When Zangbeto, Sato drums rumbled in Ajido, Badagry for Babatunde Olatunji in maiden feast
By Anote Ajeluorou
AS a build up to the much anticipated 2027 centenary celebration of Nigeria’s drum icon and 1991 Grammy award winner Babatunde Olatunji, a festival was held in his honour in his hometown Ajido, near Badagry, Lagos on May 24, 2025. Among those who participated in the celebration of the drumming legend were Aholu Topan Toyiaga 1 of Ajido Kingdom, His Majesty Saheed Sedonu Adamson and his retinue of chiefs, Olatunji’s wife Mrs. Ami Olatunji, his daughters Mrs. Folashade Olatunji-Olusekan, Mrs. Modupe Maume-Olatunji, Mayor Sherry-Ann, Mr. Babatunde Olaide-Mesewaku, among others.
Ajido, a sleepy town on the Badagry estuary, came alive as dignitaries gathered to celebrate the man who put Nigeria’s drums on the global stage back in the 1940s/50s with his drumming dexterity, a talent that was in abundant display at his celebration. Organised by Bond-Africana International, in conjunction with the Olatunji family, his aged wife and two daughters who visited from the US where Olatunji lived, worked and died, Feast of a Legend lived up to its billing as the celebration of Africa’s undiluted culture at its best with Zangbeto performance as flagship.
As early as 8.00am, both Zangbeto adherents and admirers had gathered at the Ajido waterfront to receive Zangbeto, a water masquerade that in ancient days was believed to walk on water from its shrine from the island across the narrow river to town. But times have since changed and that special potency may seem to be in decline. So boats that are festooned and colourfully decorated are put at Zangbeto’s service to bring the masquerades inland for their performance and magic. Indeed, the Zangbeto magic is why perhaps its mystery and allure will remain for a long time to come. When Zangbeto dances, its raffia mask waves and rolls in majestic waves as in a windstorm tossing water about.
How do you expect a masquerade to be disrobed or unmasked in broad daylight in full view of all admirers, yet no one sees the being supposedly inside the cone raffia mask? Or explain how a live catfish is picked up from where the entity carrying the mask has disembarked from the mask? Or an unopened tin of milk placed inside the now empty mask turns to a blood-brown syrupy liquid that tastes better than milk? These were the sheer spectacle on parade, as Zangbeto displayed its moments of ancient magic and mystery. Whatever entity carries Zangbeto stepped out of the mask in full view yet no one saw it. It would return after a while and re-enter the mask and yet no body saw it, before it danced its goodbye and retired to the shrine nearby. The hundreds of festival attendees were wowed by the sheer magic and mystery of Zangbeto, as its male minders and female acolytes (Kregbeto) who drummed and danced to the unique Ogu songs and syncopating rhythms of the drumming that rang far and near.
Regal, magical Zangbeto Aheto masquerade
When the two Zangbeto herald came ashore from across the waters, drinks and cola nuts were offered in welcome and propitiation at the pier, as priests and priestesses warmly received the spirits guests from their watery enclaves to join the human throng in celebration of their son Olatunji. Olatunji’s drumming exploits. There wasn’t a doubt that Olatunji had his drumming inspiration from Zangbeto’s drum rhythms that he imbibed as a child and young man before he set foot in the wider world and America back in the 1940s/50s.
Zangbeto is a masquerade spectacle that should be witnessed live rather being described, as the telling diminishes its splendour. In all some 31 Zangbeto masquerades came out of their shrine at the marketplace to honour Olatunji in a fascinating procession that stretched across Ajido town and enlivened the Saturday afternoon that was also blessed with a little rain shower that mellowed the dusty arena.
Celebrating a drumming icon like Olatunji would not be complete in the Ogu cosmic world without the legendary Sato drum performance being held, reputedly the second largest drum in the world. Two Sato drums were rolled out with five young men who made the Sato unique dance before the actual drumming which is a unique story on its own. The Sato colourful drums stood resplendent against the darkening skyline as the weather turned and had the five men drumming in fascinating sequences. It was no wonder Olatunji became the personification of Ogu drumming mastery and how easily it was for him to export it to the wider world and make a name for himself and Ogu drum performance art.
