Chief Peter Ogunyemi Tragedy: Renown Musician, Elemure Ogunyemi Is Dead – Gov. Fayemi, Others React A leading traditional musician of Ekiti origin, Chief Peter Ogunyemi, popularly known nationwide as Elemure Ogunyemi, is dead. Ogunyemi, a septuagenarian, died in the early hours of Thursday. Sources close to the family told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the ace musician was said to have fallen ill a couple of weeks ago, and might have died of undisclosed ailment. While alive, Ogunyemi traversed the length and breath of the country, thrilling his fans with his music usually laced with Ekiti dialect. His leading role in the promotion of Yoruba language made his fans living outside the country to sponsor his recent musical tour of America and Britain. His sudden demise on Thursday shocked residents of Ado- Ekiti, the state capital, where his musical group was domiciled till death. At Isaba town, his home town in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, residents expressed shock on hearing of the death of the musician. He left behind a wife and children, and arrangements for his burial would be unveiled soon, a family source told NAN. Reacting to the news, Gov. Kayode Fayemi said in a statement that the death was shocking and devastating to him and the state government. He said the late Elemure was an “Ekiti music ambassador who will be sadly missed by all.” While consoling with the family to accept the loss, Fayemi promised that his government would immortalise him. The Minister of State for Works, Mr Adedayo Adeyeye, also described the death of the Ekiti music maestro as a sad loss to Ekiti people. We have lost a great musician and philosopher. Those of us who love his brand of music cannot but grieve the loss of such a great and patriotic Ekiti son. He used his God-given talent to promote Ekiti culture, tradition,unity and development. Elemure Ogunyemi’s song ‘a ti riun ka nwa o Ekiti Kete’ (we have gotten what we desired) celebrated the created of Ekiti State in 1996. It is an anthem of sort in Ekiti and anywhere Ekiti people can be found in the entire world. “His death is a painful loss to not only to the people of Ekiti State, but also the entertainment industry in Nigeria,’’ he said. Adeyeye said the people of Ekiti would continue to pray, trusting that God would grant his soul eternal rest.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 22:45:23 +0000
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