Pastor Adedayo Idowu, also known as Akewi Korin Igbala, is a renowned Gospel Poet from Okeho, Kajola Local Government area of Oyo State. He was born over seven decades ago. He started his elementary education at First Baptist Primary School, Isia, Okeho, before proceeding to Baptist Secondary Modern School, Okeho. Thereafter, he moved to the Baptist College, Iwo, Osun State and later to Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State, where he studied PHE/Yoruba. He underwent his mandatory National Youth Service at Government Teachers College, Birnin Yauri, in the then Sokoto State, now in Kebbi State. Afterwards, he studied at the Ondo State University, now Ekiti State University, where he bagged his first degree.

The Retired Teacher cum Pastor spoke on his foray into Gospel Poetry, amongst others, excerpts below-

QUESTION: How did you come about poetry rendition and music?

Adedayo Idowu: Actually, right from my childhood, I was really interested in music and oral literature. I had the opportunity to reside with one Baba at Elekuku via Adekunle village during my childhood; he was an herbalist, so whenever he chanted the Ifa panegyric, I used to be carried away with the diction of the chant. So, when I started schooling, the opportunities to showcase music and poetry came at the end of the session programme. So when I got to higher class in my primary school, I joined the choir of First Baptist Church, Isia, Okeho.

Poetry itself started in my final year of secondary school. I dropped the rascality in the modern school without anyone preaching to me, and I felt the newness of life. The following day, when I got to school, I started preaching, and I was made the senior prefect because I was brilliant. Then, in secondary school, it was something of a source of pride to have a girlfriend, but as the senior prefect, I thought it was uncalled for and started thinking about how to curb this ungodly behaviour. I listened to a poem performed by Olanrewaju Adepoju, and I was thrilled, so I picked up my pen and paper to write a poem about fornication and other juvenile delinquencies in the school. I remember pointing to a student in the poetry class who told his parents that he wanted to buy some books, and he divided DICTIONARY into syllables, which made him collect the sum of money worth four textbooks.

I rendered the poetry during the literary and debate programme, and my teachers were really happy with the poem, which made them include my poem in the school magazine for that year, and they supported me. It was that same year I gained admission to Baptist College, Iwo. 

QUESTION: You are a poet, musician, and songwriter. How are you coping with this time-consuming art?

Adedayo Idowu: To the glory of God, I don’t feel it, because I write down the verses as I get inspired, and I write anywhere. This is why I usually have a pen and paper handy. So, I don’t feel the stress at all. I can remember a funny scenario from my undergraduate days: I was receiving a lecture when inspiration struck; I started writing the poem in my notebook. So, I enjoy writing effortlessly.

QUESTION: As someone who is well educated, does your level of education have any impact on your creative exploits?

Adedayo Idowu: My education has really impacted my proficiency and development. The activities back then from my primary school, ranging from Literary and Debate and joining the cultural group at the College, all of these had great impact on me.  Having studied PHE/Yoruba at the NCE level and having studied Yoruba Education at the University has really aided my proficiency.

QUESTION: Who are the poets and musicians who influenced your career?

Adedayo Idowu: Chief Lanrewaju Adepoju, Olatunbosun Oladapo, Late Adebayo Faleti and  Alabi Ogundepo.

QUESTION: Various indigenous forms of poetry, renowned amongst the Yoruba, such as Ijala, rara, oriki, orile and others, are gradually fading away. What do you think can be done to revive this culture?

Adedayo Idowu: Well, these arts can be modified to suit our faith. The intonation and the knowledge of all these forms of poetry can be used to influence our religion. In my second album, I remember I made use of the Iyere Ifa intonation to sing praises to God. So those who are actually talented should channel it in the right way.

QUESTION: What are the challenges you’ve faced and still face since you started your career in poetry and music in general?

Adedayo Idowu: The issue of money is one of the challenges. So, as often said, if you lack money, you lack an idea. So, coming from a humble background has really affected me, but my passion has kept me going. I am emphasising money because working towards releasing albums really gulps a lot of money. God has been faithful through the help of some people. My first and second albums gave me recognition at the radio service of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Radio OYO. They did the auditioning for me then, and I started as a freelancer.

QUESTION: How many albums do you have to your credit?

Adedayo Idowu: I released my first album in 1978, and I have released up to 21 albums. There are other albums that I released for community consumption. I didn’t count them with those 21, but I have like 10 albums for community consumption, and my albums are a combination of poetry and music; in total, it is about 31 albums.

QUESTION: Within the creative circles, how have you projected Okeho through your arts?

Adedayo Idowu: Okeho… I am projecting Okeho through my art, and in many interviews I have given in the past, I have always made it clear that I am from Okeho. During the centenary celebration of the return to the origin of Okeho, I released a special album during the celebration, too. In my albums, I used the Onko dialect we speak here just to identify myself with the town. So, I am always proud of my nativity. When there was a political uproar affecting our community here, I released an album then, and when we were without a king for 14 years, I released an album then as well to address the matter.

QUESTION: Are you currently working on any poetry or song?

Adedayo Idowu: There is one that ought to be launched but was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I am still working on another album.

QUESTION: Is any of your children taking after you?

Adedayo Idowu: Yes… my first son, though he is not into poetry, but he sings also, he is a graduate of music from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The second-born is also interested in these arts, and she knows almost my entire album; she also read linguistics and African studies at OAU. The lastborn also plays keyboard, although he studied Computer Science. So, I can say that they all took after me.

QUESTION: What is your word of encouragement to those looking up to you?

Adedayo Idowu: They need to be dogged. No pain, no gain. They should imbibe the dignity of labour, as we value it in Yoruba land and across Africa as a whole. They should desist from the love of money. So, parents should train their children to fear God.