Juju musician turned Preacher, Evangelist Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey Fabiyi is lucky to be one of those few.
Born on April 3, 1942 into the family of Late Mr. And Mrs. Nathaniel and Alaba Fabiyi, from Idogo in Ogun state, the musician has, through hardwork, consistency and favour, grown through the years to become a living legend; and an inspiration to many.
The celebrations that characterised his last birthday – his 70th – are a testimony to the many lives he has touched; the many friends he has; and how wide his influence spreads – from entertainment to politics, business, education, medicine and traditional leadership.
Obey chose music as a career as far back as 1957 when he was just 15 years old, and launched his debut into the market with his first album Ewa Wo Ohun Ojuri in 1964.
According to him, in a recent interview with The Sun, ‘the gift of music manifested itself right from primary school; I became a member of the school band. I later became the school band leader. I didn’t learn music, it was in-born. It was the gift of God. I belonged to a music department called Ifelodun Marble Orchestra band which later changed into Ontario Marble Orchestra, I was the smallest in the band, but I played all the drums and led the vocals. I formed my own band in 1957, Royal Marble Orchestra because the elders in the former band lost interest’.
And it’s a blessing he eventually succeeded in his chosen career, because, according to him, his mother wanted him to become a lawyer or a doctor.
‘My mum had her reservations about music‘, he says. ‘She didn’t want me to do music. Her reasons were that musicians smoke hemp, and indulge in a lot of vices, like joining bad gangs and become gangsters. We settled it and that helped me till date. The warning was always in my mind, I tried my best to steer clear of every vice my mum warned me about’. He recalls a childhood in which his parents made sure he and his siblings didn’t lack anything; ‘We ate the best food, but we weren’t pampered. My mum was strict and disciplined’
Going down memory lane, the Juju maestro remembers when he relocated to Lagos, where he learned more about music under the tutelage of Fatai Rolling Dollar. But, he says, as he got older, it got more difficult to ignore a higher calling.
‘I struggled for 11- 12 years before I finally yielded to the call of God. I knew God was speaking to me from when I was young. At a point I called my wife and told her. Afterwards, I was ordained by the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa at 50′.
Obey who ventured into many businesses, including sales of instruments, Cables and brick business experienced many failures along the way.
‘I have known many successes and failures. I used to run a cassette manufacturing factory that started in 1980 until 2006 when we wanted to change to CD. So we took loans from banks but our equipment didn’t arrive according to plans. We had to sell it off to pay the bank as they gave us limited time. We lost so much and afterwards one of the papers said ‘How the mighty have fallen. Our Juju respected turned-evangelist is passing through bad times…’
But the failures, it would seem, are just a tiny dent in a hugely successful career. ‘I will say I am fulfilled because my childhood expectations and yearnings were to become a star and God made me a star’.
Married in 1963 to late Evangelist (Mrs) Juliana Fabiyi, who died last year at the age of 68, his regret is that she didn’t live to witness this day.
‘She started planning for my 70th birthday when I was 69. So when I said I won’t do it, everyone said No, the wish of your wife is to celebrate 70’. Frankly speaking, I miss her every day, but there is nothing I can do. But since God has called her, he is the owner, the giver. He will not tell you when. We only need to prepare for it by our deeds’. God can only limit his mercy on to an age. It is there for us throughout our days on earth. Children of God do not have to be afraid of death’ he said.
On remarrying again, the evangelist said, ‘We are about to give out my grand children in marriage, how will it sound if [the] grandfather is getting married? Only if God says, but I don’t think I will remarry. It [would be] very difficult to think of remarrying because my wife knew everything about me’.
Evangelist Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey Fabiyi is blessed with many children and grand-children who celebrate with him as he counts his many blessings at 70.
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