Where are they?
Where are the stars of yesteryears?
Though, successors were planned alongside to fill their vacuum but yet they were not filled.
Where is Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the great legend of Afrobeat. He trained his Son Femi and influenced close fans like Dede Mabiaku.
But yet, the music dies in absence of the gifted.
Where is Ayinla Aniwura of blessed memory the Egba born Apala maestro.
His son tried all the way to sustain his music and many others of his apprentice but to no avail the original talent was irreplaceable after the talented has gone.
Where is Gbenga Adeboye, the Abefe popularly known as funwontan, a great radio comedian.
He thrilled the world around him with laughter as long as he lived and with his unique voice and funny jokes.
He departed, but several others who attempted to retain his exact voice and those gesticulations were to no avail, the talent died with him who God specifically blessed.
Where is Kola Olawuyi the author of investigative mysterious stories of the odd world “Nkan nbe” founded in mystery journalism.
His wife was supported with team of loyalists tried to recreate the talent but it was very difficult to relive or to replicate a talent given by God himself according to his wish.
Where is Isaiah Kehinde Dairo aka I.K. Dairo, an ijesha born founder of traditional Juju music.
He trended in the early 60s and took Juju music abroad to celebrate the Queen of England, the Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the Member of the British Empire (MBE) honor in 1963 for his profound cultural contributions.
But nevertheless all efforts of his family members and music band to continue like him, the talent was not forthcoming because the gifted was gone with the talent.
Where is Moses Olaiya, popularly called Baba Sàlá:
The pioneer of modern creative comedy in Nigeria during the 1970s, he set a foundational blueprint for local theater and film humor. But after he died, his talents became too difficult for his family to continue or to recreate.
Where is Chief Hubert Ogunde the author of Folk opera and contemporary Yoruba dance drama. He moved the folk opera from stage to film making and moved people’s emotions to wonders of hidden world in Nigerians and African countries in the 60s and 70s with series of drama arts about African arts and cultures with cultural songs and dances. He however left behind many wives and sons to take after him but none has succeeded in that.
Where is Orlando Owoh, the Owo born indigenous initiator of Kennery music. A legendary Nigerian highlife musician who created the unique “Kennery” sound—a gritty, grassroots blend of traditional palm-wine highlife, Yoruba folklore, and deep percussion with countercultural edge which dubbed the “King of Toye” he lived a defiant, vibrant lifestyle that embraced local herbal traditions and a rugged, unapologetic public persona. He died and none of his successors has been able to replicate him exactly as he was because it was to him only the talent was given.
Where is Sir Victor Uwaifo: A South eastern brand highlife maestro, sculptor, and multi-instrumentalist famous for classic hits. He did he ruled his world in the 60s and 70s but after he died in early 20s his music has not been replaced not even by all that succeeded him.
Where is Majek Fashek: The charismatic singer-songwriter known as the “Rainmaker” who dominated reggae and alternative music in the late 80s and 90s. He worked hard to earn his international reputation and was traveling around the world a black African from Nigeria who moved the western world with reggae music, blended with elements of rock, pop, and traditional Nigerian rhythms. He however derailed by falling into drugs which destroyed his career in the early 20s and turned him insane on the streets where failed attempts were made to redeem him till his death. But today the music died.
Where is Baba Suwe, a genuis of comedy with energetic brand of indigenous slapstick and comic realism rooted in Yoruba popular culture. He reigned the world of comedy for ages cracking ribs like Baba Sala of blessed memory. He however died with no success in succession.
Where is Temitope Balogun Joshua a popular clergy with the biblical Jewish Temple and Synagogue model of priesthood popular for healing and miracles. His wife succeeded him after his death but the vibrancy of the Synagogue church and the miracles and prophesies were dead with the visionary.
