am not a politician, all my programmes on the electronics media, contents wise are tilted towards sanitizing, developing and for the unification of the State” he affirmed. The widely travelled artiste has led the State troupe on many International performances, through private, State and Federal Governments sponsorship. The Akoko born personality has been on tours to London, Canada, Thailand- Bangkok, Cairo- Egypt and the recent visit to Ghana, for the Pan African Festival (PANAFEST), held in Ghana recently. Recounting his Ghana experience, he said “the sore point of our trip was in the area of cuisine. We were not satisfied with the Ghanaians local delicacies and we were unable to get Nigerian dishes. Their precious Kenke delicacy, similar to our own Egidi or Kati, in Akoko land, is tasteless on our taste bud. We had to implore the services of a Ghanaian lady, who we taught how to cook some Nigerian delicacies, and with the help of some female troupe members, we were able to eat well for the almost two weeks of our stay” The Ewi exponent has to his credit, many albums, which include Okodoro Oro, Omo Oduduwa, Oselu Atata, etc. However, Ijoba alata, released during the late Abacha regime, was the most controversial, because Tomogun was detained at a police Station in Ondo State as a result of this album. The then government of General Sanni Abacha, felt the album was too hard on his government and the operatives in Ondo State, invited him for a talk, which eventually led to his arrest at a police station in Ondo State but for the timely intervention of a police man, a DPO, of that station who happens to be a brother, he would have been sent to jail. This experience, ever so fresh in Tomogun’s memory, has made him more resolute to say the truth all the time via his various medium of expression The man of many parts, has produced and taken part Tomogun while doing a course in yoruba- theater arts, at the University of Nsukka, Ikere Ekiti campus, did one- man film, titled ‘ojo kan soso’, a film on social vices, produced with the aim of correcting the ills n the campuses. This dramatist of note has in his kitty, a yet to be released home video titled Olofin, a film on Idanre. This film, took four years for the research to be completed. Among the co researchers are, the Owa of Idanre, Oba Aroloye Arubiefin, 1V, Hon. Jones Akinyugha, Member, House of Representative and Peter Fatomilola, the renowned dramatist and lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, gave all the Odu Ifa needed. He said the film will be previewed by Professor Wole Soyinka, who has so much interest in Idanre Kingdom. In his advice, the quintessential indigenous voice over artiste, said people should not see selves as copying machines and should engage their time in other productive activities, rather than to depend solely on their artistic ingenuity. “Many artistes are not original; they copy other people’s works and even perform below expectations and many who love money more than the interest they have on the job, should desist from this attitude. It is good to come out with exemplary quality works and be applauded by the people who invariably, are the end users, than to produce sub standard works that would make the people snare at our back.”