Stats: 3,183,698 members, 7,921,499 topics. Date: Thursday, 15 August 2024 at 07:21 AM |
Nairaland Forum / Entertainment / Music/Radio / Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) (44060 Views)
NEW MUSIC – Morell – Sarauniya (prod. By Drummer Boy) / Naira Marley – Drummer Boy / Uzboi - Kokoro Aye (prod. By Sweetmartinz) (2) (3) (4)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (Reply) (Go Down)
Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by GurlFriend: 11:02am On Nov 03, 2016 |
If you have read 'Drummer Boy' by Cyprian Ekwensi, you may not know that the writer based the character of Akin, the blind drummer on a real life blind drummer named 'Kokoro'. Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu was a widely known blind minstrel from Lagos, Nigeria. He was born into a polygamous royal family in Owo, Ondo State, and became blind when he was aged ten. A jealous step mother was said to have been responsible for his condition. While his blindness halted his formal education, he refused to be beaten by life’s adversity and he developed his unique art of singing to the accompaniment of tambourine to support himself. He developed a unique style of singing accompanied first by a drum, later by a tambourine. He moved to Lagos in 1947, where he became exposed to major local musicians such as Ayinde Bakare, Bobby Benson and Victor Olaiya. In the 1960s and 1970s he featured regularly on Federal and local radio stations, and was widely respected for the depth and wisdom of his lyrics. An early pioneer of Jùjú music, he sang in Yoruba about love, money, conflicts and urban decadence. He had wide influence on other musicians. Cyprian Ekwensi wrote a fictionalized version of his life in his novel for adolescents, The Drummer Boy. He performed in many cities in Nigeria and overseas, but was exploited by people who took advantage of his blindness. Often he was homeless, playing on the streets to make ends meet. Kokoro performed for close to 60 years but never released an album in his lifetime. An early attempt reportedly failed due to the foot-dragging of the record companies. Benjamin Aderounmu, better known as ‘Kokoro’, the unmistakable and widely- known tambourine-playing minstrel, died in a Lagos hospital on Sunday, January 25, 2009 a month to his 84th birthday. It is said that adversity will either make a man, or break him, depending on how he responds to it. Kokoro’s life is clear proof that disability is not synonymous with inability.While he was never rich in monetary and material terms, Pa Benjamin Aderounmu triumphed over life’s challenges, as evidenced by the celebration of his life, even in death, by many from various walks of life. Not many of his performances were ever recorded, but one has managed to survive. This performance titled 'Ominira' was recorded at the NBC Lagos for the Nigeria Independence celebrations in 1960. Click to listen: https://soundcloud.com/lekan-babalola/ominira-nigeria-1960-by-kokoro?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook Image credit: NNP http://www.lailasblog.com/2016/11/meet-kokoro-real-life-drummer-boy-pic.html 32 Likes 10 Shares
|
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by naptu2: 11:14am On Nov 03, 2016 |
I used to see him every single weekday in the late '70s and 1980s. He used to busk on Igbosere Road and Broad Street on Lagos Island. I had Ekwensi's book, but it was not until the 1990s that I discovered that the book was loosely based on Kokoro. What amazed me the most about him was that he knew the streets so well that he could walk around unaccompanied. 102 Likes 6 Shares |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by naptu2: 11:19am On Nov 03, 2016 |
14 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by naptu2: 11:21am On Nov 03, 2016 |
King Sunny Ade introduces Kokoro at an event at the Island Club. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCc5C7AfAJ4 9 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by GurlFriend: 11:30am On Nov 03, 2016 |
Nice percussion too 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Stanleywaxy(m): 5:40pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
I lost my appetite for books , novels most esp after I had a smartphone. Was a cool story anyway. 5 Likes |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by alienvirus: 5:40pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
Wow. So he's actually not a cartoon character. 3 Likes |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Nobody: 5:41pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
![]() 1 Like 2 Shares |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Milanno: 5:41pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
Really |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by MrMcJay(m): 5:41pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
naptu2: Baba, you try o! Twale!!! 80 Likes 5 Shares
|
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by danbrowndmf(m): 5:43pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
naptu2:baba o. Hope say you don marry now sir? 28 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by johnstar(m): 5:44pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
K |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by nigconnect(m): 5:44pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
good |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Jalubarika(m): 5:44pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
I read that Book too |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Princelegacylemoha(m): 5:45pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
LEGEND |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by OmoIyaMero: 5:45pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
My dad will always refer to him when talkin about good singers. He ll say. "O korin ju kokoro". 4 Likes |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Viking007(m): 5:46pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
Good old 25 Likes 5 Shares
|
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Hardeybohwarley(m): 5:46pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
reading the post now.comment larer 1 Like |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by ibroh22(m): 5:47pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
hmmm |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by siraj1402(m): 5:48pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
That is real meaning of happiness. Though he is blind but you can read happiness on his face. Unlike our politicians who pack all our money but still not happy. 4 Likes |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by zadok60: 5:49pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
hmmmm nice 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by ArabMopol(m): 5:49pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
naptu2:uncle u don old ooo 9 Likes |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Nobody: 5:49pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
Who is he? |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by KayodeAjani: 5:49pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
Nice |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by ajoskele(m): 5:50pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
naptu2:Grandpa, I hail oo.. Small time now all deze undergraduates go dey folo old men yarn anyhow here. 35 Likes |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by saheedbadmus(m): 5:50pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
wow..read the book when i was small...now i know were osupa saheed drummer got the name 'kokoro" taofiqi from lolz ![]() 3 Likes |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by kabomo(m): 5:50pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
Hmmm |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Nobody: 5:50pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
naptu2: Grand-Pa! ![]() ![]() Sir, there's a book I'm also looking for, i can't remember the title of the book or Author (most have been Cyprian Ekwensi or Elechi Amadi). I remember, the story was about a boy who met a man, a Northerner in the train. This man goes on to tell the boy or amaze the boy with stories of his adventures. I think the train was traveling from Lagos - Kano. I would be glad if you can help me recall the title of the novel, i won't call it a proper novel, it's more like a story book. Just a few pages long. 5 Likes |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by ajoskele(m): 5:51pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
12 Likes |
Re: Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu: The Real Life 'Drummer Boy' (pic + Sound) by Opistorincos(m): 5:51pm On Nov 03, 2016 |
![]() 1 Like |
Where Is Funmi Adams? / Celine Dion's Husband Angelili Is Dead / Youtube Rewind 2019: The Most Watched Music Videos In Nigeria
Viewing this topic: 1 guest(s)
(Go Up)
Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 25 |