It's Nigeria
I Want to Love You...
We Want Our Future Back
2020 & Beyond
Digital Media Arts & Kulture
IRETI: RHYTHMS OF WHAT
IT'S NIGERIA
- written by Tomi Ojo-Ade (nee Odejide)
"Nigeria has no business with poverty. With our human and material resources, we shall strive to eradicate poverty from our country." ~ Olusegun Obasanjo
LYRICS
There’s a treasure in our land
If only we will search, we will find
That God’s invested so much in our land
If only we’ll respond and take up a stand
We know the truth, but we won’t face it
There’s corruption and iniquity
But there’s a greater hope within our hearts
Cos we love this land, our people, our home
It’s Nigeria, Nigeria
A land of love and peace
It’s Nigeria, Nigeria
A land full of God’s grace
It’s Nigeria, Nigeria
We love our land, our home
We know the truth, but we won’t face it
There’s corruption and iniquity
But there’s a greater hope within our hearts
The future is bright and with love we will prevail
If my people will humble themselves and pray
Turn from their wicked ways and choose a better way
My eyes will open, and my ears will hear their cry
Let actions speak, let love prevail, it’s time, arise
A ah eh
Ai ai ai, ai e da de, a ya
Mi ah mi eh oh oh ti
O ah oh oh, A oh eh eh, ah oh eh mi
Nigeria yi, to gbogbo wa ni
Olodumare mimo
Olori Aye
Alaafin Otito
Oba ti nse ohun gbogbo ninu ohun gbogbo
Nigeria gbe O ga
Oba toun so ahere di ile
Oba to le so gibe di igboro
Oba to so akitan di oja
Oba ti nje iyanu
Oba to wipe ko wa to nwa
Olodumare mimo to wipe ko lo to maa lo
Oba to pe ko tan ti ntan
Oba to wipe ko ku to nku lenin fun ya
Ajakari aye o
Pata pata ola
Porogogodo imo
Okaka tiri kaka
Okaka tiri kaka
Okaka tii ri kaka
Oba nla oba wa
I WANT TO LOVE YOU
- written by Dehumo Bickersteth
"Every worthwhile accomplishment has a price tag attached to it. The question is always whether you are willing to pay the price to attain it – in hard work, sacrifice, patience, faith, and endurance." ~ John C Maxwell
LYRICS
I want to love you, but I can’t
I want to serve you, but I can’t
I want to hold you, but you keep running away from me
You need to know how much I care
You need to know just how I feel
But I cannot tell you cos you keep running away from me
All I want is to hold you tight, and make your dreams come true
All I want is to do my part of what I see in you
But I can’t cos you’re off with someone else
And I can’t cos you’re far away from me
But I won’t stop dreaming
And I won’t stop trying
Till I have you back right where you belong
I live my life between your eyes
And I have eaten off your lips
But it seems to me like you don’t even know my name
I think about you all day long
And I know just want to do
if I had the chance to play the part I dream about
All I want is to hold you tight, and make your dreams come true
All I want is to do my part of what I see in you
But I can’t cos you’re off with someone else
And I can’t cos you’re far away from me
But I won’t stop dreaming
And I won’t stop trying
Till I have you back right where you belong
But I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t
But I can’t cos you’re off with someone else
And I can’t cos you’re far away from me
But I won’t stop dreaming
And I won’t stop trying
Till I have you back right where you belong
WE WANT OUR FUTURE BACK
- written by Dehumo Bickersteth
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”~ unknown
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LYRICS
I used to dream and hope a lot
Of a future so bright and free
But when I look at what’s around, I fear it’s all a dream
I’m watching my future go, wondering if ever I’ll dream again
No use pretending I’m too young, I know when hope is lost
But I can’t let the chain persist, not through my generation
You keep on talking you discuss, think that’s the way to go
I see no way ahead of us, not with words or in deeds
I know you’re thinking I’m too young, too young to understand your plans
But what have they done for us, all these your plans of old
Don’t you believe it’s time to change the hearts that are involved
O ma se o
How can I dream again?
O ma se o
All my dreams are gone
O ma se o
How could you turn my dreams to naught?
O ma se o
Tell me reality
You are truthfully, hurting me, killing me, causing me a lot of pain
I’m standing here, saying give it to me
No matter how long it takes,
What will give you, will have to give
I’m standing here, saying give it to me
No matter how long it takes,
I’m going to get
I want it I want I want it I want back
I need I, I need it, I need it back
Give it to me …….
We want our future back
ALBUM CREDITS
ABOUT THE PEOPLE
IN THE 1990s WHEN THESE SONGS WERE WRITTEN...
Nigeria was written by Tomi in the early 90s, performed a few times by a christian ensemble called "beacons". I want to love you but I can't and we want our future back ere both written by Dehumo mid to late 90s.
