Bisade Ologunde, popular known as Lágbájá, was born in Lagos on January 17, 1960. He hails from Odogun’s Compound in the Ijagbo Community of Oyun Local Government Area, Kwara State. He is a Baptist by birth.
Lágbájá is a Nigerian afrobeat musician, singer-songwriter, and percussionist. He is popularly known for his signature use of a mask, which covers his identity. He was born and raised in Lagos State, where he began playing the saxophone.
There have been controversies about lágbájá’s real identity.
An example was when a Nollywood actor, Aremu Afolayan, purportedly released a photo of lágbájá’s real face on Instagram.
Aremu Afolayan celebrated Lagbaja on Instagram on January 17, 2019, the iconic singer’s birthday. Afolayan posted a later-deleted photo with a statement that made some wonder if it was Lágbájá.
Early Life And Career Of Lágbájá
Lágbájá began his music career in the early 1990s, Ologunde took the name Lágbájá (which means “Jane Doe” or “John Doe” in Yoruba), a person whose name and identity are purposely concealed).
Some of his classic music that became popular includes; never far away and nothing for you, amongst many others.
Many of his songs dwell on serious social issues, while others simply entertain. Some are dance inducing while others pass serious messages in humorous ways.
He collaborated on song lyrics with Ego Ihenacho Ogbara, a backup singer, who also plays the tenor saxophone.
He imprinted the melody of the tunes with a powerful, brawny tone reminiscent to John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, sometimes with Ego singing along. Lágbájá believes in social reform through music.
In 2006 he won the Best Male Video for his video “Never Far Away” at the Channel O Music Video Awards.
Symbolism Of Lágbájá’s Face Mask
Lágbájá name was reflected in his stage dress, which consisted of a slitted cloth and a rubber mask worn to depict the ‘common man’ in the Yoruba tribe’s carnival culture.
The first question that is often asked when Lágbájá is encountered is, “Why the mask?”
Basically, Lágbájá’s mask is used as an icon of man’s facelessness. Lágbájá is a Yoruba word that means somebody, nobody, anybody or everybody. It perfectly depicts the anonymity of the “common man”.
The mask and the name symbolize the faceless, the voiceless in the society, particularly in Africa. Once you see Lágbájá’s mask you are reminded of your own facelessness.
This symbolism is so powerful that Lágbájá’s mask has popularized the use of the mask concept by other artistes both in Nigeria and beyond, although the concept was developed long before that, his first album (entitled Lágbájá) was released to National acclaim in 1993. Over the years and more albums later, the music continues to fascinate with its unique focus on a core of African drums.
His music is a product of various influences ranging from traditional Yoruba music to Jazz. Often the music is purely instrumental- an interplay between traditional Yoruba percussions, drums, chants, and western instruments, especially the saxophone. When there are lyrics, they are primarily sung in Yoruba, English or a blend of the two as is colloquially spoken in Yoruba cities.
After teaching himself to play the saxophone, he created his first modest band in Lagos in 1991.
Lágbájá’s Net Worth
The Nigerian afrobeat musician’s net worth is estimated at $2 million.
Personal Life
Lágbájá is a married, he has a wife and children. Although, he has not revealed any information about his family. The singer prefers to live a private life.
The Afrobeat legend over time, has done an incredible job of keeping his family’s identity secret. Lágbájá is a man of mystery.