Magical Fingers

He creates the most intricate musical instruments and jewelry from bamboo, dry stalks and tree trunks. Deep in concentration his magical fingers shape each instrument to create the powerful African rhythms that can be heard a mile away. Jah Jah Oga Onilu, 48, of Maloney, is one of the most interesting characters one can encounter. Dressed in traditional African garb of bright yellow and green, he is now a popular figure in the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy competition. He is very noticeable with his long hair which he has not cut for more than 25 years. His deep-set eyes and humble mannerisms are evident that Onilu has been working for the love of the art.

In 1993 he made the journey to North Korea to enter a bamboo art competition and took four gold medals for the Best Musical Instrument. “I am sure the people of Korea have been inspired by my instruments, to create their own,” he said. Looking at the skillfully crafted instruments, one can see that this artist has spent a life time in the designing and creating them. With forty years experience he now owns and manages the very successful, Jewel of Nature shop at Caura Royal Road, El Dorado. Together with his sons, Ba Ba Ayunda Onilu, 22, and Madupe Folasade Onilu, 17, they have built an establishment that attracts scores of people who are in search of African rhythms. Onilu told People that as a child growing up in Laventille, he listened to sounds coming from the woods. “Nature is so absolutely beautiful. It provides so much peace that the soul yearns for and I think I am lucky to find myself in the heart of nature,” he said. It was this peaceful setting that inspired him to create the various instruments.

In the early days Onilu would spend a lot of time in the bush singing and tapping on two pieces of bamboo stalks. He then decided to clean and polish the bamboo and took them home to entertain his brothers and sisters. “It was then that I knew I had a gift from God to create these instruments. I soon had to make a dozen of these decorated bamboo stalks for my friends,” he said. He noted that the bamboo must be cut during the dark-moon and put to dry. They are then cleaned and washed before the various holes and beads are placed within the folds to give different sounds. Apart from creating instruments, Onilu developed the art of singing the African words that would accompany the beat and the various sounds. Today he proudly displays his brand new CD entitled Doption Beat. He has found a market for the instruments — the Talking Drums, Bamboolins, Banjo Bass, Rain Makers, Soca Shakers, ICBA Drums, Steel Drums, Shac Shac, Doption Drums, Telle Drums, Foo Foo Trumpets and Thumb Pianos. He has now established a school at his factory in Caura, where he teaches youths how to create the musical instruments and the jewelry. He has been taking large orders from people throughout the country.