I’m Orlando Incarnate

Olakunle Owomoyela, one of  the singing sons of the late Orlando Owoh, in this interview  with P.M.Entertainment, speaks about his late dad, the father’s band , his  new album and the entire Owomoyela’s family

What is your position among Orlando Owoh’s children?

I am the seventh child.

How many kids did your father have officially? 

About 15.

Who is leading your late dad’s band now?

I am.

What is the name of your band now?

It is Kunle Orlando Owoh and his African Kenneries Band.

How about your elder brother, Daisi?

He  has his own band.

How many band members did your father leave for?

About 17.

How do you cope with the band?

I am trying to cope by God’s grace.

Was it after the death of your father that you took over the band? 

No, before his death.

How did it happen?

He gave his blessing by praying for me in the midst of the band members.

How did he pray for you?

He used a goat and a bottle of schnapps to pray for me.

Do you manage the house with the proceeds from the band?

I do take care of the wives whenever I go to shows.

Do you stay in the house? 

No, I don’t.

How many wives are in your dad’s house now?

About four.

When your father was alive, did he leave any asset?

No, he did not. In fact, I did not get anything from him except the band.

What will you say you have gained from your father?

The Music.

So, which album are you releasing now?

Mine and it is titled: High Life Mega and it will be released on the label of Dapat Music on 19 June, 2012.

Why the title?

We are trying to let people know that the album is a mixture of Juju and high life and is coming out in a big form.

When did you discover you had the talent to sing?

When I was young, I used to play in my mum’s band between 1988 and 1989.

Did you ever play in Orlando’s band?

After my mum stopped singing, I joined my dad’s band.

Was it as a band member or vocalist?

As a vocalist.

Did your dad encourage you to mount the stage then?

No, he encouraged me to face my studies initially, but when my mum stopped singing, I joined his band.

Did you have any problem with him regarding your singing career?

Not really; at the initial stage he refused but when he realised my potential, he gave me the go ahead.

When did you realise you could sing?

Well, I used listen to my dad’s music when I was young. Although I was a footballer, I dumped football for music by joining my dad’s band because  I liked singing Orlando’s music. The opportunity to prove myself came when all my dad’s band members defected in the United States of America.

What did you achieve while in the band?

Well, I gained a lot of experience.

It is widely believed that nobody could sing like your dad?

It was hard when I started but it’s a matter of patience. If you listen to Orlando’s music, his lyrics  are simple but people are not patient enough to emulate Orlando’s music. It is simple.

Well, was your father fetish?

I don’t know though people say it but I did not see him with such things.

What kind of a person was the late Orlando Owoh?

He was a gentle man and god-fearing

What other things did you gain from him?

I gained good music.

He had a kind of voice that was so unique but how well can you emulate him?

Very well.

Do you smoke “ganja” like him?

You don’t have to smoke to be able to sing like him. It is a matter of training. You have to rehearse very well to be able to emulate him.

So you did not emulate any of his habits?

No.

How many wives do you have?

I have only one wife.

So you did not emulate him by marrying many wives?

We are in a modern world now,but I picked his music.

Any plans to have more?

No.

Do you drink?

I take beer sometimes.

Heading the late Orlando Owoh band, how do you intend to create an image for yourself?

We have changed a lot of things in the band.

How do you cope with band members that are older than you?

They are like fathers to me.

How do you feel as a young man taking over such a band?

As I said, my dad informed them that I will be leading the band.

Was the goat he used to pray for you killed and eaten by everybody?

Yes.

Did any member of the band misbehave after the demise of your dad?

No, but we do have misunderstandings and we settle them.

How do you share proceeds from engagement?

There is a sharing formula.

Do you do anything apart from music?

Yes, I am into poultry business and fabrics as well. I took to music because I don’t want the name of my dad to be forgotten.

What is the relationship between you and Daisi?

We are from the same mother, Daisi  is the first child of my mum.

You are an artiste and he is also an artiste, how do you cope?

We are coping.

Why didn’t your father give him the band to lead?

Well, I don’t know.

What qualities did your father see in you before he gave you his band to manage?

I’m used to the band and atimes I did perform with him when he was alive.

Were you making money when you were with him?

He told the band not to give me part of their share, but I used to make money from the stage whenever he allowed me to perform.

Has that helped you in growing up?

Yes.

As Orlando’s son, what have you gained and lost?

I gained music and the fans.

When he died, he had a house at Agege, another one at Owo. What other things did your father have?

I don’t know much about his assets.

What happened to them?

That is between his manager and lawyer and his wives because my mum died before Orlando.

Did he die as a poor person?

He was rich. I can’t say he was poor because he left a lot of property.

Where are the property?

He has one at Ajah. He was building it before he died. He also has one at Ikorodu, one at Agege and one in his  town, Owo,Ondo State and other things which I don’t know.

What about his will?

He didn’t have any will.

Then who are the signatories to his account?

The manager, Baba Chief, that is Olu Osunupe and his  lawyer.

Some of his oldies are being sold; do you get proceeds from them?

Before Orlando’s death, I knew that he sold about four oldies. I left the family house about five years ago, so I don’t know if they get proceeds.

When Orlando died, there was a controversy about where he will be buried?

Yes, it is still on now. Last month, it was said that his body may be exhumed and buried in Ondo State; the Oba of Ifon, the Oba of Owo and the people of Owo said it. Orimipe, Orlando’s  first son, who is  in the US is also saying that when he returns he is likely to  exhume our father’s body and bury him in Ondo State.

You were very close to Orlando before he died. Did he ever tell you where he wished to be buried?

I will not lie, he told me when I was young that whenever he died he should be buried near his window in his Lagos home, and that is where he was buried.

So if the other people come to exhume him, what will you do?

When my Dad was ill, I went to see him on a particular day. It was just both of us, and he warned that whatever happens in the house, I shouldn’t be part of it. He said even if they are sharing all his wealth, I should not be part of it.

So what happened to his cars and instruments?

I don’t know.

What should we expect from you in the next five or 10 years?

By the grace of God, we are still taking the highlife music to higher level.

How many musical instruments can you play?

I can play the English conga, keyboard and a little bit of guitar.