Remembering Emperor; the Sabada maestro

It was his love and passion for music that drove him to create the Sabada Sound; a unique combination of blues with a rich mix of Yoruba cultural elements and influences, because he saw music as a way to bring joy and happiness to the world.

Samuel Adebowale Olateju, popularly referred to as ‘Emperor’, originator of Sabada juju music, left the stage when his creation is just beginning to make waves, courtesy of his son Ludare, who’s also in the music industry.

Emperor became a musician, courtesy of his early involvement with the church. Starting out as just a member of the United African Methodist Church choir, UAMC, Ilaro, he rose to stardom because of his captivating solo performances at the annual church cantata.

His music ambition led him to secure a recording deal with international record label EMI, and then with African Songs also known as TYC then under the leadership of Late Abolarinwa Abioro. He later went on to establish his own record label; Adebo Records- which produced some of his most popular works.

The Sabada sound metamorphosed into a variant of the Bolojo genre of juju music made popular by his bosom friend Chief Tunde Elegbede aka, Jossy Friday.

Born on July 22, 1945, Emperor shared a special bond with his father as his youngest male child. The affection ended abruptly with untimely death of his father in 1950. Broken and deeply wounded by the loss, he turned to God for solace after an encounter with missionaries from the Methodist church who visited his ancestral home; Idologun Owotedo and embraced the Christian faith. He even lived in the Mission House of The UAMC where he acquired formal education and underwent apprenticeship in the art of printing which he completed in 1961.

Emperor tactically managed his budding musical success alongside the establishment of the Olateju Printing Press in Mushin, which went on to become Samad Commercial Press. With the support and patronage of his friend, Ranti Odubogun- who later became a director at Cadbury, and The Anglican Bishop of Ife Diocese- became the leading printing press for multinationals like Cadbury Nig. PLC, Nigerian Breweries, and Lever Brothers among others.

Emperor complemented his involvement in the entertainment industry with the establishment of Honey Taste Hotel in Owode in 1980; at a time when the entire Owode town was not on the National Power grid. The hotel  served  as  the  entertainment  hub  in  the  border town  playing  host to a lot  of theatre practitioners; Baba Sala, Charles Olumo Agbako, Pappy Luwe, Jacob and Papa Lolo where some of the regulars.

This story cannot be complete without a mention of the Mushin days! Mushin at  the  time  was  the  hub  for  upcoming  musicians in  the  country. He relishes how Col. Muritala Mohammed (who later became the Head of State) used to visit and engage him for Tombola Nights at the Barracks- Mayflower Hotel was the place!

Though Emperor Olateju is gone, his musical legacy continues in two of his children who took to music not minding how much he discouraged them.

His dexterity as a true custodian of the Yoruba music genre; Juju music was never in doubt. He remains a founding father and source of inspiration for many through his contribution as a member of the  Board of  Trustees (AJUMN) as  attested  to  by his colleagues,  the present  generation of  practitioners,  as  well  as old  timers in  juju music  circle. He also received several awards from social clubs, media houses among others.

Emperor hails from the ancient town of Idologun Owotedo in present day Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State; a town founded in the year 1830 by his forbears, Prince Akinola Lanlokun, the grandson of Alaafin Makua of Oyo Kingdom.  The Prince and his  two  sons, Prince Akinola and Olakale, were  great warriors/ hunters who  founded many  homesteads  in the  wake  of  the inter-tribal  wars  that  plagued  most  part  of  the 18th century in Yoruba land. In his last interview with the media, Emperor was quoted as saying, “My son Ludare has taken after his father in the spirit of keeping up with the family tradition”.

He would always be honoured as one of the Greats like; I.K Dairo, Adeolu Akinsanya, Baba Eto, Theophilus Iwalokun, King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey.