Bisade Ologunde (in Lagos, 1960) is a
Nigerian
Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...
afrobeat
Afrobeat is a Nigerian music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles (such as traditional Yoruba music and highlife) and American funk, jazz, and soul influences, with a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersectin ...
musician, singer-songwriter and percussionist. Widely known as Lágbájá for his signature use of mask which covers his identity. He believes in social reform through music.
Early life and career
Ologunde adopted the name Lágbájá (meaning "Jane Doe" or "John Doe"- A person whose name, identity is intentionally concealed in Yoruba) as he embarked on his career in the early 90s. His name was reflected in his choice of stage attire – a slitted textile and rubber mask adopted so that the artist represented the ‘common man’ in keeping with the carnival tradition of Yoruba Culture. He formed his first small band in 1991 in Lagos after he had taught himself to play the saxophone. With a high quotient of percussion instruments including congas and talking drums, Lagbaja's album ''We Before Me'' (IndigeDisc/PDSE), released in 2000, demanded honesty from politicians and urged brotherhood and unity. He shared lyrics of his songs with a backup singer,
Ego Ihenacho, and equally plays tenor saxophone. With a firm, brawny tone akin to that of
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music.
Born and raise ...
and
Pharoah Sanders, he emblazoned the melodies of the songs, sometimes with
Ego scat-singing along.
Awards
*2006
Channel O Music Video Awards – Best Male Video ("Never Far Away")
Discography
* 'Ikira', 1993
* ''Lagbaja'', 1993
* ''Cest Un African Thing'', 1996
* ''ME'', 2000
* ''WE'', 2000
* We and Me Part II, 2000
* ''ABAMI'', 2000
* ''Africano... the mother of groove'', 2005
* ''Paradise'', 2009
* ''Sharp Sharp'', 2009
* ''200 Million Mumu (The Bitter Truth)'', 2012
See also
*
List of Yoruba people
This is a list of notable Yoruba people.
Film and cinema Nollywood Actors and actresses
Writers and directors
* Biyi Bandele (1967–2022), novelist, playwright and filmmaker
* Kemi Adesoye, screenwriter
* Kemi Adetiba (b. 1980), filmma ...
References
External links
Lagbaja's official home page
{{Authority control
Nigerian saxophonists
Year of birth missing (living people)
Nigerian songwriters
Yoruba musicians
Living people
Musicians from Lagos
20th-century Nigerian musicians
21st-century Nigerian musicians
English-language singers from Nigeria
Yoruba-language singers
20th-century saxophonists
21st-century saxophonists
20th-century Nigerian male singers
21st-century Nigerian male singers