Regent Bunmi comes alive in ‘Nitori’ remix
The late Regent Bunmi Olajubu churned several songs in her life time with ‘Nitori’ being one of those she was known for and the one whichshot her into limelight. Although she has been dead almost 12 years, she is very much alive in the remix of the song done by her daughter, Princess IyaboOlajubu.
According to Princess Olajubu who also released a video for the song, her yearning to preserve and carry on her mother’s legacy is the reason she decided to remix the song and make it danceable thus appreciable to a wider audience.
She said, “‘Nitori’ was really making waves back then, I remember I was still young then. My mum’s version was slower, simply classical, but I decided to fine tune it to be more danceable.”
The artiste added that,although music has beena part time activity for her, she is now fully back in the industry and launched her come back in a bigger way.
She said, “Coming out in a bigger way, I decided to give honour to whom honour is due. I decided to honour my mum first. That is why I remixed her song. A lot of people advised me to do this song because they have missed it a lot.”
Describing her music style, Princess Iyabo said, “Mysongs are close to my mum’s. “My songs are for the mature mind. My beats and lyrics are very mature. I won’t really say I am following in her footsteps but, it doesn’t really matter because you can’t give what you don’t have.
“If you come from a lineage of someone singing a particular [style of] song, there is the possibility that you would end up that way too. My mum sang very decent, educational, spiritual songs when she was alive. I don’t think I would be doing something different from the foundation she has already laid down.”
Olajubu whose songs like‘Ife mi’ and ‘Iwalewa’ received generous air plays, said, she succumbed to the demands of her mother’s fans who urged her to do ‘Nitori.’ “Lots of people, her fans and mine wanted the song back and that was why I decided to even drop the video before mine,” she said.
Responding to whether her fans should look out for future collaborations between her and other artistes, she said, “That isn’t something I am keen on because I don’t need anybody’s glory to shine.”
The songstress added that, “I have been on musical tour of the Southwest, Ekiti State which is where I am from, they celebrated me for a whole week. I was on air all through and they were happy with what I have achieved so far. I still have lots of invitation that I am yet to honour. I am doing music for pleasure. There are still people who wouldn’t compromise the kind of songs they sing because of their morals. Many TV and radio stations are demanding for more positive songs. The spirituality in music is what has continued to energise me to write songs which come naturally to me in Yoruba.”
Princess Olajubu, in keeping alive her late mother’s memory, has set up a foundation - Regent BunmiOlajubu Foundation - to cater to the needs of the less privileged. This is as she prepares to launch her eight-track album from her collections of songs.