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He is that big uncle of the children Story Time, the the television programme and he retains the same title even among adults, especially those who relate to him in the arts world. But a fewwould accept the fact that he is as old as he is being celebrated today. But there can be no denying that fact. The man has been around for quite a while. He has been a part of the various art movements in the country since independence. And so, he remains an influential member of the tribe.

This came to the fore about a month ago when he clocked 60. The drums were rolled out in different parts of Osun state, especially the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife where he still works at the Institute of African Studies and Osogbo, the political and cultural capital of the state. But these paled to near insignificance when compared to what took place penultimate Sunday at the Ojez Club, on Iwaya Road, Yaba.

This became so because it was a real home coming for the actor musician who learnt the ropes and practised the art of musicianship and acting in that part of the boisterous city of Lagos. Jimi Solanke, veteran actor and musician was truly thrilled as he fraternised not only with the young who have always drawn inspiration from him but also his contemporaries who had always longed for such a reunion with members of the old school. The management of the Club knew this well which was why they came up with the idea of the Elders Forum. But since the programme kicked off last year, there had been nothing like what happened that Sunday evening. And the reason for this was Jimi Solanke, popularly called Baba Agba or Baba Ibeji.

A look at the crowd. There was Elder Steve Rhodes, Ambassador Segun Olusola, Yinka Craig, Tunde Fagbenle, Dele Ojo, Femi Osofisan, Segun Odegbami, Orlando Julius, Duro Oni and Olu Okekanye among others. All of these came not to just listen to good old highlife which is what the Forum is known for or to watch the ageless performer on stage, they were also deeply involved; from the level of lengthening bottles to dancing or actual performance. It was a no holds-barred evening which also marked the 11th edition of the Great Highlife Party.

The evening started rather quietly even as the band led by Y.S Akinibosun dished out melodious highlife tunes. But the tempo gradually rose and became electrified when Benson Idonije announced the presence of the man in whose honour the gathering was dedicated. There was a thunderous applause and the excitement was quite infectious. The party was set to really begin. The other veteran musicians including Tunde Osofisan who was with Roy Chicago and the Rhythm Dandies for twelve years, Alaba Pedro and Fatai Rolling Dollars who remains the oldest repository of the highlife tradition soon took over the stage. Fatai Rolling Dollars really took the audience down memory lane as he went into his repertory to dish out tunes that date back to the 1950s and 60s and that were reflective of the city life of the periods. He dazzled with his agility on stage and dexterity on the guitar that it was difficult for people to believe that the man who is a mentor to Ebenezer Obey is well over 78.

Tunde Osofisan also did Maria, Yoyogbe and Wazobia before Duro Oni, the Director of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture (CBAAC) was called upon to introduce the special guest of the evening. Oni said the man who was with Wole Soyinka in both the 1960 Masks and Orisun Theatre has been an inspiration to many generations of artistes. "He has over the years distinguished himself as a man of many parts; an enigma of some sort who has remained faithful to his art, either on stage or the screen. He remains one of our very best. those acclaimed works of Wole Soyinka are what they are today largely because of the likes of Jimi Solanke because they were the ones who first gave expression to these plays on stage."

He reeled out some of the most outstanding works of the artistes which include the composition of such as Onilegogoro, a highlife tune he wrote for the Roy Chicago band, "Ejekajo" and "Yanmu-yanmu" among others. He was also the only Nigerian artiste who performed at the official opening of the National Theatre in 1976. In the area of theatre, those who watched the premiere of Ola Rotimi's "Ovonramwen Nogbaisi" in Benin still remember with great nostalgia his five star performance which fetched him a job with the then Mid-West Arts Council. While still with Ola Rotimi's Ori Olokun Theatre in Ile Ife, he also played the role of Kurunmi in a play of that title. He has been on some of the world's greatest stages including Hollywood.

It is impossible to talk of Jimi Solanke without a mention of the impact he has made on television. He has designed some of the most exciting television programmes especially for children. He has been into this since the advent of television in the late 1950s with the WNTV. A favourite of many remains "Story Time" which was on NTA Network for a very long time.

Jimi Solanke proved at Ojez that he is not one that would seat down and listen to his story being told, he would rather act it. And so, when Benson Idonije thought that he could make him do just a number so that many could have a feel of what one had been talking about, the man ended up stealing the show. He proved himself a performer inside out. He began with the usual ritual of saying how overwhelmed he had been with the uncommon out pouring of love by the Lagos crowd. "I hope there is a video recording of this event so that Mama Seun (his wife) can have a feeling of the kind of feeling I have presently. This is a repartying of a party. I feel great with the presences here tonight."

He said even as a kid he had known that he would end up as an artiste though his parents had wished he could become something else. "I have had no regrets being an artiste. In fact, I consider myself lucky because from a very tender age, I have had my songs like Onilegogoro, recorded by the big bands."

it was not meant to be a night of long speeches and he knew this. he started with "Fly Me to the Moon" which was to whet the people's appetite before the real deal. Jimi Solanke simply electrified the whole place and only a few could resist taking to the dance floor. But for space constraint, there would have been more people on the dance floor than on the seats. Those who could not have space on the floor did their dancing on their seats. He had a song for almost everybody. the high point of his performance was his rendition of Joe Mensah's "Bonsue" as a tribute to the Ghanaian highlife musician who has passed on. And to the surprise of many, he blended so well with the band. Yet, he was performing with them for the first time. THISDAY checks however revealed that the band had actually rehearsed the number but had a problem getting somebody to do the vocals and so, Jimi Solanke helped to do a rescue operation because what kind of tribute would anyone be paying Joe Mensah without "Bonsue"? The man simply got into the spirit until Benson Idonije intervened to remind him that he was the Special Guest of Honour and others were supposed to perform for him. But Solanke is a showbiz man and as he told a group of reporters later, he could carry on till the next morning. "Look I am used to playing for a very long time. don't forget I am a veteran performer at parties. This is my life. I enjoy doing this. It makes me happy because it makes other people happy."

Jimi Solanke does not only look far younger than his age, he has an incredible energy to do what those who are far younger than he cannot. He said, this is a gift from the Almighty. "I have heard many people say that I do not look 60 and I also do not feel 60. it is a gift from God. We have a history of longevity in my family but aside that, I do not indulge in those things that shorten life span. I enjoy working hard and I do not let anything bother me; not the least, material things. I have a free mind and I enjoy meeting people."

Though he says he has no regrets being an artiste, he says that there is the need for the various governments at the different levels to take cultural matters more seriously not viewing things only in terms of their monetary values. "As you can see for yourself, what else do I need to ask for? Would this have been done for me if I were something else? I thank those who thought of this which I often say can only happen in the community of artistes."

While still waiting to be honoured by the government, Solanke will next month in far away London be conferred with the Outstanding Contributor's Award during the Afro-Hollywood Annual Award by the African Voice Company for his commitment to the arts in the past four decades.