IRAWO: My Quest for Freedom 13

I gave myself the stage name, DJ Irawo. Initially, it was simply Irawo but when Seyi Shay sang her song titled, Irawo and it was difficult to quickly 

find my name on Google search, I added Drumline to it and became Irawo Drumline. Along the line, I went for DJ workshops and began to fall in love with my one time talent, deejaying, so, I added DJ to Irawo Drumline. Then I thought to myself, ''This name is too long. I need a short name''. So, I removed the Drumline and now, it is simply, DJ Irawo. My slogan remains, ‘The talking drum ambassador’. I was given this title by Intro Afika, the organizers of the Yoruba International Drum Festival in 2014.

The name, Irawo, was arrived at when the film editor of my graduation performance at PEFTI told me that I needed a unique name. According to him, Olukemi, which I had wanted to call myself, was too boring. Many people thought it ought to be, Ayankemi but I was not comfortable with that. So I came up with the name Irawo.

I decided to call myself Irawo because; I liken myself to Jesus Christ, the bright and morning star. When Christ was born, the star led the three astrologers and the shepherds to go and worship Him. In this sense, my drums are the stars because when I beat them, it leads people to come watch me especially because I am a female.

I also chose Irawo because I am a woman of many talents. I am a drummer, DJ, songwriter, singer, music director, music publisher, drum instructor, blogger, scriptwriter and business writer.

I get bored easily so, doing different things now and then makes my entertainment career interesting.

My genres of music revolve around jazz, electronic, house and folk. Most people find my combination weird considering my love for playing African percussions. But this is me. I can be creative as I want and simply pray that my audience love my style. I like to create my own path, not copying anyone.

Many musicians have inspired me. Examples of these musicians are; King Sunny Ade, Chief Ebenezer Obey, Onyeka Onwenu, Christie Igbokwe, Sir Sina Peters, Ara, Ayanbirin, Asa.

Foreign and African artists like Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Eddie Grant, several jazz musicians, Angelique Kidjo, have motivated me to pick up a music career.

I developed an interest in the talking drum after I watched Ara on television. She came for the Funmi Iyanda show in 1998. She came along with some elderly drummers and they drummed in a performance. I was engrossed in the show. I had just come to the sitting room to take a break from studying. I was on industrial attachment with Equitorial Trust Bank and also preparing for the first stage of my ICAN exams (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria). My father was also in the sitting room watching the programme. 

After the show, I told my father that I would like to play drums like her some day, professionally. He told me to keep quiet and face my studies. So, I forgot that thought.

Today, I have forfeited my professional practice as an accountant and auditor to pursue my music career. It gives me joy to pursue my heart's desires.

To be continued