Jire Looks to a Promising Future
Dropping an average of two singles a year since his promising debut in 2015, giftedAfropopsinger,Jiredisplaysabundletalentandenthusiasmthatishardto ignore, reports Nseobong Okon-Ekong
For some reason I can’t explain, I want to take emerging Afropop singer, Olajire Ayodeji Ajiboye, better known as, Jire, away from his familiar props. The plan is not to distabilise him, but to find just how much grit he has. We are sipping freshly ground fruits at a mall in Surulere-Lagos. I ask him, ‘what annoys you most about this country?’
His answer is uncharitable and inspiring at the same time. While he is most definitely angry at the frustrating circumstances that stares one in the face at every turn, he is not planning to beat a quick retreat. Rather, he is looking for opportunities in the apparent confusion. His response belies his diminutive frame. He reasons beyond the understanding of the typical 18 year-old Nigerian.
He says, “What annoys me about the Nigerian situation is the battered economy. Our economy is bad. We don’t have honest leaders. There is corruption everywhere. If you are not connected to somebody high up, you can’t have particular things. Most poor people can’t have access to certain things like the rich. We don’t know how to manage the resources that God has blessed us with as a nation.”
While the stifling Nigerian situation has not affected him directly, he is nonetheless sympathetic to the less fortunate. He offers an example. “I know a lot of friends that it has affected. Some of my friends were withdrawn from school. Their parents took them to another school where they could pay less fees.”
Although, he feels strongly about this absurd situation in Nigeria, he chooses to react differently. His reply is astonishing. “If you live in a country where you can’t accomplish what you are supposed to because of the bad economy, I don’t think the right thing to do is to run away, at the least opportunity. Most Nigerians who travel out are hoping they can find greener pasture or earn more. It actually depends on you. Sometimes you can turn your life around depending on what you do. Many poor people yesterday are rich today. Many of the rich people in Nigeria went to public schools. It doesn’t really matter where you are coming from. It depends on what you believe you can do and your determination on what you believe you can achieve.”
Jire is lucky to have parents who support his dream. He likes to explain that. “In the begin- ning, I only had the understanding of my mother. My father became convinced later.”
From the International School in Ibadan to Christ the Redeemers School in Gbagada in Lagos where he finishes his secondary education, he keeps his interest in music alive. At Redeemers, he even brings his friends together to form a group, New School Gang, NSG. His classmates urge them on with boisterous applaud whenever they perform. He looks on with interest as the wind of music is blowing his ambition in a different direction from Petroleum Engineering which he was working to achieve. His father does not want to hear of it, at first. His mind changes when he listens to a Jire recording. How did that happen? “I am the quiet type; so that recording was a pleasant surprise to my father. He did not believe that I could do anything like that. It was enough to change his mind. He entered a deal with me. I had to promise that I will finish secondary school and score good grades. He promised to support me if I would keep my part of the bargain. That is where we are now. I did very well in my WASCE exams and my father has given me all the funding I need.”
In 2015, Jire releases his first single. His father offers his corporate platform, Logica Records, to make the song public. It is titled, ‘Koko’. Jire seizes the moment of the release of his debut single to embark on a tour of radio stations, even as the song receives massive airplay. The tune is a promising fusion of contemporary Nigerian sound and Afropop with a groovy feel that moves people to the dance floor at the first encounter.
‘Koko’ becomes a staple on many radio stations. On one of the programmes, Jire promises that he is in music for the long haul, saying that his intention is to give afropop a fresh dimension. The song tops in a radio contest for new songs decided by fans. Jire’s ‘Koko’ is adjudged the best fresh beat, shoving aside tracks like ‘Yetunde’ by LAX, ‘Susanna’ by Harrysong and ‘Orekelewa’ by Jumbo.
Jire’s ‘Koko’ gets the top mark with 64 votes. LAX follows with 55 votes. Voting is done on Twitter. He goes on to showcase a captivating performance at an Indomie Noodles event.
