By Rita Okoye
Soulful singer and songwriter, Sola Allyson, has shared the experience behind her timeless song, Eji Owuro and why she has been prolific and consistent over the years.
It’s 20 years since Allyson’s ground breaking single, Eji Owuro released on November 20, 2003. And she is grateful for her illustrious career that has impacted lives and blessed many souls.
The musician explained: “This is 20 years after Eji Owuro released on November 20, 2003. It was originally meant to be a film sound track of the same title. Before then, I’ve been in the music industry for about 15 years. I have been a backup singer before I was contracted to do the sound track for the film, Eji Owuro. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I made sure I put in my best. I am a thoroughbred worker. If I want to do something, no matter how small or how big they pay me, I want to do it very well. Usually, sound tracks are not always long; they are not as long as those made for albums. So, after the film was released, the executive producer, Mr. Ola Ibironke said it’s better for the songs to stand on their own, that the songs are too big for a film. That was how I had to add to the songs to make them longer, and here we are today 20 years after.”
Attesting that her voice texture is her magic, Allyson said, “I just open my mouth and sing. I sound like that and I embraced it. I met somebody who helped me to embrace it. I have always sounded like this. I began singing in Koranic school and later moved to Cherubim and Seraphim Church, and then to Celestial Church. Since I was a little girl, I have been a star. It’s either I was doing cultural dance or singing at the top of my voice at Koranic school. I have always been that ‘girl’.”