Despite his death, his group members are resolve to carry on where he stopped and they have the offer of Antibalas lead singer, the Nigerian born Amayo, to appear whenever time permits. Amayo like Segun is a lead singer and percussionist.
All the following titles recorded are songs composed and arranged by Segun Damisa
GARI, a staple food in Nigeria and most parts of West Africa is farina made from cassava. In this song, Segun explains how people all over Nigeria eat gari with varied source (like a soup) prepared in their respective traditional ways, or drink it with coconut or beans cakes. Sung in a mix of Pidgin English and Yoruba, he implores political leaders, and decision makers not to allow poverty degenerate to the point where the average citizen cannot afford the most basic staple food –gari. With inflation on constant rise in African modern day society, Segun reminds leaders of the importance of providing the people with basic necessities of life.
NIGERIA renders homage to the fighting spirit of his fellow citizens and Africans in general. In the face of corruption and mismanagement that renders the lives of average citizens hopeless by successive governments on the continent, Segun underlines the strength of a people to survive in the face of what seems to be the forces of hell. With enfaces on the fact that despite the odds massed against the majority since independence, Nigerians and indeed African determination to keep alive the spirit of their tradition and values is laudable. This will to survive boils down to stupidity and gentility Segun claims. Particularly, religious influences and motivations calming people suffering and wailing to accept their faiths as pre-destined.
AIDS, a song enriched by Manu Dibango's beautiful alto sax solo, is Segun's contribution towards raising public awareness to the deadly effects of the wide-spread of HIV virus on the African continent. Particularly among a sexually active population, he points out that it is a killer decease that has no respect for the rich or poor. If you come from Ikoyi the rich residential area on the Lagos Island or Ojuelegba the popular Lagos ghetto on the mainland, there is no escape from the killer decease if one practices un-protected sex he warns.
SUFFER DEY in Pidgin English means there is too much of suffering. Singing about the lives of majority of Nigerians and indeed Africans, Segun points to how people are working hard without making ends meet. Those who have money can barely survive in the face of constant inflation, and scarcity of basic needs. Plus the fact that due to mismanagement of African natural resources, there is no available jobs for the majority population. Warning in street parlance that: “one day mokey go go market, e no go come back”. Meaning that one day the people would rise-up in a bloody revolution.
ESHERE is teaching world leaders some morals. Nobody is indispensable in this world hence in whatever position one finds himself, Segun advices that one should do what is right. If you occupied a position of power yesterday or today, remember there will be someone else occupying your place tomorrow. Calling on specified national leaders like George Bush, Chirac, Obasanjo and Mugabe to do the right thing, for tomorrow someone else will surely occupy their respective positions. Whatever your position, be it President or Prime Minister remember that it wouldn't last for eternity.
ALAKITIJON is a Yoruba folk song talking about the negative side of being two-faced. Shearing, an essential part of a communal life can only be enhanced by transparency and clear intentions. For someone living within a community it would be morally in-correct to be double-faced. Humanity so says a Yoruba adage, is the cloth we wear, it is the riches of society, it will remain the same personally Segun declares would it be the same for you?
LAILO another folk song, based on the commonly-held belief among Yoruba people like most peoples of Africa about life after death. A song based on doing well, for you can harm me in this physical world, but when we all answer the calls of the spiritual world it is a place where you can do me no harm. Chris Birkett, producer and guitarist whose name is synonymous with either playing with or producing names like Rufus Thomas, Anne Peebles, Gene Knight, Pink Floyd and Sinead O'Cornor added his rock-felling background to the track.
OJEJE is a nostalgic song of an orphan left in-charge of an old wicked grandmother always maltreating the poor child. Please say to my departed parents that the entire big yam left for me as heritage, the nasty old grandmother eat, living me to eat only crumbs the orphan cried.
INTERLUDE , the last of the nine-piece track is Segun's short percussion solo reminding the listener of his dexterity on the instrument. Listening to the music and lyrics, there is no doubt that spending most of his teenage and early adult life in Fela's kalakuta, left an indelible mark on his life and musical career.
Segun was a true child of Kalakuta as all the songs point out, written in the combative political spirit of Fela and afrobeat music. Added to this is his respectful, charming and warm personality. He was always ready to lend a hand to whoever stretched out their hands for help. Sometimes to his own detriment, Segun would answer present to the calls of distress from friends and folks alike. Surely we would all miss those warm smiles on his face even in difficult times.
