Portable as an ambassador

THE sudden stardom of Habeeb “Portable” Okikiola, a few years back, fits Yoruba’s parable of rain that poured without warning cloud (ojo to ro lai su). As desiring as its pleasantness, because it can provide instant relief, Yoruba worry that such rain only wet the ground without profound deepening impacts in the earth and sadly too, they stop very quickly, suddenly and despite the melodrama of their start, they are usually melodramatic at the end. Quick start, quick end. Sudden start, sudden end. I wish Mr. Okikiola career durability , though another musician who became an overnight sensation decade back, conducting his business the same as Portable, maybe a bit better in refinement but also so described as ojo ti o su, to nro, is in one corner of the industry today, literally crooning in his cocoon, because the same voice, lyrics, lewdness and asakasa (extreme inappropriateness) that got even non-Yoruba language users vibing and miming home and abroad appear to be in the cooler now. Almost like the case of orin tan lenu o ku nikun (inherent talent without impact again). But of what use is a man’s gift that isn’t making a way for him or bringing him before great men {Proverbs 18;16}.

That isn’t yet the fate of Habeeb and Gibbers isn’t wishing it, though there are talks that the sudden rise had “something” below and behind it and there are always demand by the giver(s). Some have even attributed his weirdness to strange spirit inhabiting him from wherever his star was propelled. Pastor T.B Joshua said what people don’t understand they criticise, in defending the widespread talks and suspicion he was mainly helped by Beelzebub in his thriving ministry which also blossomed from practically “nowhere”. Then he died suddenly.

Habeeb’s gift (which I still can’t connect maybe because he is more of a minstrel than a performing vocalist) is still making a way for him. He is still a crowd puller. Even when denied an appointed appearance in Ibadan recently because of security concern, he was the news of the show and the main PR issue all through. That is how big the small man is in the domestic entertainment scene and he can’t be wished away simply because he doesn’t look like what he is gradually becoming: a major voice in the local arena.

He dissed Ibadan as not contemporary/refined/modern/civilised enough (which would be true of some natives, including some who live in modern ends like Lagos and Abuja) and suddenly the organisers of the Ibadan show who planned to showcase his talent(?) had a huge security concern to deal with. How many people, even on the social media, diss Ibadan daily and go unnoticed? I just did here now and I am certain nobody would notice my face coming in and out of Ibadan on my next visit. That is how big Portable is and a reason he can’t be let loose like he has been since bursting on the music scene and ruling the heart of the street with his regularly unclad one-pack body and arms that could be broken in a contest by a well-fed six-year-old.

I always feel like smirking whenever the Yoruba public descends on him as feckless anytime he comes to his natural habitation: the street, with his Queen Dami, ex-queen consort of immediate Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. My usual inward reaction is Yoruba’s teasing “ki i se ejo eni j’amala tio san owo, eni fi egusi se nama ni ka ba wi (it isn’t the fault of the one who refuses to wash his hand after amala meal, we should blame the one who ‘palatably’ soaked the egusi soup with beef). When Baba was lining every contour of the Oyo palace with a bevy of eye-bulging collens in his old age, what was he expecting after his death? Of course, his name and title would always be associated with the Dami kind who do klieg-light and social media business. For her, every news, including Portable’s phallic engagement and width, is beneficial to her hustle as a social media influencer. The lesson therein is to properly take care of family business, especially when old age is approaching.

Youtuber-turned boxer, Jake Paul who recently defeated a shadow of Iron Mike Tyson in an underwhelming contest, goes by the name The Problem Child and he was quite problematic living on the social media, but when the past-his-prime Tyson issued him a out-of-script slap during their ceremonial staredown, his mother Pam Stepnick was furious, threatening to kill the boxing legend and calling him a “fucking little bitch” while all the time, wrapping his huge boy around her motherly arms, consoling him.

Yoruba are certain no parent is willing to offer his/her child to a predatory leopard, even when they bring the family shame. I know Portable’s parents are alive and connecting. At a show in Ibadan in 2022, there is a video of his mother praying furiously for him as he prostrated, before both publicly hugged and the woman doing the proud mum thing over and over. Okikiola too was beaming. He was obviously proud of his mum. Same 2022, there was another video of him, presenting his father a car. That means regardless of his public conducts, especially his uncouthness, he has a family around him, who could probably counsel him, though whether he heeds the omoluabi counsel is absolutely on him.

No king reigns forever, not even the alayeluwa of igboro (king of the street). Sarki goma, zamani goma. Oba mewa, igba mewa. Ten kings, ten epochs.

When you have Portable’s kind who have come, either by the election of grace or something else, into what they do not really understand, especially the essence of terminal and terminable stardom, certain deliberateness is required in managing them through it, especially when they are still “reigning” supreme. Instead of spitting at his name anytime he goes below the irreducible minimum of humanity, deliberate efforts should be made by the very critical Yoruba intelligentsia and elite who see him mostly as a pure nuisance, to understand him and find a way at refinement, though he is first and foremost, the business of his family to fix, except if they consider him hopelessly incorrigible.

The Abeokuta native could be a formidable ambassador if deliberate engagements at finding purpose are initiated by the Yoruba cultural community. Okikiola was obviously weaned on the street, he would need a cultural cleaning up to dine with the nobles.

I was as miffed as many when NDLEA named drug-using Naira Marley an ambassador. But after I engaged with the system, I saw reason. If you call someone a nuisance, he would be one to you. When you say a baby pooh-potty is a porcelain fit for royalty, it may start looking so and before long, users may start relating with it so.

Wahala, wahala seems all Portable has ever known. Maybe it is time for him to learn that street cred isn’t really about being a ruffian.

READ ALSO: Why we didn’t allow Portable perform in Ibadan — Concert management