As a child, Eniola Abiodun’s ambition was to study Mass Communication to enable her to be in the entertainment world. Her father on the other hand, wanted her to be a banker. Today, however, she is one of the celebrated female drummers in the country. The enigma known as Ayangbajumo told YEMISI OLUSINA her unusual story.
Her choice of passion was rare. So, many thought she was not serious. But, whenever she beheld the traditional drums (Bata) hung in her maternal grandmother’s room, she usually felt this warm sensational feeling run down her spine. She was always excited.
That was the initial lead Eniola Abiodun Lias had of the traditional drum. She fell in love with the drums. Her grandmother who lived in Ilesa, Osun State, took note of this and gave her the encouragement she needed to have her hands on them.
As days rolled into weeks, months into years, Eniola saw that her heart beat faster whenever she was with the drums. So, behind her parents, she would stray from home, time after time, to engage in musical performances.
With a sensational voice and excellent showmanship, therefore, she gradually had begun courting her crowd with the skill of a magician.
In no time, thereafter, her performances earned her the nickname Joju ( a popular and respected person). She says of those early days, “All the while, I just knew I had a flair for music and I kept on singing all manner of highlife songs to the admiration of my mates and seniors. My childhood dream was to be in entertainment and so, I had made up my mind to study Mass Communication at the tertiary level.”
With her vision crystal clear, Abiodun’s passion thrived. Despite the fact that she had no manager or a guide of any sort, she kept on exploring more and improving.
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One day, her father, who she holds dearly, released a bombshell: “Eniola, I prefer you to study Banking and Finance and nothing else.”
This was simply contrary to her dreams. But then she had no other choice but to dance to his tune. “He loves me and I also I love him. I knew he meant no harm; it was just that his wish was not in line with what I had planned,” she recalls.
Even as her father’s wish became her command, her passion kept her alive. She maintained her focus until she discovered her talent in drumming, especially in Bata.
To improve her craft, she sought knowledge of the talking drum. “The talking drum specifically has a clear identity of getting a specified message across whenever it is played,” she told The Nigerian Xpress.
She became an outstanding musician whose fame spread beyond the confines of the Polytechnic. “The few weeks of my stay in school saw me to a lot of improvement that I became unstoppable. There was hardly any week that I did not have one show or another to attend to outside the campus,” she enthuses.
But how did she master drumming? She says: “My mother hails from Ilesha in Osun State and her compound, Ayanjongbede, specialises in Bata kind of drumming. Whenever we visited grandma at Ilesha, the drums were always there, hanging in idleness. My curious and impulsive nature would move me towards the drums, bring them down and try my hands on them.”
Her grandmother, who never saw anything strange in her actions, encouraged her to keep the act on. She would lament the demise of her husband, who she believed, if alive, would have tutored her more professionally.
Her mother, the real scion of drummers, also gave her unreserved support. “My mother never thought it was her girl-child that would take after that part of her lineage. She automatically gave her support,” she says.
This, unfortunately, did not meet with her father’s approval. “As far as my father believed, I could not make a tangible living out of entertainment. He thought it would only waste my time and distract me from my studies and future career.”
Yet, her mind was made up and there seemed to be no going back for her.
“I discovered an unending pleasure in this job and would not settle for any other,” submits Eniola.
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For over a decade now, the mother of three says there have been no regrets. Not only has drumming brought her face to face with top Nigerians, it has also set quality food on her table.
To crown it all, it was through the profession that she met her husband. She let The Nigerian Xpress into the story, “He was about three years ahead of me in the secondary school, but was quite familiar with Joju, my nickname.
When they met again years after, a lasting relationship kicked off, ending finally in marriage. They have been married now for about two decades and her husband has remained a true pillar of support.
“He has always known me with the passion. So, it is no big deal for him to give all the support that I need. He did not only watch over the children when I was away to perform when they were younger, he also accompanied me to events,” says an excited Eniola.
Expectedly, Abiodun is not spared the typical pains of a budding artiste. There is a financial challenge and the regular embarrassment from Area Boys whenever she goes for performances but she takes it all in her stride.
“The challenges I face are numerous and on a daily basis, but they keep making me better,” she says.
