This was Ebenezer Obey’s Photograph with his Band Members in (early 70’s)

This was Ebenezer Obey’s Photograph with his Band Members in (early 70’s).

Standing from left, Monday John, Vasco Dagama, Ebenezer Obey Himself, The Band’s Captain, Samson Ogunlade, Israel Adio, Jossy Ojo and Knelling from Left was, Gabriel Adedeji, Mutiu Kekere, Oke Aminu, Ayodele Director and Giwa Ojo Arigidi.

🎵Irinse lo jona Obey o jona, e bami s’poe f’oluwa ogo. A rinrin ajo, a lo si London, a lo d’awon lara ya, London la gba de Torino, ni ilu Italy, a tun d’awon lara ya, lat’ilu Torino, a pada si London, a tun d’awon lara ya, o ku ijo meta ka pada sile, nisele yi sele, t’ina jo wa n’irinse….Mutiu Kekere o ku ewu, ewu ina, ki p’awodi, Mutiu Kekere o ku ewu….

Each time Obey traveled abroad to perform, he would not travel with his musical Instruments, he would buy new Instruments there, use the instruments to perform then go back to Nigeria with the new instruments. That was exactly what he did that year. He bought the instruments and stored it in one of the rooms where the band members including Obey himself were staying. On this fateful day, one of his band member called Gabriel Adedeji now late, went to look for something in the room where the instruments were stored, when he got there, he found out that the light bulb in the room has burnt out, he then decided to light a candle to be able to search the room. Unfortunately, he abandoned the candle in the room when he left. The candle later slipped over and sets the house on fire.

It was a lucky escape for Obey and his boys, because they were all sleeping upstairs. It could have been worse if not because of “Oyinbo onile k’eji” screaming Fire Fire Fire. Sadly before the arrival of the fire men, the blaze has ripped through the room within minutes destroying the new instruments stored in the room. However, Obey and his boys were able to get out of the house unharmed.

Obey was fond of mentioning his band members name in many of his songs, he’ll mention his own name first followed by captain Samson Ogunlade’s name, however in this particular song he mentioned Mutiu kekere first because of bravery Mutiu displayed in fighting the fire before the arrival of the firemen.

Mutiu kekere with other Obey band