Reflecting On Osupa’s Musicography | Adejare A. Oluwadare

Ọba Orin, Saheed Osupa, satisfactorily adorns himself with the moniker, Philosophy Doctor (Baba Súlíyá). I think that’s a well-earned self-adulation. In fact, I jokingly reference him as “Saheed Osupa (PhD).” Yes, na me dash am the degree. Again, what you gonn do?

But seriously speaking, listen to Osupa and imagine him as your varsity instructor of Yoruba language and culture or a Philosophy teacher with Yoruba as language of instruction. I bet you would rate him as a deep thinker and an erudite professor; perhaps one of your best tutors. For about ten days now, I have been listening vigorously to several of Osupa’s records. He has cautioned me. Admonished me. Consoled me. Advised me. Inspired me. Cheered me. Challenged me. He analyzed and suggested panaceas to my immediate struggles. In short, he meets me at every of my thought juncture.

And I must add, Osupa is rich in polemics. He is a sucker for logic. Sometimes, you listen to some of his lines and feel the syllogistic vibe that makes one wonder if Baba Súlíyá is deliberately schooled in the metaphysical stylistics of the John Donnes of this world. So you begin to ponder, what does a ‘Philosophy Doctor’ in a certain discipline/subject area do that Osupa doesn’t do with Fuji music?

One recent ‘but’, though. Osupa sings:

“Ọlọ́gbọ́n ò ní duyè tó bá ti kàn án, ná kàn máa ló yá o…”

This loosely translates as “Wise people don’t contest for positions/leadership, they await their turns and are automatically beckoned at to serve.” That à la carte theory of power acquisition is archaic. Even department HOD positions in colleges are contested not to talk of those positions with higher power. Ọlọ́gbọ́n á duyè ni o, even traditional stools now involve some level of contest. Nobody beckoning on anyone to come to power anymore. That shit ended with Shagari.

This notwithstanding, if there’s ever a 7-day challenge on “Song records that gives you the high of an opium,” expect at least three of Osupa’s records. Of course, after Fela’s Beast of No Nation, Unknown Soldiers, Sorrow, Tears, and Blood, and Lagbaja’s 200 Million Mumu.

Anyway, If you see Oba Orin today, being World Music Day, pray, tell him he owes me, sorry, I owe him Wan Taasan Naira.

Ó yá let’s end this with a little bit of fàájì:

Màá sọ pé mo j’ọ́kùnrin o, óóyee!
Màá sọ pé mo j’ọ́kùnrin táya bá jí mi pẹ́pẹ́
Táya bá jí mi lọ́gànjọ́ wípé ká ṣeré ọmọ
Kò sórun mọ́, iṣẹ́ bẹ̀rẹ̀, ó tún di bílẹ̀ bá mọ́
Lẹ́yìn oṣù bíi díẹ̀ si, ọmọ á ti wá dé.

Yes, Osupa yet entertains us. And I promise again, I owe him Wan Taasàn.