Orlando Owoh: The Legendary Highlife Crooner

Orlando Owoh: The Legendary Highlife Crooner

Orlando Owoh will forever be remembered as a highlife icon, leading a guitar-dominated combo with a strong emphasis on rhythm. His voice, rich and guttural, was like no other, allowing him to project effectively across all registers—high, low, and middle—without straining. His melodies were deeply rooted in African music, distinct from conventional popular music patterns.

Owoh’s career began in 1956 as a sideman with Ogunmola, one of Nigeria’s pioneering theater figures. From the outset, he faced numerous musical challenges and adventures. Reflecting on his early days, he said, “I ventured into music in 1956 with Ogunmola and his theater party, playing drums and singing. I was very young then. We went to welcome the Queen of England that same year at Ibadan, now the capital city of Oyo State of Nigeria. From there, we were contracted by the University of Ibadan to provide music and entertainment for the celebration of three of their popular plays: Palm Wine Drinkard, Their Enemies, and Samson and Delilah. I provided vocal accompaniment and was also involved in drumming.”

This early exposure set Owoh on a strong footing. In 1958, he left Ogunmola to join Akindele and his Chocolate Dandies in Ibadan. While moving from one band to another, he took guitar lessons and broadened his musical horizon. By 1959, he formed his own band, which quickly gained recognition. He recalled, “It was the quality of my music that recommended me to recording companies. I was playing at a night gig when Decca Records approached me and eventually signed me. I recorded my first hit in 1959. It was released in 1960, a single with ‘Oluwa lo ran mi’ on one side and ‘Mobimo Kan to Dagba’ on the other side.”