SATURDAY BREAKFAST with TONY OKOROJI
“Mama Gbenga”, my famous housekeeper, could not hold it any longer. During the week, the usually very respectful Mama Gbenga had to ask me why I have kept singing one song, over and over. The truth is that repeatedly, I had sung, “E no dey sleep, E no dey slumber, E no dey run shift for my life. 24/7 E dey by my side, E no dey use me dey joke!”
My guy, Righteousman and his Champion Lover, Carol Cee, had done the song 24/7, a Capela, about a week ago, at the send-forth event, at COSON House in honour of the irreplaceable COSON GM, whom we all love to call “Miss B”.
At the event, there was a lot of food and a lot to drink, but there was no keyboard, no guitar, no drum. Indeed, there was no notice that Righteousman was going to perform. I just called his name and he mounted the stage with the one who calls him “babe” and without even any tambourine, everybody was singing and dancing and since then, 24/7 has been on repeat mode in my head!
The words of the song tell the story of my life and the grace and favour I have enjoyed from the Almighty. Those who know me well know that over and over again, I have walked through the shadow of death, but the good Lord has always been by my side. When I say to people that I drive on a full tank of faith, that is my way of saying, 24/7 E dey by my side, E no dey use me dey joke! That must be why one guy insisted on FB that I am a cat with nine lives.
Righteousman is not your ordinary musician. This giant of a man is a born entertainer, full stop. If I had called up anyone else that Friday evening, he would have asked for the guitar and the drums and the keyboards and the backing band. He would have insisted on making sure that all the instruments were in tune and that the chorus singers were in place. While everybody was waiting, he would have taken some time to do “testing the microphone”. Not Righteousman!
Within one minute of calling him, Righteousman was on stage and doing his thing and everybody was having a good time. He is a damn good guitarist but if there is no guitar, he can make music with cans and bottles and people will be very well entertained. What he has is a special gift from the Almighty. The music comes from within him and not from without. He is an exceptional lyricist and an incredible melody maker. I write lyrics myself but the lyrics of Righteousman touch me deeply.
I have just been through a week when “24/7” was on repeat mode in my head. I went through another week when I was repeatedly singing, “the land is green but the leaders are greedy. The land is rich but the people are poor. The land is fertile but the women are baren”, the immortal words of Righteousman in “Green Land”. Another week, I was raising my fist and singing, “No! We can take it no longer, the poor people living in fear. No! it is a serious matter! For so long, too long”, the conscious song Righteousman simply titled “No”.
In the last several years, I have worked with Righteousman on the COSON Board. In an environment where most people are only interested in taking, Righteousman is ever ready to give.
There is the saying that true great men do not sleep. While others are sleeping, they are working and creating new things. Righteousman is a good example. E no dey sleep, E no dey slumber! Call him at 2.00 am any day and he will pick up the phone. He is either making some great new music or editing some great new video or skit.
In the last five years, I must have met Righteousman at least one hundred times. Within that period, I am not sure that I have seen him up to five times without Carol Cee, his wife and “Champion Lover” by his side. Almost inseparable! They are a great source of inspiration that makes you understand that being married and being Christian are not old fashioned. Oh, it can be a lot of fun.
This Sunday, the great man of music and words, Righteousman Erhabour will be doing a grand launch of his book, “The Man Righteousman” and the public presentation of the album “24/7”, with the song that has stayed on repeat mode in my head. If you like good music and you want to know more about the giant of creativity known as Righteousman, my No. One Nigerian music maker of today, come to Freedom Park, Lagos this Sunday. I promise… you will not be disappointed.
See you next week.
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