Ayinla Omowura. A Man Whose Music and Voice Promoted Social Change in the 1970s
Ayinla Omowura lacked a formal education, but he was well-versed in current affairs and possessed a command of puns, proverbs, and metaphors. He was a moral guru, social critic, and pundit who frequently spoke up for the common man. He expressed the public’s concerns to the government and the administration’s policies to the general public through his songs. Fela Anikulapo Kuti recognized Omowura, one of the few musicians, for utilizing his songs to oppose corruption and the government. While applauding the government for raising pay, Omowura advocated the same for the private sector in his 1976 album *Owo Udoji. He clarified the Lagos rent legislation in *Orin Owo Ile Eko* and commended Mobolaji Johnson’s Lagos State government for its people-friendly initiatives. Along with discussing the 1973 National Census, he also covered the 1973 Challenge Cup ’73 and the transition from driving on the left to driving on the right, as well as the British Pound to the Naira and Kobo under General Yakubu Gowon. In addition to reflecting current events, his music championed social change by applauding athletics and denouncing things like promiscuity and skin bleaching. Omowura was dubbed “Hadji Costly” for his ostentatious fashion sense, which included frequently donning agbadas fashioned of fine Swiss lace and gold jewelry. He went by several other monikers, including *Egunmogaji* (King of Masquerades), *Anigilaje* (He Who Has Tree of Wealth), and *Alujannu Elere* (A Spirited Artiste), which all alluded to his reputation as a fearless and significant player in the era’s music scene.
