Born to a Nigerian royal family in Ondo, Ade left grammar school to pursue his career, which began with Moses Olaiya’s Federal Rhythm Dandies, a highlife band. He left to form The Green Spots in 1967. He formed a record label in 1974, fed up with being exploited by a major label. Beginning with Juju Music, Ade began gaining a wide following as Mango Records, a subsidiary of Island Records, released his albums. He was soon billed as the African Bob Marley, and headlined concerts in the US. Soon after, Nigerian imports (mostly pirated copies) of his massive back catalog began flooding the Western market. Island, concerned about sales and Adé’s refusal to include more English in his repertoire, cut him loose after his third LP, 1984’s Aura.
By the end of the 1980s, Ade’s star began to dim, and his albums sold less, though he continued to garner critical acclaim and widespread popularity in Africa. 1998’s Odu, a collection of traditional Yoruba songs, was nominated for a Grammy Award. He has also become one of the most powerful people in Nigeria, running multiple companies in several industries.
Adena Ike
King Sunny Ade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A′i si owo baba ijaya, yes otito ni
A l'owo lowo baba ifokanbale, yes otito ni
A l′owo lowo baba afojudi, yes otito ni
Bi a ba l'owo lowo la n da'moran nla, yes otito ni
Adenaike currency controller, yes otito ni
Oyinbo ile owo ni, oyinbo ile owo o
Gboyega, oyinbo ile owo o
Baba Gbenga, oyinbo ile owo o
Oko Funke, oyinbo ile owo o
Ijebu Omu maa ba lo, oyinbo ile owo o
Toba digba owuro, ka fi gbele pa′wo
Toba digba owuro sir, ka fi gbele pa′wo
Ka na'wo funfun, ka na′wo pupa, kawa da lari bora
Igba laye ooo
N ba lowo n ba yo, oyinbo ile owo o
O tun gbe tuntun de, ololu
Currency controller mi, ololu
Gboyega Adenaike, ololu
Olowo gboye meji po, ololu
Ma ya'na ma lo sodo padi mi Nurudeeni omo Animasahun
Omo Animasahun, omo Animasahun
Omo Animasahun, omo Animasahun
Nurudeen omo Animasahun
The barrister omo Animasahun
Managing director, omo Animasahun
Oko alhaja, omo Animasahun
Nurudeen, omo Animasahun
Ma fi′ya je o, oba oluwa ma fi'ya je o
Ma fi′ya je o, oba oluwa ma fi'ya je o
Oluwa ma fi'ya je omo Animasahun, ma fi′ya je o
Ma fi′ya je o, oba oluwa ma fi'ya je o
Ma fi′ya je, oba oluwa ma fi'ya je o
Oluwa ma fi′ya je omo Animasahun, ma fi'ya je o
Nurudeen omo toba be, ma fi′ya je o
Oko alhaja mi, ma fi'ya je o
Oluwa ma fi'ya je omo Animasahun, ma fi′ya je o
Odi ile Ayo Sasanya mi, oyinbo oni sowo
Ayo Sasanya, oyinbo oni sowo
Ayo Sasanya, oyinbo oni sowo
Ayo Sasanya, oba je o gbadun laye
Ko rere oja je
Ko sowo ko jere, ko rere oja je
Ki′wo ma padanu nile aye re
Ko olori buruku ko ma maa koba e
Amin o ase o, Ayo Sasanya
The song Adenaike by King Sunny Ade celebrates the idea of having wealth and financial control. The lyrics talk about how people with money have power and respect, and Adenaike is presented as an example of this. The first stanza talks about how money influences everything and how having money makes one a respected person in society. Adenaike is specifically mentioned as a currency controller, someone who has a lot of financial power and control over the money supply.
The second stanza introduces other wealthy people with names such as Oyinbo, Gboyega, Baba Gbenga, Oko Funke, and Ijebu Omu. These people are also associated with wealth and power, and their presence reinforces the idea that money brings respect and influence. In the third stanza, the lyrics mention Nurudeen omo Animasahun, who is described as a managing director, omo alhaja, and the barrister. These are all titles associated with success, wealth, and power, which reinforce the message that having money leads to respect and power.
