For this week’s Bold & Beautiful, Indy Press correspondent, Ayeye Toluwalope, interviewed Dasola Ogundeji Naomi, a 300-level student of linguistics and African languages. A Chanter and a Yoruba Orator. In this interview, she spoke about her lifestyle, politics, abortion rights, and a host of other things. Enjoy!
Hello, can we meet you?
My name is Dasola Ogundeji Naomi,a 300-level student of linguistics and African languages (yorùbá) at the University of Ibadan and also the current president of my department. I’m a chanter and a yorùbá orator.
What does being a chanter and an orator entail?
Okay. A Chanter Is a tush way of saying you are an Elewi/Ẹlẹ́sà,.In yorùbá I will say (mo ma ń pe ẹ̀sà ) which means I’m a chanter or an orator, chanting entails a lot but to explain shortly it can be used to eulogize as oríkì in Yoruba, oriki can be in different forms but I will mention 2, oríkì Orílẹ̀ , oríkì ìlú. I think with this you should have a little understanding of what I mean by saying I’m a chanter.
Interesting. When did your journey as a chanter start?
Oh, will say it started when I was in secondary school, junior secondary school to be precise, but I took it as a profession during the lockdown and I bless God for growth.
What are some challenges you have faced through your journey of becoming an Orator and a Chanter?
Ahhhh! This a very big question, entertainment is a strong place to be. Some men will come to me with promises to promote you, but that will happen, not until you sleep with them and all sorts.
What are your hobbies?
I don’t have hobbies. But the only thing I have found joy and love doing is chanting.
International Women’s Day was celebrated a few days ago, do you think women still have a long way to go to catch up with men?
Wow, I don’t think so. My reason is that women don’t need to be competitive with men because women have already taken a larger percentage of recognition globally. In a year we celebrate women globally more than men. Although in politics and some other areas, women are not leading there, yeah that’s true but the foundation those men have can be traced back to a woman. I think any woman will be proud to say that. Lastly, women might not be leading in some areas but they are everywhere also, there is nothing a man can do that a woman cannot do.
Would you say you are an extrovert or an introvert?
Firstly, you can’t be a chanter and be an introvert it will affect your business, so I’m an extrovert
What are your views on Abortion?
Hmmm. Abortion should be legalized, yeah because it will reduce the death of young girls. If abortion is legalized, professionals from standard hospitals will attend to people going for it. They will have the opportunity of going through counseling and all sorts that could help them stop the act of sleeping around or having unprotected sex.
If you could change anything in this world, what would it be?
Having a peaceful home.
What type of music do you listen to?
Fuji and indigenous music
Who is your favorite artist of all time?
K1 the ultimate and Wasiu Ayinde.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
In the next 5 years, I will be global by God’s grace.
As a Yoruba orator and a Chanter, I understand that your appearance matters a lot. How would you describe your Fashion sense?
As a chanter appearance matters a lot, people expect you to wear ankara, ofin and all sort of native attire all the time. Sometimes people think you are not even learned as a chanter, but as for me I dress to my own comfortability, but when I am going to work I make sure to be presentable enough and appear in traditional attire.
What is an unpopular opinion you have that you think people should follow?
We are gods on our own, believe in yourself and move mountains.
Let’s go into Politics; what is your opinion on the just concluded Presidential election?
Well, I will say the smartest person won. Between the three popular political parties, I believe all of them rigged the election. Nigerian politics is a tussle, and the good thing is that youths voted for their candidate, but it is what it is.
On a lighter note, if you were to have any superpower in the world, what would it be?
The power to bring back time.
If there is one food you’d like to get rid of, what would it be?
Boiled yam
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is poverty and marrying the wrong person.
Speaking of relationships, are you in any?
Yes, I’m in a relationship.
Do you mind sharing your social media handles with your audience?
TikTok; Ajikechants, Instagram; Ajike_chants, WhatsApp; +234 806 799 9867
Thank you for your time.
You are welcome, it’s my pleasure.