And as a way of deepening Ajido drumming heritage that has been globalised by Olatunji’s exploits, there’s now an Ajido Drumming Essemble made up of children in various ages groups from about five to 15 years old. According to one of its organisers Chief Sewhude Adeyinka Amosu explained the reason for forming the essemble.
“The assemble is about extending, continuing the legacy of that unusual Ajido son (Babatunde Olatunji) who mounted the world’s stage and used drums to express so much, to give so much messages to the world,’ Adeyinka said, “he wasn’t only a drummer but a civil rights advocate alongside notable civil rights activists of world like Rev. Martin Luther King. So, we decided to put this alluring performance you’re about to see called Ajido Drum. We will use this to train more Ajido sons in the art of drumming, of using drums to express themselves. Maybe in future we might be lucky to produce another son the like of Olatunji. It’s not just about eating and drinking but about laying a drumming foundation for the future. They are young boys, they are here to entertain you with African drumming. They are trained every year to sustain Olatunji’s legacy.”
The Ajido Drum Essemble is a response to Ajido communal art logic as both the female acolytes of Zangbeto and the male minders of the masquerade cult danced and sang to their songs. Its rootedness in Ajido communal ethos was unmistakable as it took its songs and drum rhythms from Ajido and Ogu folkloric tradition.
Sato drum performers at work
As the Chief Operating Officer of Bond-Africana International Mr. Peter Mesewaku put it thus, “Although Olatunji is not from the royal family nor a member of the Zangbeto cult, you may wish to know that Zangbeto masquerade is the most revered masquerade among the Ogu people generally. Hence its performance is sometimes used to honour or celebrate illustrious sons and daughters of Ogu stock,” further explaining that the Ajido Drum Essemble “is designed to discover and harness innate talents in drumming among young ones. It is a communal effort.”
An emotionally wrought event chairman Chief A.O.S. Hodonu, while addressing the gathering, particularly Olatunji’s children, said, “What has happened today is an eye-opener. If you do well you will be remembered. This type of ceremony has never been done to anybody in the history of this town. Your father has laid a precedent that has never been achieved before, for the whole town to gather to honour anybody. What I want you to do is not what you will do alone. Make a very big picture of your father. We are going to set a hall of fame and your father will be the first person whose picture will be exhibited there. Olatunji, we will put him as the number one person that Ajido will honour. Don’t relent, don’t look back. As you honour your father, the Lord will honour you.”
While responding on behalf of the family, Olatunji’s daughter Mrs. Modupe Maume-Olatunji eulogised her father, saying he was inspired at an early stage like the Ajido Drum Essemble children to do what he accomplished in drumming at the global arena. According to her, “Our father always told us that if you have a good name and you did good things you’d go far. And we are grateful that everyone of you are here today to witness this occasion and to celebrate and the kick-off of his 100 birthday which will be in 2027. I want to thank everyone, family, the royal fathers for coming out today. We look forward to continued collaborations.”
While speaking further on the outcome of the maiden edition of Feast of a Legend celebration in honour of Olatunji, Mr. Mesewaku said he was pleased and outlined what the centenary celebration in 2027 would look like.
According to him, “The celebration is in line with Bond-Africana’s commitment towards paying homage to iconic African figures – both historical and contemporary -who have shaped the continent’s story through leadership, innovation, arts, activism, and cultural excellence. It is aimed at promoting the culture of reward and recognition..
“The centenary celebration will feature memorial lecture, drum feast, workshop, launch of Olatunji’s biography and short documentary and legend night. There is a plan in the offing to start an annual Olatunji Drum Festival and scholarship.
“By our assessment, it was a successful programme. The chairman of the occasion Barrister A.O.S. Hodonu confirmed it in his speech. He said that was the first time such an event was organized in honour of an individual in Ajido. The turn out was impressive; the Olatunji family said it was a memorable experience for them. That said it all!”
Babatunde Olatunji’s family at the celebration: his daughter Mrs. Modupe Maume Olatunji (left); his wife Mrs. Ami Olatunji and daughter Mrs. Folashade Seyon Olatunji PHOTOS: ANOTE AJELUOROU
