Bayode, the lanky son of late iconic highlife musician, Dr. Victor Olaiya, is actually a chip of the old block. His dexterity on the trumpet at Papingo Dabalaya Nite Club, Surulere, Lagos State, every Saturday night when Olaiya was alive, reminded one of the heydays of his father as a trumpeter.

In this close-up with our Contributing Editor, IFECHI OKOH, the University of Lagos graduate reveals how despite being a banker, his passion for music was unquenchable. He also narrates how he accidentally became a member of his father’s band, among other interesting issues. Enjoy it.

Can you tell us briefly about yourself?

My name is Christopher Bayode Olaiya, one of the sons of the late legendary highlife artiste, Dr. Victor Olaiya, who hails from Ijesha Isu in Ekiti State. I am a banker; with passion for music. This, I have been demonstrating every Saturday at Papingo Dabalaya Nite Club, Surulere, Lagos, when my father was alive. I am a graduate of University of Lagos and I’m happily married with children.

What were your challenges during your tutelage?

None actually, because I grew up listening to my father’s hit records and liking them too. So, my being on stage regularly was a golden chance to display my love for his brand of highlife, which is pretty unique from those of his contemporaries. Today, I am happy to announce that the crowd enjoys my shows which they usually applaud. No wonder, most times, people come around me after shows, wanting to know if I would be on stage the following Saturday. I thank God for this wonder. The fact that I play my father’s songs very well does not make me not to be interested in hip-hop. I love hip-hop as the music of the times. I belong to today’s era of music as a young man. They (my father’s fans) have always been impressed with my shows. They have never hidden their love for me and this may have been confirmed by their deafening applause for my performances on stage. I make them proud anytime I am on stage by putting some colours into my father’s hit-songs, thereby giving them the desired effects. Apart from this, I also display my dexterity on trumpet like my father, reminding those who knew him in his heydays of his exploits as a trumpeter and musician; I mean both on stage and albums too.

Did you have the opportunity to perform outside the Nightclub with your dad?

I had golden opportunities to perform outside the Nightclub. For instance, I performed in Abuja where we entertained former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the same thing happened in Lagos during the tenure of (Babatunde Raji) Fashola as Governor. The late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, also enjoyed me during one of our outings. It is on good record that I have been opportune to thrill some highly placed music-loving Nigerians, including General Theophilus Danjuma, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and others. It was quite a memorable fun singing and entertaining those icons who, no doubt, enjoyed my songs and renditions.

What is your definition of love and beauty?

It depends solely on how one looks at both. When some people talk to you, they see their definition of beauty in your speech, while others perceive your physical looks as the beauty that nobody would succeed in re-defining them, no matter what. To me, attraction covers the definition of beauty. As for love, I see it as something the western world just imposed on us without us really knowing the import. It’s funny, but that’s my belief.

What would make you marry more than one wife like your late father?

Nothing! I repeat, nothing on earth will make me marry more than one wife because there is no way to justify such action, judging from my not-too palatable experiences.

Update news