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LATEEF OLAYIWOLA (LARRY) Tells City People
Lateef Olayiwola, popularly known as Larry, is one of the Afro Reggae performing artists whose love for music has endured through the ages. He has been in the music scene as far back as 1988 and still waxing stronger.
In this interview with City People Head of TV, SUNDAY ADIGUN, veteran Afro Reggae maestro, Larry revealed how he started his music career in 1988.
How did your journey into Afro Reggae music start?
I studied music from the University of Lagos, I have a certificate in music because my parents insisted that I must have a certificate from somewhere, so I went to Unilag to get a certificate and I learnt from the road side also. I learnt from the late Peter Kings, even Fusi (three Phase) I started learning saxophone and since then I have been playing here and there, just because I combined studies with music, it was not easy for me to just go straight as a musician into music, because I needed time to read my books and pass exams.
So how many years now have you been into music?
It’s quite a while. I have been in the music scene for as far back as 1987/1988. My parents insisted I get a certificate from a recognised institution, so I attended University of Lagos and obtained a certificate in Music and some other qualifications.
Before then, I was in London but was forced back home due to a law passed by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida which affected our studies in England. I came home with the intention to source for funds and join the Army. But, unfortunately, I was rejected in the Army. That was when I started to play music
“But my late mother insisted I go to school, and today I have many degrees. But music remains my first and only love which has endured through the years. With music, I have a perfect rest of mind. I got a Diploma in Law from the University of Lagos (UNILAG). I tried to go for my degree but they rejected me because of my hairstyle, dreadlocks, which was not a common sight back then. I got angry and went to the Lagos State University (LASU) to study History and International Relations because I became inquisitive and wanted to know what history has to say about God. I was still doing my music but my mum said I could not stop there, that I had to do more. She was trying to push me away from music because they believed music was for the dregs of society, and not for people of our status.
“I went back to UNILAG for my Masters in History and Strategic Studies. After this, my mum urged me to join politics, but I said no. She then said I should go back to school, and so I went to the University of Ibadan (UI) to study History. Today I have an MPhil in History. Unfortunately, my mum died early this year from cancer.”
Were you the one that left the army?
No, I was not taken.
Sir what was the complain?
There was nothing it’s just that in Nigeria its man know man, if your form is not signed by a Military Colonel or Major, the chances of you getting in is very slim. That was what happened.
Sir looking at your journey from 1988 to this time what has life taught you?
Life has taught me a lot of lessons, because I have listened to a lot of artists, people like Bob Marley, Peter touch, U Roy, I Roy, most of them from Jamaica I love some African American musicians too, like Barry White, Michael Jackson, Teddy Pendagras, and lots of them.
And even our youths here in Nigeria, we all love Fela, Fela came out with Jeun Ko’ku, Chop and Quench. So we all love Fela’s music. And since then I have been schooling, I went to Unilag, aside from the certificate in music, I did a diploma in Law from Unilag, from there I move to Lasu because the law department in Unilag, said I should cut my dreadlock and join the department but I refused.
So I had to go to Lasu, on getting to Lasu, I studied History and International studies, I got a degree from there and went back to Unilag to go and do Masters in History and strategic studies. Currently, I am doing my Phd in Nigeria.
How many albums do you have to your credit now?
I have 8 albums in the market.
Which one shot Larry into the limelight?
I can’t say this one because I love all my tracks, like I have a special love for each track. And I have so many too, there is the one I call “Time for school” which I did for children.
There are so many, I have the one for politicians, for the masses, I have so many.
But the one I love best Is this Village proof because it’s really good for people to try and develop the villages instead of everyone wanting to be in the city and living just anyhow in the city. You can go to the village and live like a king, you can get acres of land and get on with your life instead of paying exorbitant rent in Lagos and trying to die here in Lagos.
What’s your take in the political system in Nigeria?
I did an album for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he is one of my fan and I love him and have been a die hard member of APC, I have been moving and following Tinubu, if he is in AC, I will be in AC, if it’s AG, I will be in AG, now he is in APC so I am in APC.
Actually, General Obasanjo really promoted Tinubu, because he said what he did to Tinubu in 1999, if he did it to other governors they would not survive it. So that made me to think that there is a lot on this guy’s brain. He is a gifted person and that if he could withstand such hardship and survived. And Lagos State at that time was adjudge the best developed state in Nigeria. I therefore reasoned that if this guy is given a chance to be the President, he can do wonders for Nigeria.
Let’s talk about your industry, would you say this was how you guys started? What are the changes you have experienced or what do you think needs to be done to get it working?
The music industry in Nigeria is growing, it is like saying it is just coming up, because of a lot of things. In those days we used to do only Reggae music, high-life and Juju music. All of a sudden Fuji came up, all of a sudden you now have hip pops everywhere. You know music is always music, people just love music, you can not do anything without music, music is life.
The whole world will be boring without music. if you remove music from parties, the happiness and cheerfulness will not be there. Music makes people feel happy.
And in all churches world-wide they play Reggae music, that’s what they play in churches. If you listen to them you will hear that Reggae strike, because God loves music, Jehovah loves music that’s why.
But with Pman, Pman will just reorganize itself, and encourage other musicians within its fold to develop individually.
What’s the future of Afro-Reggae sound?
The future of Afro-Reggae sound is great and I think most musicians in Nigeria will start playing Afro-Reggae, because it’s a music full of life and fun. It has dancers, and it is very rich in Africa Culture, it is a very nice danceable music, it’s very good. Anywhere we perform people always love us to come back again.
Thank you so much for your time sir.
And I owe everything to my late mom Olori Muibat Olayinka Oyefuse, She really helped in bringing me up, to where I am now.
Thank you very much sir.
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