Popular lewd Fuji musician, Alhaji Abass Akande, has disclosed how he got his stage name, Obesere, saying he got it from one of his band boys who was initially bearing the name.
This was as he disclosed that, contrary to a popular insinuation, he has a very cordial relationship with another great Fuji music act, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popularly known as K1.
Obesere, the Bobagunwa of Yoruba land who is also known as “Omo Rapala”, made the disclosures in Ibadan, on Tuesday, while speaking on a radio magazine programme, Parrot Xtra Hour, anchored by Olayinka Agboola.
Speaking on the stage name, Obesere, he said it was the nickname given to Adeleke Adesanya, one of his band boys, but who was always angry whenever people referred to him as such.
“I can say a little about the origin of the name Obesere. It is the name of one of my band boys who handled the beaded calabash (Sekere). His name is Adeleke Adesanya. We grew up together at Ebute Metta.
“People called him Obesere whenever they see him. This used to make him angry, whenever he was on stage. He would signal that he would deal with them later. He was popular than me. When I saw that he rejected this name, I took it up and everything changed for the better.
“With the Obesere sobriquet, some people later said I was using the name to ridicle women. But I hate people abusing women because my mother was also a woman.
“So, I dropped the name for a while, but when my band boys who went to East Ebute Meta said that another person claimed that he was the original Obesere, I had to take up the name again,” he said.
On the alleged rift between him and K1, who is the Mayegun of Yoruba land, Obesere said, as far as he is concerned, the relationship between them is cordial, adding that everyone must emulate good things.
“I don’t have any issue with K1. He is the Mayegun of Yoruba land. It is good; everyone must believe his own is the best and one must emulate good things. It is good for everyone to get what he deserves. No one is even above mistake; that is why an Alfa will tell you to listen to God’s injunction, rather than find fault with an Alfa,” he said.
Obesere said, like his newly-released album, titled “Standout”, one must strive to standout in whatever he or she is doing and that God used the stage name, Obesere, to bring him to limelight and success.
On the controversy that surrounded his becoming the Bobagunwa of Ibadan land, Obesere said somebody gave him a letter to the Olubadan of Ibadan in order for him to be installed but, along the line, he was told to seek the consent of K1 and that if the latter agreed, he would be installed.
He said he, however, declined to do as instructed because, according to him, he could stand on his own, given his reputation and achievements and that he would not depend on anyone; more so, that K1 is not even from Ibadan.
“The Olubadan is my father. I have a cordial relationship with him. I pray that he stays long on the throne of his fathers. Kabiyesi is my father.
“I got a letter to be made a chief. The Olubadan Palace said I should go to King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall and that if he consents to it, I would be installed. I said I could not; he is not even from Ibadan.
“So, I was happy when I was installed as the Bobagunwa of Yoruba land. It is not about Ibadan alone. It is about the whole of Yoruba land. I have a cordial relationship with the Olubadan of Ibadan land. No one dares look him in the face. I can’t do so too,” he added.
The Fuji music exponent, who started out with Marvin Giwa Music Record Label and had also featured on the defunct Sony Music Label, among several others, came into limelight with songs which many would regard as taboo.
He said he is always proud to identify himself as an indigene of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, adding: “I can never hide this from anybody. Our people are courageous people.
“We are not cowards. If you see anybody who claims that he is from Ibadan and is timid, that person must be a mixture. Whatever we say, we always stand by it. We always say it as it is.
“So, when the person we spoke about comes back to himself, the next thing is that we will ask him why he behaved the way he did initially.”
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