10 minutes with Latoya, OJ’s wife

An adventure took this writer to Ilesa, Osun State recently, where he discovered that the town, mostly surrounded by hills, is the country home of some legends, such as, the late I.K Dairo and Pa Chris Ajilo, from a  neigbouring town, Ijebu-Jesa; Baba Sala and Apostle Jospeh Ayodele Babalola, among other notable clerics that rose from Ilesa.

But the hospitality of a foreigner, who has now become Ijesa by marriage, Latoya Aduke Ekemode, wife of the Afro-Beat music legend, Olando Julius, beat ones imagination. After picking us at the park around 7pm, she hinted that she intended to prepare iyan (pounded yam). As if she was reading my mind, she emphatically said: “We don’t eat pando yam in Ilesa, never. We pound yam! I have even pounded yam for my husband earlier today.”

The visit immediately became more interesting when the Chicago-born singer-cum-dancer happily received us into their residence alongslide her hubby, OJ, who was cooling off with one of his hit tracks on our arrival.

After a short while, conversation began with Latoya, even as we ate pounded yam with a garnished stew.

At the dining table, jovial Ekemode reminisced about their memorable moments performing from one country to the other, as well as the acceptability abroad. She depicted the sole joy and backbone of OJ, as he kept nodding his head with a smile in attestation to her wife’s statements.

The tête-à-tête elicited more thrills when Latoya revealed the secret behind her love for Nigeria. The dreadlocked 57-year-old African-American, who claims to be proud sharing same date with Nigeria, said her connection with Africa was divinely arranged.

“Aside the fact that my parents love African culture and music, they were delighted that I found my heartrob in Africa. After a very long time working with OJ as a dancer, I joined him on a tour to Nigeria and much later, we had a quiet wedding in Lagos. When I returned abroad, I showed my mum the marriage certificate and she screamed ‘Oh great!’

“Afterwards, she blessed the union and revealed to me that I have a divine connection with Africa. An African doctor called Owolabi, a Yoruba man, took my delivery and spanked my bumbum to make me cry. Now, another African, also a Yoruba man, OJ, will spank my bum,” she revealed.

But she expressed her displeasure with the way Nigeria doesn’t care about their artistes, especially the legends like in the civilised countries, adding “we still have lots of music legends that are still very active in music such as Baba Ani, Victor Uwaifo, Prince Oyewole, Pa Chris Ajilo, Uncle Jimi Solanke, Tunji Oyelana and my husband, OJ.”

“I cannot express how much I love daddy (OJ). He is unique and his music is beyond Afrobeat; he does jazz, reggae, pop. OJ has a gentle nature, quite unassuming. He is not a trouble maker, he doesn’t drink, smoke, party. His works are philosophical,” she said.