AT his age, he should have been flapping his hands in the air, hopping about the stage like a monkey, and barking out meaningless words for music as young people do these days in the name of Hip-Hop music. But instead, Ogunboye Paul Olabode has in his musical career, chosen a part more responsible, dignifying and projective of the rich African culture. That part is the composition of classical music in African idiom.
Listening to the piano rendition of his composition like Jesu Wa Ja Funmi (Jesus come and fight for me), Gbadura Funmi (Pray for me), Oluwa Mi (My Lord), Ose O (What a pity) and his popular Ekitisonic, performed by Geir Henning Braaten, an acclaimed Norwegian pianist during a musical concert organised by Royal Norwegean Embassy last February at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, one cannot but feel proud that Paul is a product of Nigeria.
Those are just a few of his works. He has over 20 compositions in his kitty. And apart from his gift in musical composition, this quiet, humble and amiable young man is fantastic on the piano, which of course, is his working instrument. He conducts orchestras and choirs but has lots of passion for transferring his musical knowledge to others through teaching.
At the very beginning, around 1997 when he left secondary school, intrigued by music and the piano, he started studying music all by himself. He sat down on the piano and practiced for a whopping 10 hours everyday! "With the little I learned then I started teaching others," he says.
The son of a drilling engineer, he was however brought up by Pastor and Reverend Mrs. J. A. Famodun of CAC Orisunmbare 1 around Idimu, Lagos. Between 1996 and 1997, he attended Shasha Community High School where he was the senior prefect. While he was in this school, he took part in various drama and musical activities.
In 1999, he met Emeka Nwokedi, conductor of the MUSON choir, who gave him some elementary piano lessons and encouraged him to go and study music. "But Marion Akpata, the director of MUSON School of Music, was my first committed piano teacher, while Edna Soyannwo taught me theory," Paul says.
In 2001, he gained admission to study music at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin Lagos. It was in this school that he wrote most of the pieces mentioned above. His work, Ose O was among the works that gave AOCOED victory in a competition organised by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism to check cultism. He graduated in 2004.
In 2005, Paul went to teach music at the Federal Government College, Ijanikin and later came to MUSON for his Associate in Music on MTN scholarship. While studying at MUSON, he continued teaching. On the graduation day at MUSON (July 2008), he was awarded the Theophilius Ayo Bankole Composition Award worth N100, 000.
After his graduation, he was retained by MUSON School of music where he now teaches piano, theory of music, marks theory papers, conducts practical examinations and sits among the judges during MUSON school competitions. He is also a music consultant who has consulted for clients such as the Council Chamber of Commerce of ICAN and Soundcity 2008 Music Video Award.
Just as it had done for Bach, Handel and other great classical musicians, Paul's musical talent has endeared him to great personalities in the society including Feyijimi Awosika, CEO, Insight Communications; Mrs. Kay Ovia, CEO, Quantum Market; and Mrs. Onari Duke. "I have been greatly inspired by the support and encouragement from these outstanding personalities," says Paul.
Where is he headed to? "I would like to attain the level Akin Euba, Laz Ekwueme, and Ayo Bankole have attained in music. If Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and the rest are using literature to project African culture, I should be doing the same thing with music. I would also like to write for films and advertisements."
Talking about young people and music today, Paul says that youths have lots of talents, but regrets that what majority plays are computer music. "This will not help their musicianship. Youths also need to recognise that God plays a huge role in the success of every musician, and according to Dr. D.K. Olukoya, musicians should be among the richest people if they can follow the right path."