Princess Bunmi Olajubu’s girl: Fond memories of my late mom

 By SOLA BALOGUN

 Still looking radiant and sexy in her 30s, Princess Iyabo Olajubu-Afolabi is set to shake the world with her African pop, which she inherited from her late mother, Bunmi Olajubu.  The young songbird, who is the only daughter of the late music diva and former regent of Ikogosi town in Ekiti State, just released three singles from her debut album, Aye Le (This world is delicate). She opens up to The Entertainer of her plans to take her music beyond the level her mother left it, and further realise many dreams, which her mother never realised while alive.
Mom’s death “My mother died young at 52 and her dreams as a musician were not fully realized,” Princess Iyabo says. According to the young musician, the news of her mother’s transition four years ago was deliberately kept away from the public because of her royal status. In fact, the late Bunmi Olajubu served as regent for many years until a new Oba was installed but her musical career was threatened because of certain cultural restrictions. She was able to wax two hit albums and could have done more but for her traditional role and the injunctions that went with it. But two years after Olajubu’s death, Princess Iyabo regained her passion for music.
Although, she had earlier decided not to be a professional singer, it dawned on her that she could hardly run away from music.  “When my mother was alive, I used to follow her to Klink Studio then run by Kingsley Ogoro. I also remember that as a kid, I used to write and compose songs. Later, I started running away from music because of my private business. But I received the calling to become a professional singer two years ago,” Princess Iyabo explains. Inspirational singer Describing herself as a composer and inspirational singer but not an instrumentalist, the Princess states: “My song is highly inspirational and educative.
I sing purely African music, which could either be religious or educative. The lyrics are also moralistic in nature and I believe God has given me words of wisdom through the songs.” Asked about the three singles, the Princess listed the title track, Aye Le, as a traditional song that is presented in orchestra form. The second song is entitled, Adura Mi, as originally produced by her late mother in her album, Leo Man. But according to Princess Iyabo, the track is now faster in tempo and is much more danceable.
Adura Mi is reproduced by popular singer, Alex O, in honour of the late Bunmi Olajubu who was a contemporary of the former in the 1980s. The last track, Glorify Him, is both didactic and religious. It is a worship song that is rendered in sober, rhythmic and danceable format. The song equally renders praises to God in both English and Yoruba languages. Each of the songs has its unique message, but all of them aim at checking moral decadence in society and they are all dedicated to the late regent, Princess Bunmi Olajubu, whose music centred on the same moral values.
Role models Asked about her role models apart from her late mother, the singer said she admired artistes like Miriam Makeba, Comfort Omoge, Brendan Fasie and Yvone Chaka Chaka who promoted African culture through their lyrics and costumes. She equally loves the music of her mother’s contemporaries such as Ras Kimono, Alex O, Orits Williki and Feladey all of who used their works to preach morality and social transformation of the society.  Princess Iyabo recalled how her mother predicted the future in her songs, saying, “My mother sang like a prophet. She was concerned about the youths and their future aspirations.
She also loved the children and was always surrounding herself with kids. She was lovely, generous and always eager to help people in need. She equally loved education and sang about it. She valued decency and human dignity. These are the same values which I hope to promote through my music and I intend to take my music across the globe and to celebrate and showcase my indigenous culture to the outside world.” Love life When asked about her love life, Princess Iyabo said: “I don’t want my private life to be part of my profession.
It is my personal decision not to talk about my private life especially now that I’ve just started my music career.” But the princess explained her childhood days as a very fruitful and rewarding experience, particularly as a child in a royal family. She recollected: “Growing up for me was fantastic, as I grew up in the palace in royalty, enjoyed all the treatment of a princess, though, not pampered -but treated warmly as a grandchild to the king.
I spent my teenage days with my grand parents, his royal highness late Oba Joseph Afolayan Olajubu and Mariam Modupe Olajubu, my grand mother. My grandmother, who is in her eighties, is still alive. When my mother died about four years ago, it took us six months to announce her transition to our grandmother because we were scared of burying two people at the same time.”