A GREAT man is defined by his excellence through sweat and defiance against all evil; when he copes with all the bitterness, hardships and obstacles that are the very nature of life, never surrendering.
This best describes the man Jahman Oladejo Eniolorunda Anikulapo, former editor of The Guardian on Sunday, Culture Activist, and Programme Arrowhead for Soyinka@90 global celebrations.
Speaking about his resolute commitment to the Arts notwithstanding all that he has been through, Anikulapo said, “I grew up with creative. Ayinla Omowura came from Itoko. He comes to our house whenever he is in Lagos.
“My grandfather was an Ifa priest, while my maternal grandmother was the priestess of Adaatan in Abeokuta. She will wake up at 4am to drink wine, and fetch water from Ijaiye. Barren women came to drink water from her. Later they would give testimonies about their birth.”
“The contradiction for me, which talks about Yoruba culture, is that the same woman would at 5am take off her priestess dress and go to the mosque. Her role as the priestess of the shrine was, if there were any disaster or bereavement, she would be at the front of people’s houses, chanting and singing until the bereaved came out with smiles or laughter. I would accompany her to her outings. I was the lead dancer. I took my daughter to the spot where I did dance then,” he added.
On the come about of his name Jahman, the 61 year old states: “My paternal grandmother named me Eniolorunda. When relating with my child, I say to her that her name is Toluwalase, while my son’s name is Oluwaseunrereniileaiyemi.
“In 1979, I was an errand guy; just a footballer. There was a guy named Oluwaloni; I and others gave ourselves names. He had a spiritual gift. He named me Jahman. He called Biodun Ayoyinka (Papa Ajasco), fireman…”
On relationship with Prof Wole Soyinka, which spans over 30 years, Jahman said: “I have been with him, off and on, since. In anything he wants to do, he tells me what to do. I wasted some part of my life…when I decided to be a journalist. Working with him has been a learning curve for me…. “In 1986 after winning the Nobel Laureate prize, he (Prof) was asked to go to Italy to produce Jero plays. He was unable to go. He told Ben Tomoloju to represent him with Jankariwo…”