Lastly where is Evangelist Roland Olubukola Olomola with a branded name Baba Ara an ijesha born charismatic spiritual and gospel singer. I watched some clips of his lifetime videos on YouTube today and that formed my writing this piece. It puzzles me as it should puzzle you too that talents are given only by God from birth. It also teaches that God is rich and wise in giving varieties of talents and gifts as according to how he wishes and purports.
Two children of a father may not have the same look and if they have, they will be differentiated by certain special features.
The same way, God gives talents to each and every individual in a family, in the society, in the nation and in the world.
He may give to the son of a street beggar a talent better than to his helper. I always love testimonies of people from the gutters who eventually rose to fame.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu life interests me because of God’s grace upon his life that took his mother as a housemaid to the family of the famous Tinubu family of Lagos from iragbiji in Osun state.
While struggling to perform her duties as a slave woman, stories recalled that the son of Mama Abibatu Mogaji Tinubu took advantage of her by having carnal knowledge with their housemaid which led to the unwanted pregnancy that became Asiwaju the boy who Iya Abibatu Mogaji Tinubu adopted as her own blood and sponsored to school abroad who became the man that God smiled on ever far and above all other legal sons and daughters of Tinubu household and today became the President of Nigeria.
Bible says: God is in heaven doing what he likes. Psalm 116:3
His blessings are without repentance. Romans 11:29
When he gives, it is permanent and he is not answerable to it.
Generally, there are uniqueness of nature and talents that identify each human being across the wide world today used in medical sciences and in legal institutions to investigate crimes.
CONCLUSION
All the above mentioned artists did their best to exhibit and perform their blessings and gifts as God magnanimously offered them but after they had died they could not transfer the talents to their successors because Bible says in John 3:17
“John answered, and said: A man cannot receive any thing, unless it be given him from heaven.”
The Stars at their respective times could not transfer their talents to their successors because it was specifically given to them not even to their Sons, wives, staff, apprentice, fans etc. nevertheless, none of successors sustained the original gifts, calls, blessings and talents The gifts died with the owners. Though they all made efforts but the originality died with the owners of the talents.
When God calls a man, He calls a person in accordance to his plan differently to any other persons and imbue in them gifts and talents unique meant to last for their lifetime.
The wisdom of God and his blessings to millions of people are at variance to one another shows parts of Gods intelligence and creativity.
The wisdom of God are at variance and can be used in interpersonal physical, emotional, intellectual, and anatomical identification.
Scientific research has discovered that of billions of human beings of different race, colors, genders and cultures, every individual carries unique identity which can be traced using one or all of the following specimen used in DNA, forensic findings, Toxicology, biometrics etc.
For example, the following are unique to all individuals;
A, Hair; Is unique to every individual so it can be used in forensic tests, the hair of every individual is unique and can be used to prove a crime no matter the numbers of years in his grave.
B, Eye balls; Provide unique identity for criminal investigative proof.
C, Finger nails of every individual attest to the proof of an individuality to decide crime in an investigation.
D, Saliva is unique to every particular person and is used in forensic findings.
E, Spermatozoa; A cell of sperm can attest to a crime because it is unique to each person.
F, Fingerprint is unique to each person among millions of people and is also useful in biometrics in banks, in forensic and in criminal investigations.
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The same way are the gift of talents. As many as God gives talents, the talents are in variance as the numbers of people in the world and cannot be inherited or transferred. To father, he gives differently to the son and differently to all others in the family .
This is an evidence of the sanctity of individuality. It shows that you are the only one with your typical identity and talents since the creation of the world till today and unto the end of the world.
There has never been another you and there shall never be. We should therefore cherish this great grace by making sure we use every talent given to us well for ourselves, for others and for God.
It is therefore wrong to allow anyone be it your parents or pastors to compel you to become someone of their dream neither should you do it to another person, it is a great error.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 says
“Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, ( Grave) where
you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.”
A philosopher named Etienne de Grellet says; “I shall pass through this life but once. Any good, therefore I can do, or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it, for I will not pass this way again.
