Few people had a more agonizing 24 hours in 2016 than actor/producer/rapper Kunle Fawole, otherwise known as Abounce. His mum, Nollywood legend Bukky Ajayi, was laid to rest on the 6th of July, then on 7th July, he went down to National Stadium, Surelere to attend the funeral of a man he made music history with – OJB Jezreel.

OJB is the kind of music legend that didn’t need death for his greatness to be apparent. He had one of the most successful producer-turned-performer transitions in the history of Nigerian music and the success of the single “Pretete” is one of the reasons why.

The seminal song was released in 2006, OJB created a playful club smash that spread round the country and gave his first-post Kennis Music album, No Drama, legs to move. Then, as an artist under OJB’s wings at Silverpoint Studios, Abounce was given the third verse on “Pretete”.  Abounce’s verse stood out, it played on the humorous Igbo rap sub-genre that 2Shotz and Big Lo had popularized and gave us some memorable lines. 

The way you’re shaking it, the way you’re making it jiggle /
This no be joke, I swear I must solve this riddle /
You know my name and you know my game – Iron Monkey /
It ain’t funny, tell me first how much am I paying?

Over the weekend, Abounce said his vows and got married to Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegede, ending a riddle he set off more than 10 years ago. The wedding was held in Surulere amidst smiles and laughter. Abounce proposed to Yvonne in August 2016, two months after his mother passed on but more than 10 years after they started dating.

Bukky Ajayi was a veteran actress and broadcaster whose career spanned several decades. Abounce followed her footstep very early in his life, he is not only a talented rapper but also a popular actor and producer. His credits include flicks such as Fuji House of Commotion, Apostle Kasali, and Cash Money, which got him the AMAA nomination for ‘Best Upcoming Actor of the Year’. He currently features as Ruffy Jackson on Africa Magic’s Hush series. 

Yvonne is an actor too, so their union was made in Nollywood. But just like Abounce, she is also part of one of the most iconic moments in Nigerian music. Yvonne was the lead girl in 2Baba’s iconic “African Queen” video.

Screenshot from “African Queen” Video (2Baba)

Powerful love story.

Bachelorhood isn’t the only thing that Abounce has left behind, he’s also abandoned his rap career. Abounce was part of a bright group of artists from Surulere that emerged in the mid-2000’s but never quite fulfilled their potential. In addition to “Pretete”, the rapper found some recognition with the record “Chicks” featuring C-mion, a song that was so popular that the now-defunct KC Presh did a remix to it. He would also release his debut album The Return of Iron Monkey, a double disc project which did not make it far due to promotional issues with the marketer. Which is a shame because the the Iron Monkey, at one time, showed so much promise.