Groups who provide essential, artistic and existential services to the people drive a society. Every group has its unique contribution to the growth and development of the society. Performing artistes like drummers play crucial role in the African society as they serve as historians, hype men, poets, cultural ambassadors and entertainers. Drummers in Yoruba land have kept the talking drum beating over centuries and the world have come to recognise drum as a symbol of the traditional African communication system. Home and abroad, the study of talking drum is being treated as important curriculum of social sciences. The Ikorodu Division of Lagos Nigeria has once again reminded the world about the importance of drummers in the society as a new king of drummers, known as ‘Olori Onilu’ was crowned on August 17, 2021.
The house of late Raimi Aro Igbeja, who was the former ‘Olori Onilu’ of Ikorodu Division, may look bleak from the outside. The modest compound along the canal in Itunmaja, Ikorodu, carried significant historical substance, as it was formerly the meeting point for professional drummers in the division. Since his demise in 2020, his premises has remained a convening point for the artistes till August 17, 2021, when a new Olori Onilu was installed and capped.
The new ‘Olori Onilu’ of Ikorodu Division, Hadji Kazim Ganiu-Sanni who stepped into the office, is a nephew of the late Chief Raimi Aro. Kazim Ganiu- Sanni is a graduate and a professional journalist who is a founding member of the doyen community newspaper in Nigeria- Oriwu Sun. His installation attracted high-ranking drummers from across Lagos, Ijebu land, Remo land and other places.
The installation and capping of Hadji Kazim Sanni also attracted attention of people in Ikorodu as energetic drummers from Iperu, Sagamu, Ilishan, Ikenne, Ikorodu and several other communities performed throughout the rites of his capping. In between every speech from dignitaries, excited band of traditional drummers would give an interlude of percussion performance. It was a show of tradition, artistic prowess and excitement by the traditional drummers.
The capping ceremony was colourful as organized drummers from the different kingdoms appeared and performed in groups. The Remo Drummers Association, Sagamu branch, was led by its Olori Onilu, Balogun and respected aged drummers. The Ijebu group and their Iperu counterparts worked hard to outdo the Sagamu group by taking turn to interrupt proceedings with massive drumming.
When the new Chief and celebrant, Hadji Kazim Ganiu-Sanni was seated in the midst of his fellow artistes, he was showered with encomiums, prayers, blessings and confirmation from different speakers from across the kingdoms. ‘Olori Onilu’ of Iperu, Ilishan, Ikenne and Sagamu in Ogun State, who were invited to speak, blessed the new Ikorodu king of drummers and urged him to respect the elders, tradition and carry his members along in the division. Many ‘Olori Onilu’ took turn to pray for their newest counterpart, Hadji Kazim Ganiu-Sanni while he sat in their midst in impeccably white agbada attire.
While this was going on, some groups of drummers couldn’t help but interrupted speeches to eulogise Kazim Ganiu-Sanni with their melodious tunes of the talking drums. They would sing his oriki, narrate his family lineage and his achievements. A particular hyperactive drummer, identified as Ayogbemi Michael, with his Ayaniyi Oluwa Band, thrilled the audience with his energetic performance. The light skinned drummer from Sagamu added assorted flavour to the event with his skilled demonstration of talking drum.
The ‘Olori Onilu’ of Remo land, Sikiru Lawal, who proudly wore his office regalia, poured libation and prayed for his new Ikorodu counterpart. Speaking in Ijebu dialect, Sikiru Lawal declared full support for Hadji Kazim Ganiu-Sanni and invoke the ancestral spirits to protect the new chief from harm, envious and malicious attacks. This was after the Balogun Obirin of drummers in Remo land urged wives of Kazim Ganiu-Sanni to treat their husband as royalty, henceforth. The curious groups which couldn’t wait to perform, seized every slight pause made by speakers to give energetic performance.
Daughter of late Chief Raimi Aro, Yemisi Aroigbeja, was invited to give remark at the installation of her father’s successor. She was happy that the new ‘Olori Onilu’ who is succeeding her father, is not only her cousin but also a renowned drummer who honoured her late father during his funeral. “May God and our ancestors strengthen and guide you during your reign. You honoured my late father by performing till you broke drum sets during the burial rites, may God honour you and bless your reign.”
Yemisi Aro prayed for Chief Kazim Ganiu-Sanni. She called on wives of Ganiu-Sanni and urged them to honour their husband and treat him as royalty now that has been capped king of drummers in the kingdom.
When the oratory by the distinguished drummers was wrapped up, it was time to crown Kazim Ganiu-Sanni before the audience. The crowning committee in Ikorodu declared that the crown will only be placed on the head of Kazim Ganiu-Sanni after a sum of one hundred thousand naira is paid. Publisher of Oriwu Sun, Chief Monzor Olowosago, who was presented, was invited to do something about the fee. The publisher pledged to pay fifty thousand naira of the fee and left some cash in the bowl. He also sprayed some cash on the performing groups. The crowning committee insisted the sum of hundred thousand naira must complete before the crowning could take place.
The Sanni Extended Family members were summoned to raise the balance of fifty thousand naira. After much response from family members, the committee raised eighty thousand naira before agreeing to release the crown.
Elderly and respected drummers from across Ijebu and Remo lands, with the many ‘Olori Onilu’ jointly placed the crown on head of Kazim Ganiu-Sanni and he was subsequently declared the ‘Olori Onilu’ of Ikorodu division. This attracted jubilation as intense drumming and dancing ensued. Different personality jostled to take pictures with the new king of drummers and he was led by groups of performing artistes to his father’s house at Anifowose area of Ikorodu town. Excited drummers played behind Chief Kazim Ganiu-Sanni all the way from Itunmaja to Anifowose Street in Anibaba area where large tents were set for reception.
Reporters of Oriwu Sun who spoke with wives and children of Chief Kazim Ganiu-Sanni, asked them if they will follow their father’s footstep. The first wife, Mrs. Ganiyat Ganiu-Sanni, who was excited about the ceremony, said that she wouldn’t mind if any of her children pick interest in drumming. For her, it is a family heritage and her children should continue the tradition of inheriting drumming from their father. First daughter of Chief Kazim, Mariam Ganiu-Sanni, who is a 400 level Law student in Lagos State University (LASU) said she does not have plans of becoming a career drummer.
However, she is interested in the art. Her brother, Furqan Ganni-Sanni, a 100 level student of Zoology in LASU, has been introduced into the drumming art and follows his father to public functions, but he wouldn’t know if he would become a full time career drummer. Furqan loves the drumming trade. Second wife of Chief Kazim Ganiu-Sanni, Mrs. Mujidat Ganiu-Sanni, loves her children to take up drumming. However, she said only one is showing interest right now.
Not only drummers but also top dignitaries in Ikorodu attended the event. Heads of notable families in Ikorodu represented their family names. Publishers of the dominant community newspapers in Ikorodu were present. Publisher of Oriwu Sun newspaper, Chief Monzor Olowosago, publisher of Ikorodu News Prince Ganny Awobajo and Publisher of The Impact newspaper, Mr. Kunle Adelabu, all attended the installation and capping ceremony of Chief Kazim Ganiu-Sanni. There was surplus of food, drinks and liveries for guests at reception venue. Artistes and different MCs performed to the delight of the guests.