Islamic Musician: The Biography of Saoti Arewa
Alhaji Abdul Azeez Abdul Salam Abiodun aka Saoti Arewa, professor emeritus was born into Ajiroba family in eyindi epe, epe local government area of Lagos state on the 1st of April in the early ’80s to late alhaji Aqeeb abdulsalam and late Alhaja Ramota Nihinlolawa.
Educational background:
He attended lupetoro primary school epe, and later proceeded to odo obara High school epe where he had his secondary school leaving certificate in the year 2000, he moved to Tai solarin University of education ijebu ode in the year after for his tertiary education, where he graduated in flying colours, in addition he had his fundamental knowledge of the holy quran under the toutledge of sheik muhin balogun and had his walimat in 1997 shortly after his father’s death.
Growing up : The young Abdul azeez abiodun grew up in the polygamous family of ajiroba in epe, his mother was last of the five wife’s his father had, he could not walk on his feet like every other children until he was 4 years old which proved to be a terrific challenge for the parents amongst other challenges which indicates how special his creature is. He has always been agile and clever he was passionately helpful to his mother in her trade of fruit sales etc after his father died in 1997, he was a well known master of ceremony (MC) in epe for events in the process of trying to take off his mother the burden of having to take care of him and his two siblings, he loved playing football like other kids in the street, he was the Muslim prefect in his secondary school being an outspoken young lad. He does represent his school in all Islamic related programs e.g quran competition, quiz and the rest, he used to be called the seven voice crooner (O LOHUN MEJE), because of how his voice used to galvanise the audience.
Music Career : Music has always been in his blood, he inherited the act from his late father who could not later practice as a professional, it is said that for a child to take after his father’s legacy is never a taboo. It all started in 1992 the young Abdul azeez abiodun used to sing on his own, felt the inbuilt talent but in order to establish it more and fulfill his dream of becoming an icon of Islamic music he went to one alh isiak abdulsalam for more knowledge, he became the leader of all music groups both in his Arabic study center and school as well, he started stage performance in 1995, when he was first seen his father was informed and got angry because he didn’t send him there although he later accepted, in the year 2000 he became the eye of entertainment in epe division performing from one place to another these are times when night parties was still in voke. He strived and released his first album in 2007 under Ajibola Records titled OROMI DAYO, he finally came into lime light when he got to afeezco films record label, an album OJULOWO OMO and a joint album which featured him and alahja amina obirere were released and this got the streets talking. His ever rising fame was crowned by the release of another hit album ISE OLOHUN amongst others.
Achievements : He has since released 21 albums away from joint, his fantastic career has not been going un-noticed, he has won so many awards and still counting, these include :
Yoruba music and films awards (YOMAFA) 2014 and 2018 as the best Islamic singer male.
Islander magazine 2015 and 2016 as the best Islamic artist of the year.
City people entertainment 2015 and 2018 as the male Islamic artist of the year.
Islamic music and associated nominees (IMAN) 2016, 2017, 2018 among others. Alahji saoty arewa is known for his exceptional quality on stage with his usual word in his albums (EEEBA),he gave Islamic music a scientific touch with adequate research, feeling of music and made Islamic music a danceable one, his music has cut across the border not just countries but religion borders as well with him having Christian followers. Also the evergreen messages in his album has made him an active legend of Islamic music.