Alaga (1973) | From the Play "Ha! Baba Sala!" | Moses Olaiya and His Alawada Group

Рет қаралды 47,271

3 жыл бұрын

Genre: Comedy
Comedian: Moses Olaiya and His Alawada Group
Year of Production: 1973
Source: "Ha! Baba Sala!" (A play)
Posted in partnership with Music of Nigeria 🌟
D E T A I L S
This is the very first Alawada Records release. It might be the first time Moses Olaiya was ever put on wax. Moses Olaiya Adejumo ended his Highlife career with his band - The Federation Rhythm Dandies - in 1965. He’d formed the band in 1960, just a bit before Nigeria’s Independence celebrations. It is not known if this came before or after the loss of his lead guitarist - Sunny Ade - who went to form His Green Spots. Not only had Olaiya inserted humorous or witty remarks in his music, prior to the formation of his “Alawada Collective,” he’d tried to introduce drama into his performances. Energized with the success of Ogunde, Ladipo, Ogunmola, Oyin Adejobi, and the likes of newcomers like Lere Paimo, who also formed his Theatre Group, Alawada Group began.
Olaiya, much like other dramatists of the time, was able to secure a spot with WNTV Ibadan, where he’d perform his plays on television and on tour. Olaiya had to write 72 scripts before he got assigned a spot on the airtime, and he was given a one-year contract. Olaiya, though from Ilesha, produced his plays with the Oyo dialect. What helped Olaiya, particularly during the Civil War when a significant increase in television viewership rose (a situation that also helped Segun Olusola’s The Village Headmaster in later years) was his humour. Unlike Ogunde, who might indulge in strong socio-political criticism, and Ladipo, who chose to invoke the power in the stories of the past, Olaiya had a more witty approach in delivering his social and cultural commentary.
A year later, in 1966, Adejumo attended the School of Drama organized by the Adult Education department of the Federal Ministry of Information in Lagos. The school was eventually closed. Adejumo left, and his group, now the Alawada (Baba Sala) Travelling Theatre Group of Dramatists and Musicians, continued their tours.
THIS RECORD was the FIRST released under Alawada Records, and it was recorded from his play “Ha! Baba Sala!” The cover photo is that of “Baba Sala," the character of the play, which he reprised on his WNTV shows that fell in love with audiences in Nigeria’s Western Region. Olaiya did not intend to go into the record industry but was forced to do so due to the multitude of people who wanted to listen to his plays on their own time. With the design help of Basol International Designs of Idi-Oro, Mushin, in Lagos, Olaiya and His Alawada Group finally put his play on wax and released this in 1973.
In 1976, they’d released 12, and by 1978, they’d released 30+. The second record, an EP that Olaiya released in 1974 - Orun Nmoru - was what he turned into a film in 1982. Due to severe unprecedented piracy issues, the film flopped. Olaiya had to sell many of his belongings and assets, such as the rights to all his property under Alawada Records, to repay the loaners. It is not known if he bought back the rights.
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Пікірлер: 15

@musicphysics-mathematicsfu1840 2 жыл бұрын

A Yoruba comedy legend Nigeria ever produced. RIP to theater GENIUS!

@naomibabeee Жыл бұрын

Ẹ kú ìránilátí! This brings back the fondest memories of my childhood. My dad was a friend and fan of Baba Sala. I grew up listening to this. I am rolling with laughter 😃 😂🤣🤣...ẹrín kèékèé. 🎵 "Baba wọn oo kè yá ooo ti wọn forò ó bá bába wọn"🎵🤣🤣🤣

@ola_mie3505 3 ай бұрын

Fully blessing

@mayokunayodele6794 3 жыл бұрын

Gold mine!! 😂

@babsknk3965 2 жыл бұрын

Comedy at its best, wish I could covert all the baba salas turntable to CD, I have soo many and super funny 😁

@yorubalessons 2 жыл бұрын

If you record them while playing with a good mic or a good phone in a noise-free environment, you could get mp3 versions automatically. If you share them with me, I will be so happy. Plix. 🤲🏾

@dcbiglew 2 жыл бұрын

If you have a turntable and a computer, you can record them. You'll probably need a couple of cables for your USB interface. It's not too difficult. If you try to record them with a microphone, you'll get plenty of distortion.