Obey, whose real names are Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Fabiyi, was bor… Read Full Bio ↴Obey, whose real names are Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Fabiyi, was born in Idogo, Ogun State, Nigeria of Egba-Yoruba ethnic background. He is of the Owu subgroup of the Egba. He began his professional career in the mid-1950s after moving to Lagos. After tutelage under Fatai Rolling-Dollar's band, he formed a band called The International Brothers in 1964, playing highlife-juju fusion. The band later metamorphosed into Inter-Reformers in the early-1970s, with a long list of Juju album hits on the West African Decca musical label.

Obey began experimenting with Yoruba percussion style and expanding on the band by adding more drum kits, guitars and talking drums. Obey's musical strengths lie in weaving intricate Yoruba axioms into dance-floor compositions. As is characteristic of Nigerian Yoruba social-circle music, the Inter-Reformers band excel in praise-singing for rich Nigerian socialites and business tycoons. Obey, however, is also renowned for Christian spiritual themes in his music and has since the early-1990s retired into Nigerian gospel music ministry.

Bonus Track
Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ejeka se iba fun Oba Eleduanare
Seun lo dabo bo wa lo wo ota o
Eleduanare Baba loke o Baba
Baa ba ji lowuro dami re nibi se o jo wa
Si won lo si won bo
Ka maa ke elesu lona
Baba loke o Baba loke o Baba

Eni to ti bie o Baba ko maa yankuu o
Agodigonyii ibi ko fun won lomo
Eleduanare Baba loke o Baba
Onise owo gbogbo maa ri towo se
Kan awon onise owo maa re re oja

Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba
Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba
Eyo eyo eyo eyo
Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba
Eyo eyo eyo eyo
Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba
Eyo eyo eyo eyo
Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba

Eni binu wa awanlo so odo lo we
Eja nla ni o yo ju re je oo
Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba
Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba
Eyo eyo eyo eyo
Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba
Eyo eyo eyo eyo
Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba

Eyo eyo eyo eyo oo
Eyo eyo Jesu Oluwa j'Oba

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey's song Bonus Track are a mix of Yoruba and English languages. The song pays homage to God, specifically, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The first stanza of the song is the praise of God as the King of kings (Oba Eleduanare) and the celestial father (Baba Loke). The stanza speaks of the faithfulness of God to His people in providing an escape route (ota o) and for His protection against enemies who may seek to inflict harm on His people. The stanza also talks about the ability of God to provide help at any time.

The second stanza expresses that whoever gives birth would not experience misfortune with God. The stanza talks about the richness of God and His ability to provide for every need. In the third stanza, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey chants the name of Jesus Christ (Jesu) and proclaims him as the King of kings and Lord of lords. The stanza expresses the joy of believers in Jesus Christ and their readiness to worship Him.

Line by Line Meaning

Ejeka se iba fun Oba Eleduanare
Let us give praise to the King of the universe, Lord of all things.

Seun lo dabo bo wa lo wo ota o
Let us give thanks for the blessings and protection that we have received.

Eleduanare Baba loke o Baba
God is great, the Almighty Father.

Baa ba ji lowuro dami re nibi se o jo wa
He has been with us through every day and moment of our lives.

Si won lo si won bo
Some people may come and go, but God remains constant.

Ka maa ke elesu lona
Let us not fall into the traps of the devil.

Baba loke o Baba loke o Baba
God is great, the Almighty Father.

Eni to ti bie o Baba ko maa yankuu o
Those who have been born into the world will eventually die and return to God.

Agodigonyii ibi ko fun won lomo
We cannot escape death, it is inevitable.

Eleduanare Baba loke o Baba
God is great, the Almighty Father.

Onise owo gbogbo maa ri towo se
All those who seek wealth and power will eventually face their own mortality.