How popular traditional musician, Elemure died

Elemure

Popular traditional musician, Elemure Ogunyemi, has passed on.

News of the musician’s death broke on Thursday, shocking many of his fans. He was aged 71.

He was said to have breathed his last at his residence in the Ekute area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital in the early hours of the day.

Elemure’s passage has further depleted the rank of Yoruba, indeed African traditional musicians.

In terms of the promotion of Yoruba ethics, language, songs, poetry and other related elements, Ogunyemi was in the league of the likes of Yusuf Olatunji, Ayinla Omowura, Orlando Owoh, Comfort Omoge, Ayinla Adegato, Tatalo Alamu, Dauda Epo Akara and Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, all now late.

While details of the death were still scanty as at press time on Thursday, some prominent Nigerians have mourned him, with Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, describing his loss as a great one.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Fayemi, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, the governor received the news of the death with shock, being on a day the state was celebrating the transition of another illustrious son and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Jacob Ade-Ajayi.

Fayemi said the death of the musician, who positively projected the image of the state and was the first musician of Ekiti descent to receive a global recognition, was a great loss to the state.

“He promised the readiness of his administration to immortalise the deceased as a mark of honour for being a worthy Ekiti ambassador in his lifetime. Fayemi urged the family and associates of the deceased to take heart and be consoled by his positive contributions to the development of the state,” the statement added.

Also, the Minister of State for Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, has described Elemure as a philosopher.

He noted in a statement that Elemure’s departure was a great loss to Nigeria.

Adeyeye said, “Those of us who love his brand of music cannot but be grieved at the loss of such a great and patriotic Ekiti son, who used his God-given talent to promote Ekiti culture, tradition, unity and development.

“Elemure Ogunyemi’s song; A ti riun ka nwa o Ekiti Kete (We have got what we desired), in which he celebrated the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, is an anthem of a sort in Ekiti and anywhere Ekiti people can be found in the entire world.”

He added that the musician’s death was not only a painful loss to the people of Ekiti State, but the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

“I therefore urge my in-laws in Ikole-Ekiti in particular and the entire people of Ekiti State to be consoled by the fact that Elemure Ogunyemi lived a fulfilled live. His footprints on the sands of Ekiti State will forever remain indelible and our people should grief less, bearing in their minds that death is the inevitable end of all mortals and it must come when it would come,” the minister added.

Punch