A SALUTE TO THE GREAT LEGEND JOHN OBOH aka MIGHTY MOUSE

“How Afro-Celtic Music Beat was Born in Ajegunle ”

Mighty Mouse Culture Beat & Piper by Norman’s Scottish Music made Waves in the mid-1990s.Mighty Mouse (John Oboh) met Piper Norman (Norman Core Macleod) through his sister Josephine Oboh in November 1996 at the time MacLeod was Honorary Piper and later Chieftain of The Lagos Caledonian Society.

Norman had travelled to Northern Nigeria and was fascinated with the Northern musical instruments Kakaki & Algator with his passion for piping and his fascination for Afro beat such as Fela’s music; he was eager to create a music that blended his Scottish Music on the bagpipes and African percussions but didn’t know of any music producers in Nigeria that would make his dream come true.

As luck will have it his then-good friend Josephine Oboh after listening to his woes introduced Piper Norman to her brother, Mighty Mouse to take up the challenge at his Jahoha Studios, in AJegunle. Mighty Mouse and Norman hit it off a few minutes into their meeting and kicked off with rehearsals within weeks.

Mighty Mouse being a perfectionist and having a great ear for quality sound told Norman that although he had not recorded the Scottish Highland Bagpipes before he was certain that another history was about to be created after his creation of the Aj music genre.

It was a creative experience for all involved including session musicians such as Sola
Ogunshola, and Jude Levi on keyboards among others. The sound recording was challenging because they used reels instead of Digital equipment which made the recording a very sensitive task. The reason according to Mouse was to capture the true Scottish essence and African mood.

After the creation of the First CD Album titled “Scottish Essence, African Mood” with all sessions rehearsal and later recording using reel equipment done at Mighty Mouse, Jahoha Studios.

John Oboh had done it again, a great success, but the challenge was how to introduce this new blend of music to the world audience. Josephine Oboh took up the challenge and was nominated Executive Producer under PAC Promotions to promote this unique blend of African and Scottish rhythms.

The music was an instant success and hit. It was played on all major radio and Television stations across Nigeria including AIT, NTA, Channels and requests for physical performances started pouring in.

“Scottish Essence African Mood” was officially launched at the British Council, Ikoyi Lagos, on 9th November 1998 where Mighty Mouse organised and produced the stage performance using Divine Konnection Band & Sparks Dance Group from Ajegunle. A great success to recon with and another show followed instantly at The Caledonian Society, Chieftain Ball at the MUSON, Centre The album was reproduced and released in Nigeria under Mighty Mouse’s supervision.

Follow-up Shows took place at venues such as Lagbaja’s Motherland at the invitation of Lagbaja. The music collaboration between Mighty Mouse and Norman MacLeod brought about other promotional jam sessions with other renowned names in the industry such as Yinka Davis, Mighty Mouse/ Remi group, Sail around the World Festivals, Jazz 38, with Tunde Kuboye, French Cultural Centre, Lagos, including shows with Femi Kuti, other local and international artists, Majekodumi’s Jazz ville in Yaba, O’jezs Music nights and many other.

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These shows were organised by Jahman Anikolakpo Editor at the Guardian at the time, with great support from Toyin Akinosho, Josephine Oboh, Ben Tomoluju.

The success of “Scottish Essence African Mood” sparked the idea of the second musical CD production “Step Up Tempo” where Mighty Mouse suggested that Norman play the lead in Nigerian traditional music with the Scottish Highland bagpipes and blends of Esan traditional samba drum beats and other signature beats that Mighty Mouse had created in Ajegunle and was well known for.

The second CD production featured songs written by renowned composer and playwright Ben Tomouju with tracks such as Atiro, Omidan, etc, Esan songs, and Yoruba folk songs such as Oba.

This hit music CD compilation was turned into a hit video produced by renowned video and film producer Femi Lasode. Mighty Mouse went the extra mile by organising Aj musicians teamed up with Nike Art Centre’s dancers supervised by Art legend Nike Davis Okundaye and others.

Mighty Mouse & Piper Norman excellent musical creativity and partnership brought immerse support and awe to the music industry both in Nigeria and Scotland. A salute to the great legend John Oboh aka Mighty Mouse.