TOMI AND IFE
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Tomi grew up in Ife. Ife was unique. It is the cradle of the Yoruba land but it is also pretty much a dead end! It is not a bustling city like Ibadan or Lagos or Port Harcourt (Paris, London or New York). The one thing that helped Ife attract people from all over Nigeria and outside Nigeria was the university.
The university was the "city". The melting pot of diversity and the talent that diversity brings with it.
The university was like a city in and of itself, with gates, fences and its own security, a water dam and an electricity plant. It also had extensive on-campus accommodation for university staff and for students. This created a real community. A community based largely on intellectuals!
The youth in this community were extremely active, finding creative ways to stay engaged and entertained.
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The christian youth found their voice in various forms fo artistic expression and music was a major one. Song writing and music performance was everywhere. Concerts and various types of events were constantly being planned and staged, multiple gatherings of christians in churches, house fellowships, campus fellowships, all created opportunities for content to be presented thereby inspiring content to be created.
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Nigeria is not the only song Tomi wrote. This generation wrote and performed so many songs, it would be an honour to bring them back to life someday, if possible. But being able to bring this one back has been pleasure for Dehumo. Especially because of what the song signifies for a country that still needs to hear the message.
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While the song has remained generally intact as originally composed, Dehumo added a whole new section at the end with the chant and tweaked the main lyrics a little.
DEHUMO AND FRIENDS
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Music is about expressing that which words cannot express. It is a language everyone understands, even if only few can speak.
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Ireti was first conceptualised by a group of musically inclined creatives living in Ife. A committee was put together to try to develop and launch a stage production that used music to present the plight of a blessed nation in need of salvation. This was in the early 1990s. The team included people like Abim Odusanya, O.T., Temi Odejide, Theophilus Immanuel, Dehumo, and others.
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While the production never took off, the three songs on this Ireti album were written under the umbrella of this idea and initiative and hence the album title.
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In the 1990s, Dehumo worked with a group of friends who could speak the language of music. All lived and studied in the university in Ife, Obafemi Awolowo University. All have gone on to live their professional lives as doctors, pharmacists, multimedia artists and so on. However, the music they created and help create still lives on.
Camped out in Shalom Studios in Ife, Dehumo worked with various vocalists brought in by trusted producing partner, Bolu Fakorede. Most were vocalists in the choirs of christian fellowships on the university campus.
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"I want to love you but I can't" was first written and recorded on one of those days, in a few hours. Dehumo was working with Opeoluwa Oluwole. Ope's silky smooth voice was extremely inspiring and a lot of songs were written and recorded with her over that period including "silent rain". You can hear ope's voice on the Eledumare Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 (Olorun ti ki yipada, Gbemi lo is ibis giga and osuba re re for example)
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Future back was written at the same time also with ope singing. The original recording for future back included an intro of two kids, about 6 or 7 years old, arguing about what they wanted to be when they grow up. It was cute recording them. The two kids are now grown up! One was the daughter to Dr. Osasona, owner of Shalom Studio and the other was the youngest of the Olamijulo sisters.
SHALOM PRODUCTION/STUDIOS IN IFE
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While Dehumo's experience with computers and music started with the music application, Voyetra, running on and IBM machine in one his closest friend's house, Tony Makanjuola; It was Shalom Studio that eventually turned the music enthusiasts into a music producer.
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Shalom was the only purpose-built, acoustically treated music studio in that part of Nigeria. At the start, it was running an Atari with the first version of Cubase and a Yamaha TG100 along with PSR 400 and 500, later getting to work with Korg M1, the studio somehow managed to keep up with the evolution of music technology, doing things in music that were trail blazing at the time. And Dehumo just happened to be in the thick of it.
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Shalom has gone on to produce top engineers and producers, continues to inspire the youth to appreciate vocational skills and training, and push the professionalism of audio engineers in the creative industry and the importance of technical excellence in church music and sound reinforcement.
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Shalom was built by electrical engineer, Dr. Osasona who also runs the living-spring festival.The studio still exists in Ife.
ABOUT THE PEOPLE
IN 2018 WHEN THE SONGS WERE RECORDED…
Dehumo worked with Jide Folayan (MixMasterJ - MMJ) to source vocalists, musicians and a studio to do the live recording of the songs
Introduction
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Dehumo’s belief in the music itself as the focus, not the artist or performers is the reason why all his projects intentionally seek out people who love to play and sing.
From the early 1990s in Ile-Ife, Nigeria right through the 2000s in Singapore, he enjoys working with people with the heart for music and desire to express themselves.
In 2018, Jide Folayan (MMJ), stayed true to the spirit of Dehumo’s productions. After working on the song arrangements without compromise, he followed the same playbook and brought together a phenomenal group of musicians and vocalists who spent days and weeks practising and striving to deliver to meet MMJ’s expectations.
By design, the experience offered significant development opportunity for all, live production experience, recording experience for some and delivering a performance under the direction and to meet producer expectations for others.
In all, this production remained true to the spirit of all of Dehumo’s productions - the experience of creating music from the heart while intentionally creating development opportunities for all involved.
