Yusuf Olatunji alias Baba Legba or Baba L’Egbaa (1909 - 1978)
Sakara Legend
Sakara Legend
Olatunji lived and worked for Justice Sowemimo in Abeokuta so as to pay his tuition. He also converted to Christianity and was baptized under the name Joseph at Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Ake.
In 1929, he was apprenticed to a itinerant traditional cum Muslim minstrel named Shaki. who taught him the basics of goje (a violin-like instrument and Sakara’s chief musical instrument)
Shaki claimed he experienced an epiphany of sorts while on pilgrimage in Mecca and quit singing secular music on his return to Nigeria.
Olatunji then picked up from where his mentor left off and eventually became the most successful Sakara artist. Olatunji converted to Islam following overtures from one of his patrons, Alhaji Ramoni Alao.
Olatunji’s early recordings were with Phillips in Ghana and marketed in Nigeria. His popularity among in Lagos and the Western Region increased when he signed for Zareco Records, owned by Saka Lasimbo, a cousin and former business partner of Emmanuel Badejo Okusanya.
Apala had Haruna Ishola and Kasumu Adio (until Ayinla Omoruwa emerged as a force), Owambe brand of Juju had Ayinde Bakare and Tunde Nightingale, drama had Hubert Ogunde and Duro Ladipo, and Sakara had Yusufu Olatunji and Salami “Lefty” Balogun/Sanusi Aka.
In 1975, he initiated the idea of a forum for Yoruba musicians, Egbe Amuludun (Association of Music Makers).
Egbe Amuludun sought to fix fractious relationships, engender friendliness, and promote peace and understanding among Yoruba artists.
Egbe Amuludun held a meeting in Ibadan on Thursday, December 14, 1978, to deliberate on what punitive action to take against Sikiru Ayinde Barrister for his refusal to attend the association’s meetings.
Barrister’s refusal to attend the association’s meetings was perceived—rightly or wrongly—as culturally disrespectful. While the majority of the attendees were for Barrister’s suspension and/or expulsion from the association, ...
...Yusufu Olatunji in his capacity as a patron, was for inviting Barrister to appear in person and explaining why he refused to attend their meetings. The deliberations of this particular meeting were still on when Yusufu Olatunji slumped & died.
Conspiracy theories surrounding his death blame his death on rival musicians. However, it is also possible that he died of natural causes, considering the fact that he a diabetic heavy gin drinker.
Olatunji’s name is etched in Yoruba social history, and his body of work remains evergreen.