Throughout the song, there are references to Ayo Sasanya, who is described as oyinbo oni sowo, someone who has a lot of money. The lyrics suggest that Ayo Sasanya is the person to emulate, as he is wealthy and enjoys life. In conclusion, Adenaike is a song about the power of money and how having wealth leads to influence and respect in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Oro gbogbo lori owo, yes otito ni
Everything revolves around money, and this is the truth
A′i si owo baba ijaya, yes otito ni
It's in the hands of the wealthy, and this is the truth
A l'owo lowo baba ifokanbale, yes otito ni
He has money, father of the brave, and this is the truth
A l′owo lowo baba afojudi, yes otito ni
He has money, father of the faithful, and this is the truth
Bi a ba l'owo lowo la n da'moran nla, yes otito ni
If we have money, we have great expectations, and this is the truth
Adenaike currency controller, yes otito ni
Adenaike is in control of money, and this is the truth
Oyinbo ile owo ni, oyinbo ile owo o
White people control the money, white people control it all
Adenaike, oyinbo ile owo o
Adenaike controls the money, white people control it all
Gboyega, oyinbo ile owo o
Gboyega is also in the control of money, white people control it all
Baba Gbenga, oyinbo ile owo o
Baba Gbenga is also controlled by white people's money
Oko Funke, oyinbo ile owo o
And even Oko Funke is controlled by white people's money
Ijebu Omu maa ba lo, oyinbo ile owo o
Even people from Ijebu Omu go to them for money
Toba digba owuro, ka fi gbele pa′wo
If you wake up early, start working
Toba digba owuro sir, ka fi gbele pa′wo
If you wake up early sir, start working
Ka na'wo funfun, ka na′wo pupa, kawa da lari bora
We paint ourselves white or red, and go out with a clear mind
Igba laye ooo
At all times in life
N ba lowo n ba yo, oyinbo ile owo o
Either we're rich or poor, white people control it all
O tun gbe tuntun de, ololu
He has come back anew, the great one
Currency controller mi, ololu
He's the one in control of money, the great one
Gboyega Adenaike, ololu
Gboyega is Adenaike, the great one
Olowo gboye meji po, ololu
He's got a double dose of wealth, the great one
Ma ya'na ma lo sodo padi mi Nurudeeni omo Animasahun
Let's go meet my friend Nurudeen omo Animasahun
Omo Animasahun, omo Animasahun
Nurudeen omo Animasahun, Nurudeen omo Animasahun
The barrister omo Animasahun
Nurudeen, the barrister
Managing director, omo Animasahun
Nurudeen is the managing director
Oko alhaja, omo Animasahun
Nurudeen is the husband of an alhaja
Nurudeen, omo Animasahun
Nurudeen, Nurudeen omo Animasahun
Ma fi′ya je o, oba oluwa ma fi'ya je o
Let's not fight, let God handle it
Oluwa ma fi'ya je omo Animasahun, ma fi′ya je o
God should protect Nurudeen, let's not fight
Nurudeen omo toba be, ma fi′ya je o
Nurudeen, if you're going to win, let's not fight
Oko alhaja mi, ma fi'ya je o
My husband of an alhaja, let's not fight
Odi ile Ayo Sasanya mi, oyinbo oni sowo
In Ayo Sasanya's place, white people have the money
Ayo Sasanya, oyinbo oni sowo
Ayo Sasanya, the white people have the money
Ayo Sasanya, oba je o gbadun laye
Ayo Sasanya is enjoying the richness of life
Ko rere oja je
Trading is not good
Ko sowo ko jere, ko rere oja je
Neither buying nor selling is good, trading is bad
Ki′wo ma padanu nile aye re
Don't let anybody come in and take what is yours
Ko olori buruku ko ma maa koba e
May the wicked not steal from you
Amin o ase o, Ayo Sasanya
Amen, may Ayo Sasanya prosper
Writer(s): King Sunny Adé
Contributed by Mackenzie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Clarice
on Moti Mo
This was very helpful, thanks.
Iwaju
on Ekilo Fomo Ode
Each individual does their thing