Has Sola Allyson-Obaniyi run out of supply from the fountain of the creative muse?
That is the creeping doubt likely to arise in your mind when first listening to the popular folk singer’s latest album, Ope!
That is so because of the profusion of common Christian praise and worship songs such as Aigbagbo Bila and Halleluyah Hossanah by anonymous composers as well as Eyin Ni Baba; Olorun Agbaye; Oluwa Wa; Alagbara Lolorun Wa by Lady Evangelist Bola Are, as well as Baba Wa Ni, an epic composition by renowned musicologist, Dr. Wole Adetiran, already in the public domain, that appear to dominate the six-tracker recently released to the public on audio CD.
The feeling tugs at your heart even the more, as you find Obaniyi interweaving lines from some of her past works into some of the new major songs. But, just wait until you hear how this musical alchemist in her usual way, forged another unique aural masterpiece with her rare talent, vocal prowess, and deft instrumentation to produce a delightful harmony.
The pretty songstress reworks the otherwise trite church auditorium-crusade choruses with her most potent weapon and greatest asset: her voice, elevating and giving them flavour with sonorous pitch and tonal variations, backed by equally sensational vocal works and harmonious blend of traditional African percussion, guitar, keyboard and flute works that make you itch to dance, even while behind the wheels in the traffic!
But the singer confirms in this offering, as she once assured this writer that her repertoire remains rich and inexhaustible with the six unique major lyrics she serves in the album, Ope! (title track); Maje N’sina; Olorun Awon ‘Mo Ogun; Iwo Lo Ye; Okan Mi S’ope, and My Voice I Raise.
Significantly, all the songs are sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving offered to God Almighty, who the singer acknowledges as the “supreme owner, controller, sustainer, and ruler of the universe and dispenser of all its resources and blessings” of which she never ceases to admit to be a privileged beneficiary.
Sola, who proves that she is a professionally trained musician, in this work, not only adores the creator, but seeks to tell the audience that there is so much to be thankful for, even in the experiencing of apparent adversity – His divine love, protection, guidance, provision and other manifold blessings, visibly manifest or not. One senses deep recognition of a humble and grateful soul worshiping in consciousness of its smallness and unworthiness for the enormous helps of its Lord that surround it always.
It is the message Obaniyi has for the world and which she has been presenting in refreshingly different wrappings in every of her outings since her Eji Owuro debut in the 2000s.
The timing of the release of the album at the end of the year induces the listener to count his blessings thus far and fall on his knees in gratitude and veneration of God with greater hope in the New Year. It is, besides the soothing melody, what makes Ope! a desirable accompaniment in every household this New Year and even beyond.

Source: The sun