Since top female drummer, Aralola Olumuyiwa aka Ara’s union with Prince Nurudeen Olalekan failed years ago, she has moved on. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, the cultural ambassador of the Ooni of Ife speaks on marriage, her relationship with Ooni and her desire to help people who are in need
Are you satisfied with the growth of Nigeria’s entertainment industry?
I am not satisfied with the reception my kind of music gets. Even though we are appreciated outside the country, I still believe that charity begins at home. We need to be better appreciated. And in the bid to go commercial, we do not want to misplace our originality.
Will you say you’ve done enough?
I do not think I have contributed to showbiz as much as I would love to do. For me, this is a lifetime assignment. Making way for female drummers is a huge achievement, but I want to go beyond that. It was when I started playing talking drums that other females emerged. They now travel round the globe and are well recognised.
What are those things you still desire to do?
Apart from music, I like to help the less privileged in the society and serve humanity. I like to have an orphanage home, take care of the widows and old people in the society. These are parts of the things the creator asked us to do and I believe I am in a position to do them.
Why have you not achieved any of these?
I do them, but I do not have a Home yet. The Ara Passion Project, for instance, has been helping young mothers and motherless babies. I have worked closely with the Heart of Gold for years.
Right now, I am co-ordinating over 10,000 widows for the Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife. I am working closely with him. Apart from being his cultural ambassador, it is a great privilege to be able to serve. And I am most grateful to the Ooni for giving me the opportunity.
What exactly is the Ooni’s plan for the widows?
He wants to make life more comfortable for them. We launched a co-operative programme for them last week. They get rice, cows and money monthly. As long as you are living in Osun and you are a widow, you will benefit from the gesture. It doesn’t matter where you come from. When some of the widows went to pray for him during the race to become the Ooni, he made a promise to them that he would be of help and he has fulfilled it. How did you meet the Ooni? It is a story for another day. He is an unusual king; a great man with a very large heart. He is a very spiritual being too.
Did you know him before he assumed the position?
No, I met him for the first time in January this year. I was not surprised that he became the Ooni because he was ordained. My journey with the Imperial Majesty is beyond the ordinary.
Is seems your music career is dragging?
I am a woman of many parts; my career is not dragging. But one thing will always affect the other. I was known more as a singer before a drummer. If you watch my performance, you will know that I combine singing and drumming together.
Do you have a musical album?
I have never released an album. We have many artistes who have albums, yet they are not relevant like Ara. I have recorded many songs and I would put them out in due time. My fans should always expect nothing but the best from me.
Have you noticed traits that your son could take after you?
At different times, I have asked him what he would like to become and he would ask me too, “What do want me to become?” I have always let him know that it is not about me, but him. Though, I have noticed that he plays with my drums a lot, I will leave him to find his path in life.
Having my son is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me and it is a privilege. Certain people feel you are mystical.
Don’t you find that disturbing?
They cannot be too far from the truth if they say I am spiritual. You cannot attain the level I am without being spiritual. I do not see the likes of King Sunny Ade, late Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Ebenezer Obey as ordinary beings. It is impossible to be an ordinary being when you are at such level.
Do you go to church or mosque?
I go to church. I am a Christian, but I have a Muslim background.
It has been a while since your marriage crashed and you are not getting younger anymore. Why have you not given marriage a second chance?
My first attempt in marriage did not fail. In fact, it never existed. The registry annulled it. In principle, I have never been married. It was an nulled based on pre-existing marriage, but I do not like to go into further details. No matter what went wrong between us, he remains my son’s father and I have regards for my child. I have moved on and the father of my son has moved on with his life too.
I am certain men are coming your way; what has stopped the charming Ara from saying yes to another man?
The problem I have is that most men who have come my way only know Ara; they do not know Aralola Olamuyiwa. Men do not know how to woo women again because women are now difficult. Due to my upbringing, I believe that if a man truly wants me, he must show a genuine interest. But once he faces little stress or do not get response quickly and leaves, it tells me he was never serious. I am not after any man’s money.
Don’t you feel you’ve become unnecessarily hard on men probably because of your past experience?
They feel I am too strict. The truth is that my spiritual life doesn’t permit certain things. A man who likes me must be ready to be upright. But how many men have that patience these days?
Again, like you pointed out, people already have an assumption of me because of what I do or stand for. They think I am a water goddess or something like that. So, though there are men, I am being careful as well. I have a very close relationship with God.
What exactly do you want in a man?
First thing is that only God knows the man meant for a woman, but I just want someone who has a good heart. He must be confident because my profile intimidates most men. He should love children too, and the others are little issues.
Being in a traditional society, are you not under pressure to start a family?
I am, but I will not let that pressure push me into a wrong situation. At God’s time, I will get married.
How do you love to be remembered?
I am still alive and I believe I am not dying anytime soon. Let me continue with the work my creator has asked me to do.
