Despite My Disability, My Father Assigned Chores for Me to Do
The smart, business savvy and conservative Akinloye Tofowomo having built an enviable entertainment empire. His life is a testament to success, hard work, and unwavering focus in spite of his physical disability. He has remained unperturbed by what others would have seen as a misfortune, especially at a tender age of five living with polio. With eyes fixed on his goals, he turned what seemed a stumbling block into a stepping stone. The many milestones, which constitute all the hurdles he has had to cross on his way up, will serve as a tonic to any hard-working person who encounters him. Twenty years ago, he came into the live music business with no capital and connections. Today, he caters to royalty and the name Shuga has become unarguably synonymous to live music in Nigeria and there are no off seasons. In spite of his success, keeps working hard. Tofowomo, managing director, Shuga Entertainment, tells Adedayo
Adejobi about his travails, music, philanthropy and his new lease of life
Born into the prestigious family of the late Judge Tofowomo from Ile-Oluji, Ondo State of Nigeria, Akinloye Tofowomo was born to be great. But his life- changing encounter with polio is a further attestation to his life’s pact with destiny. At age five, a dreaded life-changing condition reared its ugly head, but it didn’t affect that stage of his childhood that much despite the fact that every child in the family had chores they were expected to perform including Akinloye.
His early childhood condition didn’t hamper parental love he craved and deserved as a child, as he was treated nicely, normally and like the love child he was, by his family. With adequate show of love, childhood wasn’t so difficult for him.
Three years after, the realisation dawned on him that he was indeed different from others, and that most crucially, there were physical limits to what he could do as a child. This marked a watershed in his life as a child.
Giving a peep into how his father helped boost his esteem, even as a child, the entertainment czar says:
“My father always told me that whoever pitied me was actually my enemy. Regardless of my condition, I was made to do everything the other children in the house did. As a matter of fact, discipline was the watchword for us in the house. Whenever we were home for holidays, my father drew a timetable of activities that we would engage in, including chores. So there was no room for messing up. We always worked on the farm in the compound under the strict supervision of my father and our gardener. Whoever failed to impress him was made to clear grass as punishment. It was tough.”
Surviving Bullies
Children, in their ignorance, taunted and called him all sorts of humorous nicknames. In secondary school, they called him ‘Reckless’ because of his penchant for rap, while he was also monikered ‘Dupompe’ because of the way he used to walk. Some stuck, some didn’t, but in all, these circumstances didn’t define him. A particular experience he wouldn’t forget in a hurry was one which happened in primary school. Recounting the ordeal, he said there was a person “who forcefully collected the stick I was using to support myself. The child wanted to see how I would survive without it but what I did to him, he would never forget in his life.”
With similar cases in point and in these experiences, spanning his school years in the city of Enugu, eastern Nigeria, because his late father was being transferred often from one place to another as a judge, he sure dealt decisively with the boys who tormented him thoroughly.
The Making of the Local Polyglot
Growing up under the tutelage of a father who traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria, having worked in places like Calabar, Port-Harcourt, Ibadan and Lagos to mention a few, those years and environments rubbed off on the musician. Although, he is from
A particular experience he wouldn’t forget in a hurry was one which happened in primary school. Recounting the ordeal, he said there was a person “who forcefully collected the stick I was using to support myself. The child wanted to see how I would survive without it but what I did to him, he would never forget in his life
Ekweremadu: Show Your Face
I only see your pictures and small quips in the media but don’t really know you. I see that you have stood very loyal with your oga, the great Saraki. So the other day, while we were arguing over our very powerful WhatsApp political group aptly named the Duke’s Summit, someone mentioned your name as a potential vice presidential candidate running on a Saraki/Ekweremadu ticket. This suggestion lit the house and someone reeled out your brief profile. Now whether that ticket will see the light of the day is not my problem. But the fact that little is known about you by myself and I wonder just how you have managed to last this long in politics without my support. It was Nicholas o, that not-too-tall intellectual who gave us some details about you. He said you have a doctorate and that you have won elections at almost all levels with a deep intellectual focus. Well, I must tell you I was impressed and then decided to dig deeper. The more I look, the more impressed I am. Well, sir, let me tell you that I never knew you were this cerebral o, I just used to look at that your red cap. The one you wear almost daily and be wondering if you do not have another one. Well, thanks to Nicholas, I now have a better perspective of you and this I must tell you is a strong positive for you. Keep it up. We in Shomolu are, however, watching you very closely before we take a decision on you. Just try not to appear on any list o because that will be a deal breaker. Well done bro.
