Chief Ebenezer Obey began his professional career in the mid-1950s after being under the tutelage of various Juju artistes including Fatai Rolling-Dollar’s band. He formed a band called The International Brothers in 1964, playing Highlife–Juju fusion.

 

The band later metamorphosed into Inter-Reformers in the early-1970s, with a long list of Juju album hits on the West African Decca musical label.

 

Obey began experimenting with Yoruba percussion style and expanding on the band by adding more drum kits, guitars and talking drums.

 

Obey’s musical strengths lie in weaving intricate Yoruba axioms into dance-floor compositions. As is characteristic of Nigerian, Yoruba social-circle music, the Inter-Reformers band excelled in praise singing for rich Nigerian socialites and business tycoons. Obey, however, is also renowned for Christian spiritual themes in his music and has since the early-1990s retired into the Nigerian gospel music ministry.

Today, he continues to play gigs on special demand and he is more like a hero and father figure to many Juju musicians today.

He had a chat with Saturday Independents’ Antonia Duru recently. He talks about turning 75, how he lives his life after a long active musical career.How does it feel to be 75 years old?

It feels great and I thank God that we celebrated it the way we did. People from all walks of life came to celebrate with me. I thank God for everything.The journey to where you are must have been eventful, would you mind flashing back?
I can never forget Mr. Cress. I used to call him my father. I wanted to be discovered, I knew I had something in me. When you have good things in you, you must not allow it to die until you find a way to deliver it. If I didn’t have the opportunity to be heard, all those songs could have died in me.
You once talked about walking from Mushin to Lagos Island, what was that about?
It’s a funny story. Because there was no technology that allowed you to record and take demo to the producer, and because I didn’t have the money for transportation, I had to trek to Afrodisa Studio in Lagos Island.

What transpired when you got to the studio?

I met the secretary who said I could not see the Managing Director (MD) that I should see the Artiste Manager who according to her then was on leave. She later instructed me to come back in six weeks. This didn’t go down well with me and I was talking at the top of my voice. Fortunately, the MD called through the intercom to know the cause of the noise. The secretary said, “There is a young man here, who says he is a future star.” The MD told her to allow me in. This is one of the many reasons I can’t forget him because he believed in my dream and he gave me the platform. After introducing myself and adding that I am a future star, he could not help but gaze continuously at me. I told him I will like to record for him but added that he shouldn’t bother paying me, as my records will sell me. He kept looking at me and so he called one Mr. Ogunbayo and said I think this young man deserves to be given a chance. I went for audition; marketers were called to present their purchase bid. Then if you don’t have 500 purchase bids of record then you can’t be promoted. Mine was short of 19 but they were convinced beyond reasonable doubts that I am a good product. He encouraged me and that marked a positive turnaround in my life. Ever since then my album sales were rated either gold or platinum, I never had silver. I thank God for the journey so far. 15 years after I left for the ministry, I came back for special appearance and people still loved my music.

Are you happy performing at special appearances?

All the 15 years that I was not on stage, I was singing in Churches, but it was never for money. Even if you give me money, you can’t compare it to what I get on stage performances. I have always been happy and I am still a happy man.

There are those who believe that your special appearances are secular, what do you think?
I have told people and I am telling you now that with my age and exposure, I don’t bother about what men say. I was called into the ministry not by a man, but by God. I am serving God and he is the one leading me on steps to take. Once he instructs me I do whatever he commands me to do. I am not moved or bothered by what people say because God who called me into the ministry is the one leading me. He orders my steps, so men can say whatever they want to say. My special performances are no big deal, after all, I never came out to say that since I am now a minister of the gospel, all the albums I produced before then should be destroyed. People are still listening to the albums I produced long before I became a minister of the gospel. I have never said that and I will never say that. God ordained my life and he established me as a musician, he gave me the wisdom to record all those evergreen songs, it will be madness if I ask them to destroy all those albums because I am now a minister of the gospel. Many people don’t know their God, but I know my God. I can confidently say that he is pleased with me.

Combining the responsibilities of a General Overseer with shows must be tasking?

Music is what I have done all my lifetime; I only laid it down for ministerial work. I started special appearance with those who partnered with us in God’s work. I don’t honour all invitations and I pick my appearances. When we started special appearance, all those who don’t come to Church started coming. I thought people would have forgotten us after quitting for 15 years, but the reverse was the case when we introduced special appearance. Special appearance was an outreach for me and no one can give me songs on special appearance.

Should your fans expect an album from you soon?

I have a home studio where I rehearse with my band. I also have another commercial studio for professionals where people come and record. I also record my hit albums in that studio. Many known musicians have also recorded their albums there. I do special releases but I am not in a rush to release another album now.

Do you have plans to retire anytime soon?

Why should I? I have no plan for that. Don’t forget that I don’t perform at all shows. I will continue to sing as long as God the giver of all things permits me.

Years back, you donated a Town Hall to your town, what motivated it?

There is a story behind that. A group in my town, which I am a member of, started the town hall and it remained uncompleted for 36 years, during that time we had a branch of our church there. One day, I came out of the church and God drew my attention to the hall. The Holy Spirit instructed me to complete the hall. I told my wife and we both prayed about it. We did it through the power of the Holy Spirit. It has been handed over to the people to the glory of God. I have done so many things that are not publicized, all under the instruction of God.

Some of the social ills you sang about in the past are still common in our society, what do you think is responsible for this?

It is basically because we don’t heed to good advice.
As a General Overseer, do you think the church is doing enough?
We are trying but we can never do enough because everybody must hear the gospel. We must preach the good news and tell people what is bad. We must continue to press forward.

 

How has life been since the demise of your wife?

It’s not a good thing to lose one’s wife. We can’t question God when such happens because God is the giver and taker of life. I do miss her, but God has been taking care of me. She was my prayer partner; she was my best friend and a very understanding wife. I had a wife that really understood me, and she took care of the home even in my absence. She supported me in the ministry; she didn’t discourage me when I told her that God called me into the ministry. When others were kicking against it, she gave me her full, unflinching and loyal support.