Idanre in Ondo State has a new song that captures its captivating scenery and defines its existential essence. It is entitled Udane ma s’enwa, which literally means Idanre is beautiful. It is a three-stanza lyrical composition that richly compliments the natural elements in a town like no other. It is a land of honour where hills make headlines as nature’s frills for tourists’ thrills. From sunrise to sunset, Idanre smoulders in the ethereal radiance of its ubiquitously smoking hills and unbelievably luxuriant sprouts on hard rocks. And they all flourish in aerial relish, ushering visitors into a refreshing land of ravishing magnificence. Indeed, Idanre dazzles with undiminishing glitters of glistening gold. All of these are summarised in the rhythmic mantra, Udane ma s’enwa, the raving lines with avid refrains.
From the allures of nature to the halo around the hills, Idanre draws the attention and admiration of tourists and indigenes alike. Indigenes? Yes! Some indigenes of this ancient town cherish the picturesque natural architecture of the town and they are fanatical in the celebration of its beauty. The composition of Udane ma s’senwa is the best illustration of how to love one’s town dearly. Romanticising nature in rhymes and lines is an admirable feature of English literature. From ST Coleridge to DH Lawrence, poets of old acknowledged the transcendental essence of nature in delightful lyricism. Our own Wole Soyinka, Niyi Osundare and other icons of African literature pay glowing tributes to nature in their respective poetic compositions. No one can easily forget Osundare’s lyrical toast on Ikogosi warm spring. Entitled Ikogosi mo ki o, meaning Ikogosi I greet you, the world acclaimed literary scholar, romanticised Ikogosi Ekiti with cryptic and charismatic metaphors, very much like the fabulous verses on Idanre, Udane ma s’enwa!
Guess what? Udane ma s’enwa is not a song. Neither is it a poem. It is the club anthem of Club 66, Idanre. Yes. That is what it is. A sublime rhyme composed by the club’s immediate past president, Biyi Akinseye, multi-talented socialite, businessman and financial analyst. The origination and recitation of this poetic anthem have a strong magical appeal that serenades the resplendence of a city set on the hills and reinforces the commitment of its members to the progress and development of the land.
Indeed, the contents of the anthem have become the article of faith that brooks no infidelity. In other words, members live and work in the full consciousness of the avowed commitment to idanre as affirmed in these verses of bliss. Without any doubt, Club 66, Idanre, as a frontline social club, has distinguished itself in selfless community service and exemplary leadership.
Clearly not the oldest club in Idanre but unarguably the boldest in terms of visible and palpable presence in the community. Every year, the club disburses scholarship and bursar awards to brilliant but indigent indigenes in both secondary and tertiary institutions. The award was instituted with the active support and patriotic zeal of the club’s patron, Chief Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, the national vice chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the South West. Akinyelure, accountant, businessman, socialite, politician and a community leader is surely a topic for another day. But what cannot be withheld about him is that he has consistently used the platform of Club 66, Idanre to dispense kindness to his community without drawing any attention to himself. This is a paradigm shift from the one who hugs the limelight for highlighting thugs. Akinyelure is an oxymoron; a resilient socialite famous for his reticence. Club 66’s interest in education is very strong, so is the passion to preserve the rich culture of the community. Recently, the club invested about N1.5million to buy musical equipment for Rotimi Akinlamilo, an Idanre-based traditional musician who propagates the town’s cultural renaissance through songs. Again, like the scholarship scheme, this significant intervention also enjoys the unsung imprimatur of its club’s patron. Akinlamilo is young. But his music is old. The investment in him, therefore is an investment in the past in the interest of the present to safeguard the future of the community’s cultural heritage. Of fact, before the emergence of Akinlamilo, many of us were already paranoid about the future of Idanre music, the dateless reservoir of our culture. From the inspiring stagecraft so far exhibited by the young singer, we are relieved that someone is stepping into the shoes of Idanre music legends like Sir Francis Akintade, late Adebayo Kuroloja and other forerunners. I remember watching Akinlamilo on stage recently; his lexical finish and lyrical flourish were evocative of the years of yore when Akintade ruled our world with mores, myths, mementos and muscular panegyric. Isn’t that beautiful? Indeed, Udane ma s’enwa!
Apart from the originality of this composition and the centrality of its theme, the anthem sufficiently encapsulates the heroic activities of the club: to develop Idanre and transfer the genes to younger generations. At a glance, the founding fathers of the club are men who spot grey hairs with graceful mien. Some of them include former Director of Press at the Presidency, Eric Teniola; former Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian Tribune, who is a media consultant with ICPC, Folu Olamiti; Executive Chairman of Media Link, Babu Akinbobola; Lagos businessman, Kelly Olurankinse; and US-based Marcus Akinboni. Just like the club is trying to save Idanre traditional music from extinction, it has never lost sight of saving itself. Hence, these granddads have danced out of the executive affairs of the club, thus leaving the stage to much younger patriots who have been baptised in the faith. The love for Idanre is the cardinal article of faith in Club 66. This is evident in the musical anthem that rings like a typical declaration of commitment to a cause.
In a smart move to perpetuate the club’s vision, the pioneers identified Biyi Akinseye, who was relatively younger and made him president. That was a turning point. Radical and vocal, Akinseye took the leadership challenge with unequivocal commitment. He was president of The Apapa Club, a foremost recreation club in Lagos between 1996 and 1998. With such enviable track record, success was not unexpected. What was exceptional was the triumph of a transitional leadership which was largely experimented with Akinseye’s ascendance. In January this year, the club recorded the ultimate success when Akinseye also handed over to a much younger Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika as the new president. While most of the pioneers are in their late 60s, the president is 50. It is an interesting development. But the important lesson here is that any club that wants to outlive its founding members must not only admit younger people but it must also yield leadership to them with a view to enjoying new ideas and fresh perspectives. That is the strength of Club 66. That is its beauty as well. And that is the pride of Idanre, where a new song has burst forth in the likeness of an anthem: Udane ma s’enwa o!
. Olowolabi is the Chief Executive Officer of Red Carpet Communications Limited, Lagos.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