His string of live shows continues to grow as he performs at the Naija/BeatFM NYSC Camp show. A very promising beginning
Jire draws inspiration from successful Nigerian acts like Brymo, Davido and Olamide. ‘King of my Hood’ follows. His latest single is ‘International Mami’.
This is the fifth official single since Jire made his debut. The song is actually making waves now. It is a love song about a disadvantaged man who is trying to woo a girl who is above his social status. He is trying hard to make her feel he is worth her love. His other singles are ‘Owonieje’ and ‘Zombie’ in honour of Afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. ‘International Mami’ produced by Slimfit shows Jire’s determination to carve a niche for himself.
Jire’s social consciousness and his empathy for the downtrodden is yet to reflect in his songs, so far. His management needs to chart his career path towards a profound direction other than singing about girls and loud living.
Jire has performed at very big events sharing same stage with notable pop stars like Davido at the Lagos Access Bank marathon; Oritshefemi and Shina Peters at the Nigerian Telecom Awards; Korede Bello at the Beat FM NYSC Camp Storm, AFRIMA and Felabration.
In the coming new school session, Jire will begin his studies of Music at Babcock University to give fillip to his dream of not only being a performing artiste but a respected academic in music who will go on to establish a school where people can get formal training in music.
Already, he plays the keyboard and his mastery of the instrument is growing by the day. This is a clear indication that Jire is determined to distinguish himself from the run-of-the-mill and take his craft to a height of distinction.
D’PLUS RECOLLECTS WORKING EXPERIENCE WITH LAGBAJA
Dayo Ajayi, who is better known as, D’Plus, the Sociology and Anthropology graduate of the University of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State has compared his working experience as the youngest member of the Masked Musician, Lagbaja’s Africano Band to post graduate studies.
The 25-year-old, who had worked with a number of home-grown and international artistes like Banky W, Humblesmith, Wizboy, Yinka Davies, Capital FEMI and Ben Ogbeiwi of the MTN Project Fame, he said he was made to undergo a different kind of tutelage under Lagbaja.
Recalling how they met, D’Plus said he was recommended by a friend and then invited to Motherlan’ Opebi, Lagos, Lagbaja’s music sanctuary. “He personally called to tell me to be at Motherlan’ by 7am and I knew instinctively that was my first test. I got there early and met him auditioning a singer. When it was my turn, he gave me several tasks on the piano and when we were done, he said if I passed I would be invited. Before the end of that day, he called.” From then on, he was integrated fully into the band. D’Plus’ first performance with the band was at the Glo CAF Awards ceremony in Lagos. Describing the experience as awesome, he said, “I was excited to share the same stage with Hugh Masekela, P-Square, Flavour, Cabo Snoop and so on.”
Speaking further, the dark-hued D’Plus, now a full-fledged member of widelytravelled gospel artiste, Frank Edwards’s band, said, “Lagbaja gave me so much to do. I don’t know why but I thought then that he was too hard on me. In retrospect, I think he was just preparing me for the future. I am better for it now.”
His rebirth came while the band was preparing for a week-long performance trip to Paris, France, last year. “We didn’t have a bass guitarist in the band so I had to take it on. I didn’t really mind though. Then, he asked me to learn how to play the talking drum. I was shocked because I had never played it before. He told me to see myself as an utility player in a football team who could play any role. As God would have it, I learnt it fast enough and he was pleased but it was very tough for me. At a particular show, I was literally playing the piano, chords on one hand, bass on the other and I was still controlling the computer almost at the same time. It was tasking, yet, he would yell at me like I wasn’t doing anything. But after our last show in Paris, he gave me a pat on the back and said he was proud of my performance. It felt like I was gifted a million dollars,” he said.