Vocalists
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The three songs in Ireti were recorded in Lagos, Nigeria.
It's Nigeria and We want our future back were recorded with live musicians and vocalists in a Studio in Lagos. I want to love you was recorded in MMJ's home studio.
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The three songs in Ireti were recorded in Lagos, Nigeria. It's Nigeria and We want our future back were recorded with live musicians and vocalists in a Studio in Lagos. I want to love you was recorded in MMJ's home studio.
Nigeria, Our Land, Our People, Our Home & We Want Our Future Back
Piano And Keys: Ben Bakare
Drums: Kingsley Joseph
Bass: Clement Adefemiwa
Percussions: Dapo Faleti
Guitars: Gregson Danauta
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Lead Vocals: Karo Okri (Take 1), Seyi Kayode (Final)
Ewi: Oyinlola- Yeshua Sanusi
Piano And Keys: Ben Bakare
Drums: Kingsley Joseph
Bass: Clement Adefemiwa
Percussions: Dapo Faleti
Guitars: Gregson Danauta
Backing Vocals
Shamma john, Okesola Oluwaseun Victoria , Tayo Adigun, Karo Okri, Vivian Dada, Abiola Alli, Miriam, Kayode Olatunbi , Bolatito Ayoola, Peter Sonola , Frank Odiase , Vivian Dada , Oyinlola Sanusi., Bolatito Ayoola., Ayomide Osanebi, Yetunde BASHORUN
MMJ, the Studio & Engineers
MMJ is a prolific arranger/producer, songwriter, recording, mixing and mastering engineer. He has worked on music for a wide range of artists in and outside Nigeria (see MMJ profile on dmakulture.com).
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On this project, MMJ worked to realise Dehumo's vision for the songs. Working off demo's Dehumo created in his home studio in Singapore, MMJ searched for and assembled a team of vocalists and musicans, arranged the music for the songs and directed the performances to realise the vision.
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Working with the studio engineer @...., he experimented wit production techniques, seeking ways to capture unique sonic perspectives of the performances within the affordances of the studio acoustic environment and equipment.
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This was the first project Dehumo and Jide (MMJ) will attempt in this way and the results were encouraging.
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This has led to 2 other projects which are also being released around the same time as Ireti.
ABOUT THE PEOPLE
IN 2018 WHEN THE VIDEO WAS PRODUCED...
Dehumo worked with Gbenga Adenuga and his outfit in Lagos to come up with a preview video for the project working a team of young, driven video producers and on-screen talent.
The video was shot as an experimental project led by Gbenga Adenuga
Gbenga assembled the group of young talent to work with him in this studio to create and execute the video concept. While there were elements of it that worked really well, overall, it was initially not what Dehumo had in mind. However, with a few tweaks to the sections that were not aligned to the desired interpretation, the video was used with most of it largely intact.
Cast
Kelechi Maduabuchi
Mildred Ossai
Folar Asade
TDA (Tunde Daniels)
David Saheed
Dozie Anams
Ifechukwu Obinna Goodluck - young boy
Ifechukwu Precious - young girl
Direction, Production, Post-Production
Directed: Folar ASADE
DOP: Gabriel Ambrose
Dance instructor: Seun Oyeniyi
Crew
Camera Assistant: Emmanuel
Editor Assistant: Tunde
Mildred Ossai: Makeup
Damitouch: Makeup artist
Silas Tegwonor - Project Manager
ABOUT THE PEOPLE
IN 2020 WHEN THE SONGS WERE MIXED & RELEASED...
Dehumo and MMJ worked on the mix for months moving between various DAWs,from Cubase to Logic to Protools. Eventually the mix was completed using UAD's new DAW, Luna and mostly UAD hardware and emulations
The songs were mixed using UAD Apollos, UAD plug-ins and the UAD DAW, Luna.
The mixing process was challenging for many reasons but the most interesting one was the aligning creative decisions and expectations between producers. Dehumo has always favoured creating immersive, layered sonic landscape, with sounds interacting in creative ways to deliver different experiences. These experiences rely on the interaction between mix elements shifting in relation to any specific sound the listener focuses on at any time.
After multiple attempts, it was decided the current mixes were it. No more experimenting. You can see and experience a lot more of this in the other projects coming out in this series.
Re-voicing first takes to create the final takes
After several months of working with the recordings and also recording three other projects which will also be released soon, the idea was floated to re-do the vocals mainly to address some technical recording challenges that made the first takes difficult to mix.
Seye Odebiyi joined Jide, Gbenga and Dehumo to review the 3 songs and come up with how to approach the new vocals including selecting voices. Through these discussions, the project invited Adetoun and Seyi to lend their voices to the songs. For more information about Adetoun and Seyi as well as Karo Okri and Eniola Michael, see the artist pages on dmakulture.com
Song Publishing and Release
The songs are original compositions and published with CD Baby. The project was released using CD Baby and the songs are available on all popular streaming platforms