Nigerian rapper Olanrewaju Ogunmefun David, widely known as Vector Tha Viper, recently disclosed that his mother is related to the revered highlife musician Stephen Oladipupo Olaore Owomoyela, also known as Orlando Owoh.
Vector revealed this intriguing connection in response to a viral tweet that encouraged people to share notable facts about their family history. The X user, @Yorubaness, sparked the trend with the prompt, “Tell us something great about your family history or ancestors.”
Embracing the trend, Vector tweeted, “My mum and Orlando Owoh are related.” The announcement thrilled many of his fans, with some suggesting that he should sample some of the late music legend’s works.
Orlando Owoh, a prominent figure in Nigerian highlife music, began his musical journey as a drummer with the Kola Ogunmola Theatre Group in 1958. He later formed Dr. Orlando Owoh and His Omimah Band in 1960, leading a career that spanned four decades. Over the years, Owoh became a major proponent of highlife music, establishing two more bands, Young Kenneries and the African Kenneries International, and releasing over 45 albums. Orlando Owoh passed away on November 4, 2008, and was laid to rest at his residence in Agege, Lagos.