Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
A few days ago, a video showing 2013 Project Fame winner, Olawale who has shockingly become a cab driver, surfaced on the internet.
After winning the popular singing competition, Olawale released a few singles and went off the limelight but it looks like music could no longer sustain him hence the decision to resort to cab driving.
In an interview with Punch Newspaper’s Saturday Beats, Olawale opened up on his career
and how he is in need of a means of survival.
“It is very true that I am a cab driver. Everybody knows that money finishes, especially when you are in an industry where you have to pay for virtually everything. To promote your songs, you need money. When I completed the Project Fame competition, I released some songs, even after the one year contract I had with them expired. To release all those songs cost me money; it is not as if I won N200m. There were some other personal things I spent my money on”, he said.
Olawale went on to state that he chose driving over a white collar job because it gave him the flexibility to still pursue his musical career. “I resorted to driving cabs because a white collar job would not give me time to face my music career. At a point, I thought about how I could support my music career while working; I thought about jobs that would allow me to have time for my studio session and do what I love doing without being tied down under someone’s employment”, he stated.
On whether cab driving is embarassing considering his famous background, Olawale said he is never embarassed about what he does to earn a living. He added that he has outgrown that phase.
Olawale also said he plays his new tracks to passengers who recognise him from the singing competition in a bid to prove to them that he is still pursuing music which is his passion.
He said, “This is just to let them know that I have not stopped doing music. I make them realise that since music is not putting food on the table right now, I have to find another source of income so that I can eat. Being a Project Fame winner does not stop you from being hungry or in need of basic things of life, like every other person. I have to do what I have to do to survive”
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