CHANTING IS SPIRITUAL—WINNER, AFAS ARTIST OF THE WEEK, OLAMILEKAN ADENIYI.
In this interview with AFAS PRESS, Olamilekan Adeniyi, also known as Mojuba Akewi speaks with AFASPRESS on being a student and Cantor.
AFAS PRESS: Good morning, can we meet you?
Mojuba Akewi: Good morning, thank you for having me. My name is Olamilekan Adeniyi, AKA Mojuba. I’m a chanter, UIte, AFASite to be precise. I am from the department of Linguistics and African Studies.
AFAS PRESS: What do you do besides being a student?
Mojuba Akewi: I’m a chanter, an artist and a designer. I customize vests, make award plaque, any printing and design work.
AFAS PRESS: when did you learn these skills?
Mojuba Akewi: Chanting is my talent, I chose to build myself by having some legend as my role model while I learnt the other skills before gaining admissions into the university.
AFAS PRESS: Please remind us again how was life before UI?
Mojuba Akewi: Ah, Life before UI. Well, it’s never been easy. I failed my first SSCE exam. Since there was lack of fund to pay for the next sitting, I had to start hustling on my own.
AFAS PRESS Where were you born and raised?
Mojuba Akewi: I was born and raised in Ibadan. I had my secondary school education in Ibadan. So, I could say that I am an indigene of Ibadan though my Dad is not from Ibadan but My mother is a daughter of Ibadan.
AFAS PRESS: So for those that might know, what is chanting all about?
Mojuba Akewi: Chanting is spiritual, Chanting is life. When I say chanting is spiritual It means that it is something anyone could feel deep inside them when they are being hailed, eulogized or appraised. And to me as a chanter, I don’t feel the same way when I chant. My voice changes, my countenance, it’s like I’m being catapulted into another realm. I start behaving like a drunkard because often times I find my eyes closed, I could barely remember where I am, the only thing I could do is to chant out what’s on my mind. When I say chanting is life, I’m simply trying to say that no matter what you are feeling, no matter how good or bad your day was, you cannot escape feeling warmth, smiling and even laughing at some point when you are being eulogized. You must have witnessed where a man withlittle is being eulogized and he spends his last dime. This is the extent to which chants could make you do things.
AFAS PRESS: So can we call you a professional cantor or is it something you do for leisure?
Mojuba Akewi: yes, I actually you can though it’s started off as a hobby but now people do demand for my services at their events. Chanting actually requires an extensive work of research and creativity thus I think it’s more appropriate to call me a professional cantor in the making.
AFAS PRESS: At what sort of events could your services be rendered?
Mojuba Akewi: Any event. I perform at house warming, Christian praise concerts, a burial ceremonies , naming ceremonies, birthday celebrations(surprises). Basically, I can perform at all sorts of social events ranging from the joyous ones to the ones with filled up with sadness.
AFAS PRESS: Nice! Chanting is really a serious type of art then. So, I guess most AFASites know you as a cantor, right?
Mojuba Akewi: Yes sir! Chanter*
AFAS PRESS: Thank you for the correction but both words represent the same entity.
Mojuba Akewi: I learnt tonight I appreciate.
AFAS PRESS: It is a honour. Since, the break out of the pandemic many events have taken different methodologies to evolve and adapt. How has this affected your education?
Mojuba Akewi: I actually cannot say that its effects on my education has been negative. I have trained myself to adapt to any situations or conditions I might find myself. Although, the virtual learning in Nigeria is a bad avenue to teach students because of the many obvious disadvantages we have merely by living in this country.
AFAS PRESS: Is there anything you think the university authority could do to make these method of learning more effective for the students?
Mojuba Akewi: ehm, I use an adage in my native tongue that says,” Amú’kún ẹrù ẹ wọ́, wọn ní òkè lè ń wò ẹ ó wòsàlẹ̀.” If we are going to be suggesting to the school authorities the preferable methods to use, what are we going to do with the governments. The sad truth is that our nation has wronged us all. There are a lot of factors that will hinder the progressive efforts of the university authority e.g poor power supply, poor tele-network services, etc. Personally, I think the present method of learning is been handled well from the end of the school authority. The only hindrances to its smooth running is issues related to electricity and network strengths. Another thing, I have used my position as a course rep. to implore some of our tutors to use some unique methods that will be more convenient and effective for some of our course which I will not disclose here.
AFAS PRESS: It is been a very interesting interview session with you. Do you have anything you would like to say to the excellent and intelligent students of the first and the best Faculty in UI?
Mojuba Akewi: it’s been a pleasure and honor. Thank you for having me. My advice to my colleagues and seniors is to overlook any sort of distraction. I admonish everyone to be determined, focused and relentless. I walk the philosophy that says “ it’s the impossibilities that afford me the possibilities’ I would have loved to explicate that but because of time I will rather leave us with an adage in mother’s tongue that says,” lówelówe là ń lu, ìlù àgídìgbo, ọlọ́gbọ́n ní ń jó, ọ̀mọ̀ràn níí mọ̀.”
Thank you.
