AMBASSADOR OLAREWAJU OMIYINKA AKA BABA IJESHA’S CATCH PHRASE AND HIS PLACE IN YORUBA COMEDY

AMBASSADOR OLAREWAJU OMIYINKA AKA BABA IJESHA’S CATCH PHRASE AND HIS PLACE IN YORUBA COMEDY

Famous comedian Mr Olarenwaju Omiyinka aka Baba Ijesha right from the early 80’s when he made his grand entry into Yoruba comedy film industry has always carved a niche for himself has a multi talented artist and comedian.

Although playing the comic Baba Ijesha every statement he utters in all his films becomes a catch phrase word among the people apart from evoking laughter.

This outstanding and versatile comedian burst into our consciousness with his unparallel use of Yoruba idioms and pity sayings while giving his own interpretation of it. Some of this include; “Eniyan ki wa kitie ma ba” literally translated to mean: One cannot be alone without his/her own share of adversity. Equally is the statement he made popular and which became a trending word when he said “Agba ni Ere” meaning I am an elderly man in Ariogbosogeri, also his words “Ijesha ni Ere” meaning I am an Ijesha man. Not left out of this is his admonition to people who wrong him he says “Ofin Britico ni mo tele” translated to mean: I follow the British law and ways of life in dealing with people.

Baba Ijesha always invoke laughter and drop words that are constantly on the lips of lovers of his comedy like the title of his Yoruba comedy play on BOND FM, Lagos which he calls “IJESHA PELU TROPHY SAME NAANI” (Meaning Ijesha and trophy are the same),-(Ijeshaland is where trophy is bred hence it is the same).

Ambassador Lanre Oniyinka was the first comedian to popularize the lotto business of Chief Kessington Adebutu in a film where he gave the winning numbers as 46, 01, 09, 64, 14.

He also sang a song now poplar among his fans……… Fenu Fa epo ki o to le fenu fa epo wase mechno dada…………………… (meaning - those of you that like using your mouth to draw fuel (petrol) you’ll first learn the work of mechanic before you draw fuel with your mouth because you will bath with one keg of it, eat a small amount of carbade in the process.)

Likewise his word “Ege ko le ega fie nu tu” (The bird uses its mouth to build a house and at the same time use it mouth to destroy it, my highly distinguished readers you will not use your mouth to destroy your house.)

In “mr comedy” he says; “I don’t want a man with sixteen fingers in my house, a house blessed by Jesus christ”

To sidi who described his sleeping like that of somebody sleeping in the grave he responded with this words “Mo da pada” (Meaning- I send it back to the sender).

In “Iwasu efe” he says “Odua ni mi tokan tokan” which is the chorus/chant of the members of Odua People’s Congress. He equally took a shot at corrupt politicians with this song: Awon to fo ko je resi, E lo sora o, toko ba yan yin le Enu o e ti ro ogo o. (You that takes delight in using a hoe to eat rice be careful of the hoe when it pieces your mouth you are in  trouble (metophorically)). On death he says “Everybody has got his/her own certificate of when he/she is going to die”. “What calamity will befall God that he will say sango should help him, it can never happen”. “Any fire we use style to light in order to roast the bald headed vulture it is another bird we will use it to roast”. Equally in “Iwasu efe” he says “eniba pa inoki lo gbe ino ki pun” meaning he that kills a chimpanzee will carry it on his neck.

In OBA IJENE he says “Mo withdraw gbogbo epe to se” (meaning I withdraw all the curses I place on you). In the same of Obaijene he sings of the fact that God should not to kill mungun so that alaye will see work to do.

In “Baba Kondisani” Baba Ijesha comically prayed that what will make a slave to look with scion at his/her master in a what does he think he is. Manner, may we not experience it.

He equally admonish his caretaker (Adewale Elesho) by saying “I don’t want all the logistics you are using for me” meaning he doesn’t accept all his trickish ways. In “Ayodi tiripple” he replied to the request for his daughter “Mopetola” hand’s in marriage saying “oyinbo soro ofi thermocool si” meaning the white man speaks coolly, He also says the white man says Paradexically or dexicallypara.

All his words in his film are trends apart from evoking laughter which is the hallmark of great comedy plays with over sixty-five plays centred strictly on comedy which includes “Arugbosogeri”, “Baba soldier”, “Ifatheology”, “Jogun Jongbon 20/30”, “Mr Jonah”, “Mr Freezer”, “Major Kadara”, “Alagbe ijo”, “Baba Kondisan”, “Gberu”, “Ayo di tripple”, “Iwasu efe 1-13”, “Owo Afoju”, “Awada jimoh”, “Abobaku” etc.

You can never watch any of his films without picking some word that easily becomes catch phrase and abundance of laughter.

Ambassador Olarenwaju James Omiyinka Aka Baba Ijesha cannot be ignored for his contribution to Yoruba entertainment industry and society itself.

FOR UNPARREL AND IRRESTIABLE COMEDY LACED WITH LAUGHTER VISIT HIS YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=BABAIJESHA