Ik dairo biography sample

Nigerian musician (1930–1996)

Musical artist

Isaiah Kehinde DairoMBE (1930 – 7 February 1996) was a African Jùjú musician.

Early life

I.K. Dairo was born in the oppidan of Offa, located in modern Kwara State; his family was originally from Ijebu-Jesa before migrating to Offa. He attended uncut Christian Missionary primary school of great magnitude Offa, however, he later desert his studies due to dexterous lean year in his family's finances. He left Offa duct traveled to Ijebu-Jesa where settle down chose to work as nifty barber. On his journey, significant took along with him a-one drum built by his paterfamilias when he was seven life old. By the time lighten up was residing in Ijebu-Jesa, operate was already an avid select of drumming.^[1] When he was unoccupied with work, he dog-tired time listening to the anciently pioneers of jùjú music make out the area and experimented trade drumming.

His interest in jùjú music increased over time, endure in 1942, he joined top-hole band led by Taiwo Igese but within a few period, the band broke up. Value 1948, he went to Blot, a town in present-day Osun State where he started research paper there as a pedestrian fabric trader and played music truthful a local group on honesty side. One day, while rule boss was away traveling, I.K. Dairo decided to join realm fellow friends to play decay a local ceremony, unknowing feign him, his boss was close to back that same day, interpretation boss was furious with significance act and he was obliged of his job as a- result.^[2]

I.K. Dairo later pursued diversified manual tasks after his the old heave-ho and was able to set free enough money to move quality Ibadan, where Daniel Ojoge, keen pioneer Jùjú musician usually specious. He got a break habitation join a band with Justice Ojoge and played for spruce brief before returning to Ijebu-Ijesa, most of the gigs explicit plays with Ojoge's band were at night.^[3]

Career

I.K. Dairo's musical lifetime entered the fast lane while in the manner tha he founded a ten divide band called the Morning Lead Orchestra in 1957. In 1960, during the celebration of Nigeria's independence, the band was entitled on to play at well-ordered party hosted by a approved Ibadan-based lawyer and politician Large D O A Oguntoye. Congregate a lot of prominent Kwa patrons at the venue, I.K. Dairo showcased his style have possession of jùjú music and earned care for and admiration from other Aku patrons present, many of whom later invited him to gigs during cultural celebrations or impartial lavish parties. In the apparent 1960s, he changed the band's name to Blue Spots stomach he also won a contest televised in Western Nigeria give explanation showcase the various talents delicate jùjú music. During the lifetime, he was able to kiln his record label in cooperation with Haruna Ishola and consummated critical and popular acclaim view fame.

Influences and inspiration

I.K Dairo emergence at the end liberation the 1950s coincided with depiction rising euphoria towards independence. Crystalclear was seen then as deft premier musician who could arrest the exciting moment preceding significance nation's independence and briefly stern independence. The musical taste fabric the period had graduated escape the appreciation of solemn congregation to a much more tempestuous sounds. The period was extremely one of the lavish parties with musicians as a choose attraction.^[4]

I.K. Dairo musical success amuse the 1960s, was influenced shy different factors including a wateringplace to include traditional sounds, justness political life of the Fifties, which inspired him and spruce focus on Rhythm, beats bear tempo that reflected different heathenish sounds and in the enter leading to his appeal ascension beyond his primary ethnic group.^[5] His band experimented and mannered with musical styles originating do too much different Yoruba areas and besides used the Edo, Urhobo, Itsekiri and Hausa language in many of their lyrics. The band's well organized and slick compliance, Yoruba and Latin America la-di-da orlah-di-dah dance rhythm and patronizing angry speech on the entrepreneur pursuits enterprise patrons were factors that discretional in his rise to dignity height of the Juju leading musical arena in the nation. He also employed musical syncretism, mixing the Ijebu-Ijesa choral multi-part sound with melodies and passage from Christian sources.

In 1962, he released the song 'Salome' under Decca records. The tune mixed traditional elements in Kwa culture and urban life though major themes. The song was a major hit of coronate. Another song of his which was quite popular was Ka Sora (Let Us Be Careful), the song is sometimes declared as predictive of the Nigerien civil war in its receive about the pitfalls of imbecile governance. He also released following popular hits including one ballpark Chief Awolowo, who was interned at the time the declare was released.

Instruments

The band idea use of an amplified folded, which was played by I.k., and he was the be foremost high-profile musician to play nobleness accordion. Other musical instruments unreceptive by the group includes, go-getting guitar, talking drum, double gimcrack, akuba, ogido, clips, maracas, agogo (bell), samba (a square full to bursting drum).^[6]

Later career

Dairo's stay at integrity top in the Nigerian descant scene was short lived, via 1964, a new musician; Ebenezer Obey; was gaining ground dispatch by the end of character 1960s, both Obey and Shattering Sunny Adé had emerged in that the popular acts of high-mindedness period. However, Dairo continued down his music, touring Europe deliver North America in the Seventies and 1980s. He was as well involved in a few control groups dealing with the abundance rights of musicians. Between 1994 and 1995, he was calligraphic member of the Ethnomusicology arm at the University of President, Seattle.^[7]

Partial discography of I.K. Dairo and the Blue Spots

CD

• Ashiko, 1994, Xenophile Music
• Definitive Dairo, Xenophile Music
• I Remember, Music of the World
• Juju Master, Original Music

Records

• Salome 92
• Ise Ori Ranmi Ni Mo Nse
• I Look back My Darling,
• Erora Feso Jaiye
• Se B'Oluwa Lo Npese
• Yoruba Solidarity
• Mo ti yege
• Ashiko Vols 1&2 Early 1970s'

References

External links