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The inaugural legacy concert organised in celebration of the life and enduring talent of the late music producer, deejay, musician and mentor, John Aigbokhan Oboh aka Mighty Mouse, took place on Saturday, August 29 in Ajegunle, Lagos.
The show brought together musicians, producers, creatives, community leaders and members of the Ajegunle music community, who thronged the venue in honour of the man widely regarded as the pioneer and father of Ajegunle music.
In his welcome address, Ehiguese Daddy Hyde, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s reggae and dancehall community and one of the organisers of the legacy concert, said the gathering was about celebrating more than just a musician.
“We are not only celebrating the man who created a sound. We are celebrating the man who created opportunities for people,” he said.
For those who experienced the Ajegunle music scene in the late 1980s and 1990s, Mighty Mouse was much more than a producer. He was remembered as a DJ, innovator, experimenter, teacher, benefactor, mentor and musician who believed strongly in the ability of young people to transform their circumstances through creativity.
Born into an era when Ajegunle was emerging as a vibrant centre of grassroots music, Oboh developed a distinctive musical identity by combining African rhythms, Edo Esan samba, reggae, jazz, local percussion and contemporary influences.
The late musician’s wife, dancehall artiste Chinyere Oboh, popularly known as Lady Sege, described her husband as the founder of Ajegunle music and a dedicated producer who helped artistes grow.
She urged Ajegunle musicians to remain strong and “keep the fire burning,” noting that many artistes emerged from Mighty Mouse’s studio.
Chairman, PMAN Ajegunle chapter, Bright John Odede aka Sir Boj and a coordinator of PMAN’s Mighty Mouse legacy concert, said the event was designed to keep Mighty Mouse’s dream alive.
According to him, Oboh was not only the founder of Ajegunle music, but also a freedom fighter that used his music to confront injustice and speak for freedom.
“He was an innovator, and creative individual who touched so many lives in the society,” Odede said.
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He explained that Mighty Mouse’s family approached him because of his previous relationship and work with the late musician, asking him to help establish the legacy concert as a platform for preserving Oboh’s contributions to Nigerian music.
Odede urged young musicians in Ajegunle to remain focused, consistent and patient, warning them against distractions that could derail their careers. He noted that Mighty Mouse had used his studio to bring many Ajegunle musicians together and create a platform for their growth.
The deceased’s spirit of generosity was highlighted by Friday Obianu aka Prof. Linkin, whose hit song, I Don Jogodo enjoyed considerable airplay in the early 2000s. He described Mighty Mouse as a great man, recalling how he mastered his popular song.
“He is a nice man. He is the pioneer of Ajegunle music. He helps people,” Obianu stressed.
For veteran musician, Friday Igwe aka Baba Fryo, the death of Mighty Mouse represented the loss of a great figure in the Nigerian music industry.
Baba Fryo recalled meeting Mighty Mouse around the period he was shooting his last video in Badagry. According to him, he was surprised by the short period between the final video and the producer’s death.
“Mighty Mouse was a great man. He was hardworking and had so many artistes. He also brought so many producers to Ajegunle,” Baba Fryo said.
Mighty Mouse died on September 18, 2023, at the age of 56 after battling cancer. Although, he is gone, his influence remains visible through the musicians he mentored, the producers and engineers who learned from him, and the sound that emerged from Ajegunle.
The organisers said the legacy concert was not intended merely as a memorial but as an effort to reclaim, document and preserve the history of Ajegunle music, as well as Mighty Mouse’s contribution to its development.
To them, Mighty Mouse’s story remains a reminder that great ideas can emerge from sound that travelled far beyond the community. His beat may have stopped, but his legacy continues to play.
