https://youtu.be/BIr-ctKeTSc.. EMMANUEL BADEJO OKUSANYA, a music tribute by Yusuf Olatunji on Emmanuel Badejo Okusanya

Born in 1912, a native of Imodi Imosan, in Odogbolu Local Government area of Ogun State, Badejo Okusanya was arguably the first indigenous owner of a record company in Nigeria. Together with his cousin, Saka Olasumbo, he invited Phillips Records from Holland to do business in Nigeria. Nigerian musicians were hitherto travelling to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) to wax their albums.

He became a director in Phillips Records. He left the company to pioneer an indigeneous Record Label – Badejo Sounds Studio. His cousin, Saka, later set up ZARECO Records. Badejo was the first Chairman of Nigeria Recording Association. By the way, Badejo’s mother was Madam Jeminat’s (Iya Aladire) elder sister from Imodi-Imosan Ijebu-Ode. Iya Aladire was Saka and Lati Lasumbo’s mother.

Among the music legends Chief Okusanya recorded for were: Bobby Benson, Dele Ojo, Victor Olaiya, Yusufu Olatunji among others.

His sudden death in his sleep in 1972, at the age of 60 years, rocked the entire entertainment industry in the country to its foundation. It was not surprising, therefore, that his burial at his hometown in Imodi Imosan was a roll call of who was who in the Nigerian music industry.

Aside his popularity among musicians, Badejo Okusanya was also friend to the political elites of those days and had his personal house on Oduduwa Crescent, GRA, Ikeja. Among his friends were: Chief Obafemi Awolowo; Chief Adeola Odutola (Ogbeni Oja); Odemo of Isara, the great Oba Samuel Akisanya; Chief Rotimi Williams (SAN), among others.

The roll call of Musicians and Record Label owners at the Imodi Mosan interment, as listed by Baba Legba:

1. Jossy Olajoyegbe
2. Chief Bolarinwa Abioro
3. Sanu Olu
4. Adeolu Akinsanya
5. George Merrymaker
6. Adisa Ade
7. Esho Jinadu
8. Amodu Ode
9. Ramoni Awo
10. Fowowe
11. Olayiwola Afolabi (Ogo Oluwa Kitan)
12. Rabiu Adejare
13. Hasbunnallahi
14. Dele Ojo
15. Bello Adigun
16. Alhaji Saliu Adetunji of Omo Aje Records (current Olubadan)
17. Bolaji Fancy mi
18. Yusufu Olatunji
19. Kasumu Ishola
20. Lamidi Durowoju
21. S. Abeni Shonibare
22. Atanda Salawu (omo Salamotu)
23. Oseni Ejire

(What a Roll Call of all the major players in the Nigerian music industry of yore).

Rest in peace to all, except Alhaji Saliu Adetunji of Omo Aje Studios fame (current Olubadan).

Courtesy Lanre Anjolaiya.