The photograph above captures the residence of Alhaji Chief Ganiyu Ìshọ̀lá Oládéìndé, the man immortalised by Yúsúfù Ọlátúnjí in his 1965* masterpiece, *Bolowo Bá Tẹ́ (Volume 1). This landmark recording was likely one of the first long-play (LP) albums ever released in Nigeria.
Remarkably, *Ọlátúnjí dedicated over eight minutes of the eighteen-minute LP to Oládéìndé. The song resonated so deeply with the public that Oládéìndé became widely known by the album’s title, “Bolowo Bá Tẹ́.”*
Located in *Òkè Ìjẹ̀hún, Abẹ́òkúta,* the house was photographed in 2014 by Baale Otolorin JP. At the time, a remembrance banner for the late Chief was displayed outside the ageing structure.
*In his lyrics, Ọlátúnjí beautifully described this house as “Ilé Ọlá”. While the building may appear dilapidated or deserted today, it was undoubtedly a “little palace” when the Sakara maestro sang its praises sixty-one years ago. It serves as a poignant reminder of the Yoruba proverb,*
“Aṣọ àkísà lógba rí” (Even a rag was once a prized garment).
Gàníyù Ìshọ̀lá ti kọ́lé ọláÒkè Ìjẹ̀hún n’ilé ohun wà
Ládéìndé ti kọ́lé ọlá
Òkè Ìjẹ̀hún n’ilé ohun wà
Ẹ̀yìn lẹ ò mọ̀
Èrò tọ́ débẹ̀ á mọ̀ pé Ìshọ̀lá f’owó ṣehun rere!
Gàní Mẹkaníìkì o, Ìshọ̀lá Mẹkaníìkì
Ọlọ́run Ọba tó ṣeré fún ẹ á tún ṣeré f’émi, Ìshọ̀lá Mẹkaníìkì o!
*Ganiu Ìshọ̀lá was a mechanic and a motor spare parts dealer based in Ṣapọn, Abẹ́òkúta,* a commercial hub made famous by *Madam Janet Ọdẹṣọlá, the legendary beans seller celebrated in the popular Yoruba saying, “Ṣebí Ò Ti Mọ̀, Ẹlẹ́wà Ṣapọn.”*
Although a polygamist with four wives at the time, it is unclear if Oládéìndé possessed enormous wealth when Ọlátúnjí serenaded him. However, the song transcends material riches; it is a masterclass in *contentment and dignity of labour. It encourages us to take pride in our vocations, even those deemed “blue-collar” or underpaid by society.*
It invites a sobering question: How many of today’s musicians would *dedicate an anthem to a humble mechanic?*
Ọlátúnjí continued his tribute:
Ṣapọn l’ó ntà páàtìẸ jẹ́ ká lọ
Mọ́tò tọ́ bá kọ tí ò rìn
Ẹ jẹ́ kí Gàníyù ó rí i o
Àwọn l’ó ntà páàtì
Ẹ jẹ́ ká lọ o…
What an incredibly inspiring piece of history! The song continues with the powerful line:
Táání nbá gbé’gi d’Ọba Ojúde?Ìshọ̀lá Gàníyù o…
–culled Ade Adeniji for The SixthSense Initiative outreach
