Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi is also known as one of the great founders of Juju music in Nigeria. Simply known as Ebenezer Obey on stage, he has used his music renditions, both juju and gospel, to rule the entertainment industry far and near. Last Yuletide, a stage musical called Obey, the musical, was written and staged to celebrate his numerous achievements. The play was written by Emmanuel Adejumo and produced by Edgar, Duke of Somolu. writes on the waves made by the show at the Muson Centre, Lagos, last December.
Ebenezer Fabiyi Obey otherwise known as Ebenezer Obey is one of the most celebrated Nigerian musicians, singers and entertainers. For many decades he sang, he composed, he entertained with musical lyrics that appealed to the generality of the people. He started out as a juju maestro. Then later he graduated into a gospel composer and singer. It was stated some years ago, that God called him to use his musical talent to spread and preach His gospel. And so heeding that divine call, Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi shifted his attention to gospel music, giving it as much energy as he gave to juju music even in his early years on stage.
In his honour and to bring his works into stage musical drama, Emmanuel Adejumo, son of Baba Sala, has chosen to pen down the history of Obey into a stage drama. Simply tagged Obey the musical, the drama went on stage throughout the 2025 Yuletide period at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Produced by Edgar, the famed Duke of Somolu, the play saw a big crowd of people trooping into the hall for the two days it lasted. They were moments to have a clearer glimpse of the life and times of Ebenezer Obey the miliki master. As people trooped in, his music played constantly in the background. It was like a welcome salvo.
Most of the tracks played were his old tunes that moved Lagos and its environs to their knees in the 1970s and beyond. People reflected on those memorable days when Obey used his alluring music to wake up owanbe, made social clubs rise to the occasion. Fortunately, Adejumo who goes by the name Boi Sala while writing the play consulted Obey. Obey gave him all the books written on him, on his career and his switch from juju to gospel. With this and all the interviews he conducted, Adejumo was able to produce a huge dossier on Obey that made the stage output rich and highly acceptable.
On stage, the musical eulogized and honoured Obey more than expected. The roles some characters played on stage made thespians to wonder why Obey was able to control the music scene in Nigeria for so long and so convincingly for that matter. But Adejumo is a wizard. He took his time to zero into the deeper recesses of Obey’s musical career and journey. His method worked. His concentration mainly was on those favourite, all time tunes. Those lyrics that made people forget themselves at night and social clubs in the days of yore. Indeed Obey held the society in the jugular with his memorable tunes of old.
On stage, Adejumo also replicated Obey on his guitar, with his piercing voice, dishing out stories, calling on names of celebrities, society men and women of caliber. He sang their praises and earned their respect. The songs manifested his control over others. He composed and rendered with accurate precision that he was termed Ariya repete. For him on stage, enjoyment has no equal. Music, this food of love, must continue to play on.
In writing the play, Boi Sala placed emphasis on those who could act the roles to the full. As family members of Obey strolled into the hall, they were surprised to see the lead character replicating Obey on stage. Not only that they commended the show and those that acted but asked Boi Sala where he got some of the old tunes that were not available to the family. All these helped to add beauty to the Obe show that thespians came out with praises for a job well done.
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