…On The Day Ogogo Was Buried in Ilaro.
Monday 24th August will go into record as a black day for the Yoruba race as one cultural icon in Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Ogogo was buried in Ilaro Ogun State and a bigger star and father figure in Yorubaland, Baba Alabi Ogundepo passed on in Oshogbo, Osun State.
Patmos Media Line gathered that Alagba Ogundepo who should be 85 years in October, same month that Ogogo was born died of old age related diseases at his private house at Agunbalewo area of Oshogbo at about 3pm on Monday.
Though he hails from Saki in Oke Ogun area, Alagba Alabi Ogundepo had been in Oshogbo since the days of Sango Durojaiye Ladipo known as Oba Koso and mama Ulli Beer who did the carvings at the Osun Shrine in Oshogbo.
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Alagba Ogundepo is a cultural icon, master of traditional Yoruba oral poetry, folklore, playwright, chanter of Ijala (hunters poetry) who has recorded many films, radio jingles and taught Yoruba Poetry in some Nigerian Universities.
The Head of Programs of Fresh FM station in Oshogbo, Mr. Olusola Ajala who is regarded as Alagba Ogundepo confirmed the death of the Ijala Ewi exponent when he was reached at about 10pm on Monday night.
Wondering how we got the news of the passage of baba Ogundepo, Mr. Olusola disclosed that the last jingle baba did for Fresh FM just this gone week has not been approved for use by the Programs Directorate of the station because baba’s voice lack broadcast punch (a usual statement for low level presentation) because old age has caught up with baba and the gaiety of presention in the erstwhile master of rendition has seriously dropped.
He made a special chant for the late Alaafin Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111 when he joined his ancestors some three years ago. He is frequently requested at Palaces when special guests are visiting.
Efforts to get baba Ogundepo’s close associate who is also aged, Oloye Tubosun Ladapo that I call baba mi Odidere Ayekooto failed as baba Odidere a notable Poet also around that age and still presenting Programs in Ibadam had switched off his phone and probably gone to bed.
Alagba Ogundepo’s children had not been in the limelight of the rare talent display but we await announcement of his burial rites. He is a traditionalist to the core and an Ogun worshipper in particular.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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