REMEMBERING A MUSIC ICON.
There is no doubt that there were so many great, but unsung musicians and composers in Nigeria.
One of such is Chief Dayo Dedeke, MFR.
Chief Dayo Dedeke was born in Abeokuta on December 2, 1921.
He was a great pianist, musicologist and composer whose many compositions remain popular and evergreen till date.
The popular song which promotes agriculture, ISE AGBE NI ISE ILE WA was composed by him in 1953 to commemorate the inauguration of the Farmers' Cooperative Society in the Western Region of Nigeria.
The Ogun State Anthem, OMO OGUN, ISE YA, which has become the celebrated wake-up call to all indigenes of Ogun State, was composed by him in 1976.
The first indigenous Christmas Carol, KERESIMESI, ODUN DE was composed by him.
Many popular Yoruba Church Hymns were also composed by him.
One of them is OLUSEGUN, AJASEGUN, IPONJU AYE PO, JOWO TETE DE O...
Chief Dayo Dedeke also composed numerous popular Yoruba folk songs.
One of such is TITI LO S'OJA, KIKE LO SE'GI, OMOTUNDE TO WA NI'LE LO NSUNKUN O...
Those who are familiar with these songs will agree that Chief Dedeke was indeed a great man!
The Ogun State House of Assembly recently passed a resolution asking Governor Dapo Abiodun to name the Ogun State Museum after Chief Dayo Dedeke.
Chief Dayo Dedeke died on May 28, 1993 and was buried 15 days after on June 12, 1993.
His sons, Nekan, Bayo and Fela are close childhood friends of mine.
Nekan was my senior while Bayo was my classmate at Compro, Aiyetoro.
May Chief Dayo Dedeke's soul continue to rest in peace.
Writeup by
Olasunkanmi Sukky Adeleke
I was privileged in 1978 to be part of a choir organised by late Chief Dayo Dedeke which rendered a Christmas 9 lessons and carols at Dodan barracks. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was military head of states then. Chief Dedeke taught us quite a number of carols in various Nigerian languages and even in German. I still relish those songs. May his soul continue to rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteHe was also an unpaid itinerant music teacher. Chief Derek put together a choir at St Monica's girls grammar school in Ondo. Some of the songs he taught were deeply personal. I particularly loved the song of encouragement for his sister, Paulina.
ReplyDeleteI was privileged to be taught by him in 1990 when he formed the Oyo state Mass choir among about 5 prominent schools in Ibadan; including I.S.I., Government college, Queens School, St. Annes, Loyola College and St. Louis Grammar School, under the then Governor, Abdulkareem Adisa. The Concert was held at Cultural Center Ibadan and was televised on National T.V. all over Nigeria. It was very memorable and fun-filled, even though, he was a strict disciplinarian and a no-nonsense man. He was very fond of me. May his soul continue to rest peacefully.
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