Bisade Ologunde (in Lagos, 1960) is a Nigerian afrobeat musician, singer-songwriter and percussionist. Widely known as Lágbájá for his signature use of masks which cover his identity. He believes in social reform through music.
Early life and career Ologunde adopted the name Lágbájá (a generic name roughly meaning "Jane Doe" or "John Doe"- A person whose name, identity is intentionally concealed in Yoruba)https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110810105236556 as he embarked on his career in the early 90s. His name was reflected in his choice of stage attire – a slit textile and rubber mask adopted so that the artist represented the ‘common man’ in keeping with the carnival tradition of Yoruba Culture. He formed his first small band in 1991 in Lagos after he had taught himself to play the saxophone. With a high quotient of percussion instruments including congas and talking drums, Lagbaja's album We Before Me (IndigeDisc/PDSE), released in 2000, demanded honesty from politicians and urged brotherhood and unity. He shared lyrics of his songs with a backup singer, Ego Ihenacho, and equally plays tenor saxophone. With a firm, brawny tone akin to that of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, he emblazoned the melodies of the songs, sometimes with Ego scat-singing along.
Awards 2006 Channel O Music Video Awards – Best Male Video ("Never Far Away")BBC: Channel O Spirit Of Africa Music Video Awards 2006
Discography 'Ikira', 1993 Lagbaja, 1993 Cest Un African Thing, 1996 ME, 2000 WE, 2000 We and Me Part II, 2000 ABAMI, 2000 Africano... the mother of groove, 2005 Paradise, 2009 Sharp Sharp, 2009 200 Million Mumu (The Bitter Truth), 2012
See also List of Yoruba people
References
External links Lagbaja's official home page