Article by Lanre Anjolaiya

CHIEF JOSEPH MODUPE JOHNSON, CFR*
(30 March, 1912 – 15 June, 1987)

Chief Joseph Modupe Johnson a.k.a JMJ was a broadcaster, soldier and politician. He was one of the greatest Nigerian politician to come from the Island of Lagos. He was a Federal Cabinet Commissioner in the First Republic in charge of Labour, Welfare, and Sports. He later headed the Ministry of the Interior.

This morning, we talked about how he sat in judgement of the competition between two Egba feuding Sakara musicians: Jimoh Ojindo and S. Aka at a location in Yaba. For him to have chaired the panel of judges that assessed the performance of the Egba Sakara players underscored his deep seated knowledge and love for Sakara music.

JMJ showed that Eko was the Home of Sakara and, indeed, faaji in general when he read the rules to the two musicians. He told them, among others, that each band had one hour to play: 30 minutes of vocals, in which repetition of lines was prohibited, and 30 minutes of instrumentals, that is Goje/Molo, Orun’sha and Igba play.

At the end of the contest, Ojindo was declared winner by Chief J.M Johnson owing largely to his dexterity on the Goje and vocal flow. Of course, S. Aka was not happy but he dared not show his displeasure in the presence of the Lagos aristocrats who sat in judgement that day. Both returned to Egba to continue their war of words.

Both musicians were acknowledged to have recorded the highest number of EPs than others. But they are largely filled with abuses and counter abuses. For an average Lagosian, however, they knew who the better Sakara player was, as decided by their leaders in Yaba.

Below is how the legendary Abibu Oluwa serenaded Chief J.M Johnson.

_JMJ benaani_
_JMJ Johnson_
_Modupe Oba lofi e s’Oyinbo Apapa_
_Ko s’ewu le..gberun eko o_
_Laiye! Ire, ire l’Arole_
_Ire l’Arole, Tafawa Balewa_

_Ire, ire l’Arole_
_Ire l’Arole, Tafawa Balewa_

_Modupe o ba tiku_
_Wonba yo e_
_Won a ni sanmori omo ti lo_
_Oba Oke ooo_
_Bun e lagbala_
_Bun e lagbalagba, Oba Oke o_
_Jare fun e lagbalagba a t’arisiki o_

_Oyin nseee_
_Agbon nseee_
_Oju oloko o ni wu lasan_
_Oyin nseee_
_Agbon nseee_
_Oju oloko o ni wu lasan_

_Kafi Tiraaa/ benaani_
_S’o ye?_
_Kafi Tira sile_
_Koni Imale fi Baibulu sile fun Onigbagbo_
_Eniba m’owo_
_Oti ye mi!_
_Eniba m’owo, owo we_
_A b’agba je o_

_Laiye, lorun!_
_Bi ire, bi ire loba se won_
_B’awon loba se e_
_Kafi l’Olohun l’owo_

_Oba Oke ooo_
_Bun e lagbalagba arisiki ooo_

Article by Lanre Anjolaiya