According to Africa Online, Abass Okande Obesere is a rising star of "Fuji Music" (1998). Fuji music is a Nigerian music form named by founder Dr. Alhadji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister for Japan's "mountain of love," and combines

...traditional rhythyms such as apala, sakara and waka into a new spare, multi-percussion based mix. It has its own distinct sound and culture, much of it centered through the Muslim Yoruba tradition (ibid.).

No reports could be found that specifically indicate a relationship between Abass Okande Obesere and government officials; however, he performed an inauguration ceremony concert in May 1999 (Post Express 23 Apr. 1999). The News reported that the chair of the "Tinubu" Inauguration committee had defended the choice of Abass Akande Obesere as a performer "at a charity concert in honour of the Lagos State Governor" (26 Aug. 1999).

Other concert appearances referred to in media reports include a November 1999 concert in Ottawa celebrating the 39th anniversary of Nigeria's independence organized by the Nigerian-Canadian Women's Association (Ottawa Citizen 12 Nov. 1999) and a church hall in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the act is referred to as Ambassador Abass Okande Obesre and his Fuji Pusky Organization of Nigeria (News and Observer 21 May 2000). A 10 March 2000 P.M. News report states that

Abass Akande Obesere, who has been on a playing tour of Canada and America since last year is not in a hurry to return home that is if he intends to return to his fatherland at all. Sources close to the artiste who shifted base to New York last Christmas day from his original base in Canada said the musician called his associates in Nigeria a few days back and confirmed that he preferred to stay behind in the USA for now.

No reports of the government providing security at Abass Akande Obesere's concerts could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, according to The News, which makes specific reference to a homecoming concert of Obesere after a North American tour, security is a concern at fuji concerts:

Obesere the Lagos-based popular fuji musician and asakasa exponent had just returned to Nigeria after an America tour, and looked forward to his welcome gig at Gateway Hotel, Ota. The show was a full a house. Everything went on fine.

And then, the bottles started flying. Some unlucky fun-seekers got the beating of their lives, while others got deep cuts from broken bottle stabs. Some of the hoodlums' interest really lay in Obesere's purse. The musician had to fight off the hooligans before he was smuggled out of the scene of the fracas.

Another top fuji musician, Wasiu Alabi, a.k.a. Pasuma obviously stepped out of line at a fuji festival in Agege, a Lagos suburb last year. Proceedings came to an abrupt stop when fans of a home-boy fuji music star engaged the visitors in a no-holds-barred battle. It took the men of the former crime control squad, Operation Sweep to restore some sanity. The show also featured Asimiu Adebisi, also called "Karube," and others. At the later function, this time, a christening, Pasuma was attacked again, his clothes were torn.

These scenes are becoming a regular feature in many parties and other occasions where fuji musicians perform live. One popular musician had to beg for additional security for his performance at a show last Easter. He complained that area boys were in the habit of harassing him for "settlement" of outrageous amounts. When their demands are not met, they reply with violence. However, one of the rampaging area boys at a fuji party took it too far. He was stabbed right in the eye with a broken bottle. By the time the free-for-all fight he initiated had blown over, he was minus one eye. A broken bottle with an unerring aim had done the damage.

It has been said that "music hath charms to soothe the savage beast, to soften rocks, or band a knotted oak. Whoever said that, certainly wasn't thinking of the fuji music genre or Lagos vagrants. For one, the music and its lyrics are lewd, the dance steps, salacious. The musicians coin words and phrases that have meanings left only to the imagination, like "Orobokibo", "Saje" and "Omo rapala".

Lagos hoodlums who are lovers of this kind of music, and usually high on cocktails of drugs and booze, use the opportunity of live shows to demand payment settlement, to ensure peaceful occasions. On the alternative, they just show-off their bestiality by stabbing, raping and mugging their star-crossed victims. Abbey, a self-confessed 'babalawo' with a limp, lives and moves with some of these area boys. ... (26 Aug. 1999).

No references to any links between Abass Akande Obesere and the Ogboni cult could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Response.

Africa Online. 1998. "Music: Nigeria." http://www.africonline.com/AfricaOnline/music/Nigeria.html [Accessed 3 August 2000]

The News [Lagos]. 16 August 1999. Kelechi Obasi. "Beats of Violence." http://www.africanews.org/west/nigeria/stories/19990816_feat12.html [Accessed 3 Aug. 2000]

News and Observer [Raleigh, NC]. 21 May 2000. Danny Hooley. "Sporadic but Fun." (NEXIS)

Ottawa Citizen. 12 November 1999. "Hot African Band to Play in Ottawa." (NEXIS)

P.M. News [Lagos]. 10 March 2000. "Obesere Dumps Nigeria for Good?" (Africa News/LEXIS)

Post Express [Lagos]. 23 April 1999. "Carrington to Deliver Lecture on Democracy in Lagos Next Month." http://www.postespresswired.com [Accessed 8 Aug. 2000]

Internet sites, including:

African Music Encyclopaedia.

Afromix.

Mail & Guardian.

Nigeria Media Monitor.

NigeriaNews.Net

Odili.Net

Rootsworld