Osun Osogbo: Osupa, St. Janet battle for stage

Organisers of the Osun Osogbo Festival unveil sensational figures as official artistes for the 2012 edition of the  fiesta, writes AKEEM LASISI

 Lovers of no-holds-barred music have a big date in Osogbo, Osun State capital, during the Osun Osogbo Festival holding between August 20 and 24.  The current ‘title holder’ in the erotic highlife game, St. Janet, is one of the musicians unveiled on Tuesday as the official artistes of the world-famous cultural feast.

At a pre-festival forum held in Lagos, as organised by the Osun Osogbo marketing Consultant, Infogem Ltd., the artiste who broke into limelight a few years ago, when she released a speaker-tearing album, Faaji plus, promised to give the multitude that will attend the festival the ‘best of the best’ of performance.

But the Ayo Olumoko-led Infogem, which was, as usual, able to rally the traditional council of Osogbo, sponsors such as MTN, Grand Oak Ltd. Star and Seaman to the programme held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, is also smart in drawing the list of the performers. For instance, in considerable contrast to St. Janet is highly culturally literate fuji artiste, Saheed Osupa, whose followership is also strong.

Among his peers, Osupa is arguably the deepest in terms of music that exudes inspiring Yoruba metaphors – the type that reminds many of the exploits of the fuji exponent, the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. Between Janet and Osupa, the festival may thus just be a battle of wit.

But there is also a promise in kenery-styled Sehinde Joe, whose baritone voice intoxicates like that of the late kenery singer, Orlando Owoh. Joe’s exploits in the highlife brand, last year, culminated in his maiden album, Eja, whose video is currently being shot.

The fact that he is still in the equation this year indicates that he did not disappoint faithful and fun lovers last year when he performed at the festival that celebrate the contributions of Yeye Osun – the River Osun Goddess – in the spiritual and cultural evolution of the people.

For hip hop freaks, however, up-and-coming Taiwo Korodo – ‘T Code’ – is the act to look out for. The young artiste, who, apart from having help enliven works of several artistes with whom he collaborated, also has some singles on air.

To once again underscore the importance of the festival, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, led members of his council to the event. The monarch, who gave an historical account of the Osun Osogbo, noted that the government and people of Osun State were ready to host people from different parts of the world.

Officials of the sponsoring organisations also variously expressed delight to identify with the cultural aspirations of the people, while Olumoko commended them for uplifting the heritage he described as being very great.