Sowore : Can You Please Sit Down
You see what poor performance in government can lead to. All sorts of characters will be creeping out of the holes in an attempt to distract us and further belittle the high office that is the Presidency. So this Sowore person really is interested in high office? Well, it remains his inalienable right as a true Nigerian and as enshrined in the constitution. But that is where it ends. Let me say it very clearly and boldly, forget the fact that the Presidency of Nigeria is looking as it is today. It is still a very highly prestigious and respectable office that only men, yes, men and in this context I mean both sexes can ever aspire to. We must not allow the seat to be denigrated to the point that anybody can just wake up from whatever dump they found themselves after a night of uproarious and binge drinking, and in a drunken stupor aspire to. For me, I am saddened by not only this Sowore’s reported ambition but the fact that the Presidency through years of abuse and recklessness has been so denigrated that every Musa, Ade and Emeka is now aspiring, even my landlord is thinking along that line. Where are our true leaders? I cry! Where are the men of timbre and calibre as Kingsley Mbadiwe, that colourful political stalwart, would say. Has Nigeria turned into a country where measly orphans and village comics can now stand up and want to be counted? Let me wax lyrically, ‘ohhhhhhhhhh Nigeria, where forth art thou, that you have lost your lustre’’. Kai it was Soyinka that called his generation wasted, mine is lost. Kai.
Fayemi Again?
You see, I am very reluctant to write this piece because some of you would think that I am doing bad belle. First, his very beautiful wife wrote a book and called it Loud whispers. The whole Shomolu yab me tire. If you are an ardent reader of this column you will know why. For months I was the butt of jokes not only in Shomolu but as far afield as Putin’s Russia. So when people started goading me to say something about this Fayemi”s ambition I was hesitant because they will be saying because I have something against him. Well, the truth is that we must all stand up and talk our mind no matter what. My lord, Chief Fayemi, please perish the thought. Just go back and sleep. After all, that is what it looks like you have been doing in your Solid Mineral Ministry. What have we done so wrong in this country such that even if we as the people don’t have sense even you our so-called leaders will not just pity us and self-check yourselves? Governor of Ekiti again for wetin na? Please my brother do not let me say much, because if I say what I am itching to say now, you will beat me. Abeg, spare us, let us have a new broom abeg. And this is not just for you but for all of the people who have been recycling themselves and foisting on us impunity and misgovernance. The campaign is coming as soon as I can get at least three people to start it. We will come after you guys. Till then, my brother just respect thyself and go home to your beautiful wife.
Ibrahim Mantu: Holy Spirit Pushed You
My lord, it was not you speaking that day on Channels TV when you were confessing. It was the Holy Spirit that was pushing you and I tell you, you were not speaking for yourself but the whole generation. God bless you. Did you notice how restless you were the previous night and how relieved you were after your diarrhea? I really am holding myself from all the anger I feel for you and your ilk especially what you have foisted on this country. You now, you are incompetent and do not have the necessary leadership skills but you will still go and rig as per your confession. God is on the throne. I will not say much as I am doing a full article on you and your confession as soon as I finish at the mechanic. Just calm down and wait, I am coming for you. Only in Nigeria.
Ken Etete: A Worried Young Man
Ken is quiet and unassuming; highly successful and imbued with sound logic and depth. Spent over four hours with him spanning two days this last weekend, discussing leadership, empowerment of the youth and attempting to design a framework for consistent and penetrative intervention in society, both at political and economic levels. As he spoke, I sensed his frustration not with the leadership but the followership. His concerns are about the followers who despite all the raging storm cannot seem to understand the situation they find themselves. In all our discussions, his deep understanding of the issues especially economic issues kept hitting at me, I must tell you. Ken is a deeply worried young man who is gearing to play a more participatory role in our national life. I wish him luck.