D’Plus described Lagbaja as “a stickler for perfection, very painstaking and tough to work with, but a very wise and exposed man. I learnt the virtues of discipline and hard work from him.” Literally born into music as his father was a singer and pianist, D’Plus, also a producer and composer, says he is currently working on his own EP, a six-tracker where he samples several genres of music, a skill he said he acquired from the masked musician. LAI MOHAMED, OTHERS GRACE LAFFTA FEST IN LAGOS
Again, up-and-coming comedians put up a brilliant performance alongside worldclass comedians, attracting uproarious applause at the recent Glo Laffta Fest event in Victoria Island, Lagos. Glo Laffta Fest is Nigeria’s biggest comedy concert, currently on a 27-city tour. It will end in October. As has become customary with the show, the Lagos event, which was strategically hosted at the posh Eko Hotel and Suites, was attended by an A-class audience. In the hall were the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohamed,and the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, among others.
Also in the audience to the delight of the fans were Nollywood stars like Richard Mofe-Damijo and Adekola Odunlade. Songster, honey-voiced Omawumi Megbele, was also called up stage, with the other stars to greet the crowd.
The show got on the way quite early in the evening with audience-participation activities among which was a dancing competition for male and female guests. The winners, who were voted for by the audience, went home with beautiful prizes from Globacom.
Up-and-coming comedians from Lagos such as Kemex, MC Medical, Koye from Rock City and the duet act called British Pastors opened the performance for the evening, and they did quite well to impress the sophisticated audience that filled the Convention Centre of the Hotel.
All the budding comedians dished out very mature and funny jokes that kept the crowd laughing all through their time on stage. They were so impressive that no one would have known they were not the main acts if not for their names.
The filled-to-capacity hall responded with waves upon waves of laughter and applause. At the end, each one received a massive ovation. They poked fun at the police, poked fun at themselves, poked fun at Lagos residents, especially those who live in highbrow Lekki Peninsula that was recently affected by flood. They also made fun out of the stereotypes associated with the major tribes in the country.
After the budding comedians, the big boys of the day took to the stage. While the supporting acts were a surprise, the main acts did not disappoint. OLAMIDE EXCITES WITH SKATE AND CLEAN FLASH MOB
After a dreary weekend marred by flash floods, the resilient city of Lagos got its groove back. Thanks to a colourful flash mob of street sweepers that toured the metropolis for three days doing choreographed dances while “cleaning” on the go.
Aptly named Skate and Clean, the youthful and colourful team of street sweepers on skates were led by A-list hip hop artiste, Olamide Adedeji popularly known as Olamide Baddo. Quite a spectacle, they wore and added class to the bright orange overall uniform of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) employees, courtesy of Sterling Bank.
Skate and Clean was initiated by Sterling Bank as a pre awareness campaign for the Sterling Environmental Makeover (STEM) programme. STEM is Sterling Bank’s corporate social responsibility initiative which promotes practices that protect the environment for the benefit of humanity in 14 states of the federation.
For three days, using the power of music and dance, the youthful street sweepers toured Lagos on skates cleaning and dancing to a special theme song produced byOlamide Baddo. In the melodious theme song, Olamide Baddo waxed lyrical while imploring Nigerians to keep their environment clean and shun dumping of refuse in drainages.
In addition, the timely Skate and Clean flash mob vigorously proclaimed the positive STEM message on hygiene and sanitation in order to influence lifestyle change among Nigerians. The Skate and Clean flash mob attracted a large crowd and following as they move around commercial and residential hot spots that include Apongbon, Marina, Osborne, Ojota, Maryland, Ikorodu and Victoria Island, all in Lagos.
The crowd rocked and danced to the hip, melodious and club ready STEM theme song recorded by Olamide Baddo to tackle the menace of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainage and its negative impact on the environment. The star artiste urged the crowd to protect and keep the environment clean.
Last year, the MD/CEO of Sterling Bank, Yemi Adeola and popular Nollywood actor, Funke Akindele popularly known as Jenifa, made the news when they led employees of the bank to clean up Oyingbo – one of the oldest and busiest markets in Lagos. This year, corporates that include L’Oréal, Guinness Nigeria, British Council, Megaletrics Limited, Viacom, DAAR Communication, Businessday Newspaper, Seahorse Shawarma and Wecyclers, are partnering with Sterling Bank to make the national cleaning exercise a success.