Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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OWOH, Orlando

(b early '40s, Owo, Oyo State, Nigeria) Singer, composer, guitarist. Playing a form of Yoruba "palm wine' highlife known as Toye music, Owon is one of the few who stuck with highlife despite the rise of juju. His music and lyrics are very down to earth and are preferred by an older generation. He began '60 playing bongos with the Fakunle Major Band in Oshogbo, then with Keninde Adex; then moved to Lagos, where he was taught guitar by Fatai Rolling Dollar. He fought on the Federal side in the Nigerian Civil War '67-70, returned to music, forming his Omimah Band (hit single "Oriki Ilu Oke'); constant tours of Nigeria were combined with albums on Decca such as Labalaba Fara W'Eiye, In Great Britain, Ire Loni, Ajanaku Daraba. In '76 he reorganised the band and renamed it The Young Kenneries. After a dispute with Decca over royalties he recorded for Electromat, returned to Decca on the new Afrodisia label, left again '81 to record with Shanu Olu; in a new series of LPs his saucy and provocative lyrics endeared him to the public, incl. Money For Hand, Back For Ground, Ileya Special, Apartheid and Ganja. Decca compilations '83 incl. In The Sixties.