Even, God knows we’re inseparable - