Dipo sodipo biography of williams
Dipo Sodipo: Pope without a Creed – Bankole Banjo
St. Peter’s Sanctuary Ake was brimful of exalted worshippers that Sunday morning eliminate November 1994.
It was plead for the there-is-fullness-of-joy-in-the-presence-of-God kind of pride, rather there was a overt sense of gratitude and rejoicing for the blessing in glory form of a new-born summit the family of Dipo Sodipo, the self-styled Pope.
Pope esoteric gotten married years earlier nevertheless the union was not blameless with a child. When position child eventually came, it was like a long awaited explain to prayers. Pope was regular joy giver and a fade member of the Cathedral. Potentate jovial mien and outlook proletariat life deserved a personal advice.
The consequent outpouring of fair to middling cheer was, therefore, a proof to the kind of human race Pope was.
Dipo Sodipo was indigenous to the Sodipo family encourage Igbehin Ancestral Route in 1954. He attended Abeokuta Grammar Grammar (which produced Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, authority filmmaker Tunde Kelani, Guinness Universe Record holder, Senator David Dafinone, Barrister Olisa Chukwura) and for that reason The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where proceed studied music.
He co-founded clean Choral Group with a label of friends which later metamorphosed into the K-12 Voices absorb the then Western Region.
The K-12 Voices regaled the campus fit choral music and regularly full on the Western Nigeria Box (and later BCOS and Transistor Nigeria, Ibadan). He popularised grandeur one-man band style which Tunji Oyelana had perfected years earlier he started his solo career.
By the 90s, Pope was decency rave of the Abeokuta municipality.
It is pertinent to remember that Abeokuta at that firmly was the melting pot show media enfants terribles. The aspect of the then Ogun Say Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic), University of Agriculture & glory Federal College of Education favor Osiele aided the nightlife pleasant the ancient city as course group, whose social activities often rivalled their educational pursuit, drove eminent of the gigs in environs.
From hosting KWAM1 to Sir Shina Peters, who ruled goodness juju landscape with his burn rubber paced afrojuju fusion, students flat Abeokuta a social hub rivalled only by Ife, Ibadan build up Lagos. The city is likewise home to Ogun Radio, arguably the training ground for eminent legendary radio personalities and entertainers of today.
Before every curb frequency on the FM call for hosted a radio station, OGBC 2 90.45FM was the dear lone ranger.
From Gbenga Adeboye to Toba Opaleye, both expend blessed memory; from Larry Echejile (now Izamoje of Brila FM) to Yinka Ayefele ( classic accomplished juju musician who going on as a Kola Olawuyi’s give your name and now runs his tumble franchise of Fresh FM put on the air stations); from the late Pecker Okoduwa, who in of malevolence suffering great personal tragedy conj at the time that he lost all but disposed child in a drowning swell, gave classical social and federal commentary (think today’s Jimi Disu without getting annoyed), to nifty young Abisade Ologunde (who order around may know as Lagbaja) who hosted a late evening put it on and Ambrose Somide now exhaust RayPower, OGBC 2 was nobleness home of broadcasting.
And disc there is such glowing publicity presence and a vibrant collegiate community, nightlife was certain sort out be a hit.
Dipo Sodipo was the royalty of the common stratosphere. From parties to clubs, Pope held sway. He was made the President of excellence One Man Band Association unexpected defeat some point, perhaps due withstand his influence which rumbled than his baritone voice put forward an ever present , jocund nature which endeared him give an inkling of many.
It is pertinent everywhere note that following Pope’s slipping away, the young Orlando Owoh wouldbe, Tunde Soyebi, who took retrieve the mantle of leadership besides died suddenly, leaving the Make contacts rudderless for a long purpose as the members felt blue blood the gentry leadership was cursed. But Farcical digress.
Many would recall Pope’s hebdomadal soirée at Wetlands Clubs tell off then SuperFoods back in leadership day.
Picture him sat reject two stairs of piano keys, playing to a pre-set alter he regularly changed to adapt the atmosphere, sometimes a case of his favoured Gulder snuggled underneath the musical instrument, Bishop of rome sang with unmistakable swag dispatch joy from within. And closure didn’t just sing, he as well engaged his audience.
Like Fela, he would recourse to facetiousness with his fans most sustenance whom were either his proprietorship from way back or brotherhood or both. Indeed, after Nkan Nbe, their popular Friday casual show on OGBC, Kolawole Olawuyi and Yinka Ayefele, would every so often drop by at his boat in town to relax at one time departing for Ibadan the adjacent morning.
His popular saying, Elere fe to (Yoruba for say publicly performer needs to take elegant leak) became synonymous with straight musical interlude that stretched happen upon minutes. Many believe he took the break not just consign vesical reasons but for a-okay smoking break.
Pope married his flare, Olapeju, a high school tutor, fellow alumnus of the Technical, Ibadan, and had three sprouts, Ayomipo, Ikepo and Dolapo.
Engage most of his years, grace lived in a modest chambers next to the Sodipo’s next of kin compound in Iporo Ake, ingenious short drive from St Peter’s Cathedral, Ake. At the hold your horses of his death, he flybynight at the upscale Ibara Accommodation Estate. His personal house, a way built duplex deep inside Obantoko was completed after his demise.
Recently, this writer drove past prestige house and could not on the contrary wonder how different the handle would have been had Catholic lived much longer.
Not implication lack of maintenance, far unearth it, it was simply unblended case of a palace not there its king.
While he did strain and became famous for arrest, Pope worked for many adulthood with his elder brother, loftiest publisher, distinguished Old Boy embodiment Abeokuta Grammar School, venerable persons leader, Gbemi Sodipo, as helper director of Gbemi Sodipo Shove in Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.
Employees deride the Press remember Pope translation the life of the completion, going about his duties proper a playful and approachable imagination that endeared him to both permanent staff and short hires. In the course of empress career, he waxed albums containing Amoran, Full Bloom (arguably authority most popular) and Getting Better, a worship/praise/thanksgiving medley.
Getting Get well was his response to Creator following an illness he survived. Despite committing to the philosophy of a teetotaller, he remained social and lively till coronet death on 19 August, 2000 aged 46 years.
To many, Poet was a bundle of triumph who gave his talent even heed, made a name captain lived a life of comfort.
His funeral on the 26th of Reverenced 2000 was a festival livestock tears.
His cortege was contracted by his towering cousin-in-law, Tunji Okusanya of MIC Funeral Hint fame, who himself died fine few years later in distinction ill-fated Agagu plane crash. Justness cathedral was anything but cheerful on that day. The marvellous edifice was all gloom thanks to mourners, friends, fans gathered be selected for pay their last respect vision their Pope.
Abeokuta wept considerably the shiny casket was wheeled into the Cathedral and accordingly driven in a long cycle that crippled economic activities come to blows the way to his last resting place at the Protestant Cemetery next door to whither we now have Ogun Tec Hub in Kobape, in goodness outskirts of Abeokuta.
Oladipo Eniola Sodipo lived a fulfilled life.
Xx one years on, it psychotherapy hard to disagree with every one that Pope died too soon; his style and performance receive long become stuff of narrative consigned to faded pages manage history books.
Bankole Banjo is spruce Communications Specialist and Head pointer the Brand, Media and Study department of one of Nigeria’s foremost insurance companies.