Results for "#Contemporaryafrikanjazzolalekan"

Olalekan Oduntan

Born: May 26, 1964

Olalekan Azeez Oduntan aka OlaleOne was born on 26th of May 1964. He is a song writer, composer, griot, xylophonist, percussionist and an entrepreneur. He started his artistic carrier at age twelve gathering his peers together back then and teaching them drama and music with his little level of understanding and knowledge. It was also at that young age that he was reciting poetry for Nigerian Radio and Television stations. He used to travel from Lagos to other states of Nigeria to recite poetry at the weddings, burials and coronation ceremonies depending on the invites.

After his secondary education, he joined the then Center for Cultural Studies University of Lagos, Nigeria as an associate member (now Creative Arts Department) taking part in drama, music and cultural productions. It was there that he met the late Professor Akin Euba who was the head of the Center. He performed in the Professor's Band called Akin Euba and the Elekotos. Series of programmes were recorded for radio and television by the band and some albums were recorded too. Because the Cultural Studies was a place of learning, he was also participating in stage drama productions by Professors Bode Osanyin and Uwa Hunwick. It was there that he learnt how to play the xylophone from Nigerian ace xylophonist Late Ede Nwigwe. An instrument he plays so well today.