I Used To Clean Chairs To Get Shows

Prominent Yoruba traditional chanter, Chief Sulaimon Ayilara, otherwise known as Ajobiewe, tells DAMILARE OKUNOLA how he has pushed the art of chanting to new heights

You have been relevant for many years through your chants. How did you manage this feat?

It’s not been an easy task. The challenges have been enormous, but with the support of some ‘traditionalists’ like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I’ve been able to continue. This is because he has never stopped supporting in the quest to continue promoting our culture.

For how long have you been in this business?

I became a stage actor in 1967. So if you look at it, it has been over 46 years since I started chanting on stage.

Did you learn how to make chants?

It’s like a family tradition. My dad was also into it. I picked it up from there, but started stage performances in 1967.

Can you tell us some of the people you started acting with?

Many of them are dead. I can’t really recollect their names. Jimoh Gbadamosi was one of them. But the person who established the theatre group at the time, Olu Olaiya, is still alive. There is also another brother of mine, Abdulazeez; he is still alive.

Do you have special rehearsals before performing?

Not at all. My work doesn’t require rehearsals. It’s something that comes to me naturally. Moreso, there isn’t any time I want to praise anyone that I don’t know what to say. I always have it ready in my head.

How long did it take before you had your breakthrough?

It took a very long time. I did not become popular until 1982, having started acting on  stage 1967.

And since 1982, how has it been?

I’ve risen to national prominence and world recognition. It has been quite rewarding. I really thank God for all He has given me.

How many wives and children do you have?

I have only one wife, Iya Azeez; I have male and female children. Some are in the country, while others are not.

What are your gains as a chanter?

That’s another thing I’ll always be grateful to God for. I’ve been all over the world–U.S, Germany, U.K, Canada…just name it. The only places it has not taken me to are the hospital and prison.

It’s quite rare to find your type on set these days. What is responsible for this?

I personally think it’s because there are new ways of doing things. So, those latest discoveries have reduced the infusion of those ancient roles.

At the expense of our cultural heritage?

Not at all. We mustn’t forsake our inheritance. Anyone who does so will be lost. We shouldn’t leave our culture for the Western tradition. Even the whites are learning Yoruba language. Will it make any sense for them to start teaching us Yoruba? Please, tell our people not to forget our tradition. If there were many more people like Tinubu in this country, I believe that our traditional heritage won’t be forsaken. He has really supported me in upholding our culture. Many politicians call me Tinubu’s child and I’m not going to deny it because he has really supported me. He’s always telling me not to relent in making our culture prominent. If not for his support, I may have stopped chanting.

Are there people learning chants from you?

There are many people under us now, learning to become great. That’s why we need more people to come around and give us great support.

How much do you charge per show?

The money we charge those who call us is not as important as their love for upholding and re-branding our culture. Some do not even pay, yet we work for them because there was a time when we weren’t even getting invitations.

When was the first time you were heavily rewarded?

That was in 1982, when I went to perform for a man called Olori Elemo from Awori. He called me to perform at Ajao Estate and I agreed. Then, he asked me how much I was charging and I told him that I’d gladly accept anything he offered. He just gave me N200 from his pocket. Out of shock and fear of being asked to return the money, I ran away because it was like being given N200,000 today. I rented an apartment, furnished it and ensured that people around me were aware that I had hit a jackpot.

What other business are you in to?

You know it’s going to be really difficult for me to have other businesses that I’ll handle because of the nature of the job. For five consecutive days, I’ve been on the road and for the next two, I will continue. So, I don’t see how I can have another business.

Do you have any regret for taking to this craft?

I don’t have any. I’m even glad I got into this profession because of the support from my parents, especially my dad. He encouraged me to carry on with the job. I followed my father’s footsteps and all that he did. I’ve never tasted alcohol, egg or milk because my dad never introduced them to me.

Are you satisfied with what you have now?

It’s only a dead man that can be satisfied with what he has. Even Abiola still wanted to make more money until his death.

What else are you seeking?

I want to continue encouraging people to uphold our culture and not forsake our traditional heritage.

What was growing up like?

It wasn’t as much fun, though it was quite strange. I’ve lived in about 22 cities in Nigeria. Lagos is the 22nd city where I’ll live. My mum died when I was 12 and I was 19 when I lost my dad, so in my bid to survive, I had to move from one place to another.

Was there any time you felt like quitting?

Why not? I suffered a lot and that was why I moved round many cities in the country. I would go hungry for days and face so much hardship. I felt like throwing in the towel, but I just believed that things would get better. There was even a time when we used to beg for shows, just to feature for five minutes. We’d have gotten to the venue of an evening show in the morning and start arranging chairs, just for the organisers to recognise and allow us perform. At the end of the day, some would still send us away. Who wouldn’t have thought of quitting? I was working with a bakery before going into acting, so I wanted to return.

Didn’t you ever think of going to school?

I really wanted to go, but there wasn’t really time for me to do so. I started chanting as a young child, so it just went on like that.

What’s your advice to aspiring actors?

Whatever they are doing should be thoroughly done. They shouldn’t also forget to acknowledge God in all that they do.