By Mufu Onifade – Nigeria and the world have lost another topnotch human cultural heritage! For those who cherished core professionalism and the generation of unblemished character and discipline, they will forever miss Jimi Solanke (1942 – 2024). It is indeed the end of an era characterized by industry hinged on discipline and delivery. An actor, a dramatist, poet, storyteller, songwriter, songbird, instrumentalist, fine artist, and more, Uncle Jimi was it all. He remained culture personified till he breathed his last just a few days ago.
Dateline: I986. The Lagos Arts Council was putting together a 15-minute stage performance titled Ajoji. The play involved a wounded Hunter, an adorable Princess and four of her maids. The hunter was wounded by a lion, which he had killed. I played that Hunter while my professional colleague, Yemisi Sunmonu (then Yemisi Olumuji) played the Princess. We were co-directed by Yomi Fawole (late) and Henry Anaziah.
We were scheduled to perform at the Museum Kitchen, Onikan, Lagos. We later we got to know that the then Military Administrator, Navy Captain Mike Akhigbe, who was in mufti was in the audience. It was a 5-star performance!
While the rehearsal session was on, this gangling man strolled into the hall. Deafening silence overwhelmed us – actors, drummers and technical crew. Yomi Fawole immediately abandoned his directing and courteously received him. “Who is this man with a massive presence that froze our rehearsal?”, we wondered. Then Yomi Fawole faced us and introduced, “Ladies and gentlemen, please let’s welcome into our midst, the Lion Voice, Uncle Jimi Solanke.”
The atmosphere was charged to a frenzy; a deity had just descended to mingle with us, the mortals. I had watched Uncle Jimi on a kiddie programme on TV. I knew about his reputation as an actor, songwriter, musician, theatre director and more, but some of my colleagues and I were seeing him live for the first time. He sat down like a proud deity being worshipped by his acolytes while Yomi Fawole set us in motion again. Intermittently, Uncle Jimi would stop the rehearsal and inject some magical touches here and there. We all enjoyed his subtle directorial technique, which greatly assisted us and better built the play.
At the Museum Kitchen, our performance was superlative! In fact, the Military Administrator was so impressed that he called for the play again. It was re-staged for the year’s annual LAGOS STATE AWARDS NIGHT held at the State House in Marina. I had since got closer to Uncle Jimi Solanke especially after another meeting of ours a few years after 1986.
Till this day, I have not met any man whose voice is deeper and huskier than that of the elders’ masquerade that Uncle Jimi’s voice. His songs are original, captivating and loaded with deep philosophies and morals that easily reform the society. As an actor, only Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Ola Rotimi (late) and other directors of that status could revel the joy Uncle Jimi gave to their stage direction. These great playwrights provided texts, Jimi Solanke injected life into it and the audiences relished the plays like honey to the last drop.
Jimi Solanke, the lion voice, whose eyes rove to penetrate hard hearts. Popularly called Baba Agba (taken from one of the tracks in his album) had an impressive presence that makes the stage shiver and tremble. Whether in Kurunmi, The Gods are not to Blame or Ovonramwen Nogbaisi by Ola Rotimi, Jimi Solange played the lead roles like a large masquerade that the audience adored and worshipped. He was also an indispensable actor in many of Wole Soyinka’s plays especially as a member of Ori Olokun group at Ife between 60s and 70s.
Whether in his music albums or on moonlight times with countless children on television, his fingers tricked the strings of the box guitar, and the sound sang the lullaby that vibrated and resonated in our hearts. When he opened his mouth, his voice quivered through the mic and burst the speaker. The Lion Voice spoke and the ground quaked. It was the ways of special breeds! When he sang Osupa, Baba Agba, Ojo Je, and many more of his original numbers, his voice strapped the music to our souls. And he became unforgettable in our consciousness.
Every masquerade – even the elders’ masquerade – entertain and bless people with dances and prayers and return to igbale to cool off. And so, the big masquerade in Jimi Solanke has performed all ordained rituals and has now danced back to igbale (sacred chamber) after his final curtain call that closed his final stage performance!
Good night, Uncle Jimi!
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