Many Nigerians have celebrated popular music icon, Bisade Ologunde, better known as Lagbaja, as he marks his 60th birthday.
Fans took to various social media platforms to wish the highlife musician a happy birthday, sharing photos and music videos of Lagbaja.
The percussionist is known as the man behind a traditional mask on stage and even in his music videos.
According to the ‘Kon Kon below’ crooner, the mask is a symbol for the faceless and the voiceless in the society and the name ‘Lagbaja’ also means anonymous in Yoruba language.
His style of music is also reflected in his stage attire which fully represents the Yoruba culture and that of a ‘common man.’
Many of his songs are mostly about the plight of the common man and songs that are critical of the leadership in Africa.
Some of such songs are ‘Naija Must Sweet Again,’ ‘Bad Leadership,’ and ‘Surulere’ where Lagbaja sang about the biggest problem afflicting Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Other notable works by Lagbaja are: Feyin E, Konko Below, Never Far Away, Gra Gra, Africalypso, Skentele Skontolo, 200 Million Mumu, and Omo Jaye Jaye.
Among those who took out time to celebrate Lagbaja is the former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar.
Abubakar in a post shared on his official Twitter page, said;
60th birthday greetings to ‘omo baba muko muko’, the masked one who was #COVID19-proof long before this season. I wish you many more years in strength and good health. -AA pic.twitter.com/28c58p8xu2
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) May 19, 2020
See some other birthday messages below;
Happy 60th Birthday to the Masked Man who gave us:
Baby Tàni Ko Fẹ Wa
Fẹyin Ẹ
200 Million Mumu
Konko Below
Never Far Away
Gra Gra
Akebaje
Africalypso
Simple Yes or No
Skentele SkontoloWhich of Lagbaja’s songs is your favourite? pic.twitter.com/pBc3meYq5u
— Onigegewura (@OnigegeWura) May 19, 2020
Congratulations to the Legend, Lagbaja omo baba mukomuko on his 60th Birthday.
From Africalypso, Feyin E, Never Far Away, Konko below, Onigele yi. Bisade Ologunde cannot be forgotten so soon, happy birthday sir.
Which of his songs is/are your favorites?pic.twitter.com/EdjdJPZteU
— Gbemi Dennis™ (@GbemiDennis) May 19, 2020
Lagbaja Omo Baba Muko Muko is 60 today. Happy birthday to the man, the myth, the legend. One of the greatest of our time 🖤 pic.twitter.com/C1o0nlXlEn
— i am bad girl (the pleasure hound) (@fiyinskosko) May 19, 2020
LAGBAJA IS 60 Today
Wishing the Nigerian afrobeat musician, singer-songwriter & percussionist, Bisade Ologunde, known as Lagbaja (meaning ‘anonymous’ or ‘faceless one’ in Yoruba), a happy 60th birthday. I wish him the best in life. pic.twitter.com/JI4YlnQk65— Gbenga Afolayan (Folly-G) (@GEAfolayan) May 19, 2020
Happy 60th birthday to Bisade Ologunde aka LAGBAJA. Thank you Legend for living a life of purpose and relevance. Thank you for those monster hits. Thank you for being you and true pic.twitter.com/T4Oqs4Ghqh
— OLUWATOBILOBA DANIEL JOSEPH (@tobijosephD) May 19, 2020
Happy 60th birthday to the legendary and timeless Lagbaja. Here’s one of our favourite videos of the living legend performing live
pic.twitter.com/Vez1hWzt4e— The49thStreet (@The49thSt) May 19, 2020
So Lagbaja is 60 years old today? Like play like play o.
Meanwhile, some of our leaders have turned to vampires in their age – they keep subtracting 10 years from their age as they grow older.Happy B-Day to you, Bisade Ologunde, the mask master. Wishing you the best you desire pic.twitter.com/VFEAOLWboD
— Paradise News (@ParadiseNewsNg) May 19, 2020
Can we make Lagbaja is 60 trend today? Born Bisade Ologunde on May 16, 1960.
The masked artist & creator of Africalypso has given us Konko Below, Feyin E, Gra Gra, Never Far Away etc
Thank you Lagbaja for the gift of good music. #thankyoulagbaja #lagbajais60 pic.twitter.com/bOe4K3VKAl— Femi Salawu (@TraQman) May 19, 2020
There’s no doubt, Lagbaja is a legend…
A king that distinguish himself👑. You can learn uniqueness from Lagbaja 👌 pic.twitter.com/mMgxkhjQLV
— The Communicator ↙️ (@DE_COMMUNICATOR) May 19, 2020
Today we celebrate a living legend!, The ever-fascinating Lagbaja as he turns 60. 🎺🎷
The timeless musician gave us numerous songs that were perfect for almost any occasion.Which was your favorite growing up? #LagbajaAt60 pic.twitter.com/1djclDLwyw
— MoreBranches (@MoreBranches) May 19, 2020
He saw Covid19 before anybody. Happy birthday Lagbaja omo baba mukomuko. A legend in the music industry. pic.twitter.com/z6aZij823s
— MR SARCASM😁 (@mayor_lakastoh) May 19, 2020
Lagbaja has had his face masked up even before some people where born🙄😂& it’s like he envisaged that covid19 would arise,if to say we know,we’d have our faces covered in masks too👽 happy birthday lagbaja the mask guy🎉🎊
— 👑kween❣Diamond💎 (@DirtyDiamon_d) May 19, 2020
Wishing the Music Icon Lagbaja Happy Birthday as he turns 60yrs today.
How come no one has unraveled the real face of this man.
If you have, please share pic.twitter.com/rN0JFJqS2y
— Comrade 🇳🇬🔱🔴 (@iAGB4REAL) May 19, 2020
Damn! I was legit vibing to all his songs yesterday through midnight.
You didn’t only make great music but you were pure art. Your sax along with the Bata drum percussion accompanied your virtuoso dance steps.
Your art spoke to power. You’re the only one close to Fela.#lagbaja pic.twitter.com/x6DCSrMGmE— Òjósú (@jorsh45) May 19, 2020
Though, the face behind the mask has not officially unveiled, it is said that Aremu Afolayan, a Hollywood actor mistakenly revealed the identity of the singer on his 59th birthday last year.
Afolayan wishing him a happy birthday on Instagram shared the photo of a man a without mask alongside the masked Lagbaja.
The post was later deleted, giving credence to the suspicion that the photo was indeed that of the masked performer.
Happy birthday to Lagbaja.
