Any man I marry must accept me and my drums
Africa’s No. female drummer, Nigerian born Tope Elizabeth Odebiyi is a lady of distinct drive and passion. Weighing about 50 kilograms, Tope’s ways with the drums is akin to the way of the eagle in the air, causing ripples on every stage she performs.
The Daily Times features desk hosted her at our corporate headquarters, Agidingbi, Ikeja last week and brings you’re her thoughts, her career and more.
This dream lady from Osun State in South-West Nigeria has drummed her way into the pulse of the entertainment industry and is set to take the world in her strides. Tope’s energy bursting performance on the drums confirms that whatsoever a man can do, a woman can do also, even better!
A graduate of history and diplomatic studies from Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Tope is a feminine wonder with a passion for the drums. Exuding confidence and in the profession she chose outside her studies, Tope said of her peculiar passion.
“I just love the drums naturally because it contains some unique instruments you hardly find people of my gender flirting with; so I felt drawn into doing something different and unique, and I try to stay at it.”
The home front
Tope mused over her parent’s reaction when she embraced the drums her studies nearly taking a second place.
“Ummm, they were taken aback because there has been no musician in my family, so everyone kept wondering and saying, where did that ‘thing’ come from? so I am like the initiator and when I started, mum and dad were not comfortable with it initially because they didn’t understand where I was coming from; then they worried because they were afraid the drum passion will distract me from studying so, I had a task to prove that drumming will not displace my studies and with time they consented; a couple of times they watched me on stage in several of my concerts and they were relieved that at least I know my onions and I haven’t made a mistake.”
Marriage
What is marriage going to be like, and what does Tope expect her children’s own passion to be like when she becomes a mother?
“Of course, yes, marriage for me is not going to be a hindrance; anyone I’m going to marry would be aware and must accept me and my drums for life!”
Of her children she said passion is relative as far as talent is an inherent thing “I think passion may be influenced by what you grow up with and the kind of things you have around you. However, whatever talent my children will show as they grow up I will not oppose; instead I will encourage them to keep at whatever they have passion for.
“The same I will say to any young one growing up; I will advise them not to give up; just keep at it even though there are many challenges on the way. Remember you’re not the only one in that field but your uniqueness will stand you out, so keep at whatever it is you’re good at and believe in yourself.”
Tope who once tried to run her own peculiar band of all female professionals confided that the road has not been smooth. “Some of my colleagues dropped out for one reason or the other; one of them relocated from Lagos. Truly, my female folks have not been forthcoming.”
Disputing she is not a feminist, Tope admitted however that “I like my own gender; I think I communicate and flow better with my kind when I am on the music sphere. Besides that, I like to be very different in all that I do.”
With the music industry almost saturated with all kinds, what peculiar stuff is Tope scheming to introduce into the scene?
“Something not too far from what is appreciated now; something with a lot of African content but will inculcate the music language, rhythms and styles of my generation, and while I am preparing for that in the interim I do hip up and jazz but I aim to blend them all so I think it will be more of an African rhythm and focus because that’s who I am: African.” Tope already did two tracks – Omo Eniyan and Iye Iwo – to her credit.
Haven watched Tope on stage and observed the phenomenal strokes and communication with the drums that is almost ritualistic, one could not help asking, what comes over her when she’s on stage?
“Well, I don’t know if I can answer that question successfully because I just let myself go into the spirit of the moment and I can’t say if I’m really in control; but I love and enjoy what I do, so it doesn’t matter how the audience receive my performance; I just give myself up to the spirit of the moment and that’s it; and when I see the applause and the shouts that follow every appearance I know they really appreciate and love what I do and it makes me want to do more.”
Around the globe Tope can pinpoint some stars she can call her models. “Most of them are foreigners, like Sheile Kombado; K-Sticks of Daystar Christian Centre and so on. I heard of Ginger Baker but I never really met him.”
And Asa?
“Oh, she’s my inspiration! I like her a lot and I really dream of playing with her one of these days. That’s the kind of peculiarity I admire and seeing her succeed, I knew the stage is there for me too to step in and explode!”
Our guest also holds a diploma in music from Muson School of Music, a Masters in History & Strategic Studies and is preparing for her PHD at the University of Lagos.
Tope is also the Pastor of The Youth Church, The Breath of Life Ministry and The Chancellor of Touzar University in view.
Also a coach and front line speaker at The Lagos Business School, Muson School of Music and some local/ international youth development programmes and music seminars, Tope is an Ambassador of Drum Network Africa and currently Africa’s Number one Female Drummer.
For about a decade, she’s been under the mentorship and tutelage of her Pastor, Bishop S.P. Jedafe
Beside the drums, Tope also flirts with percussion; plays the xylophone, some other stuffs and a bit of the piano. You can follow her on face book @topstickswonderdrums.
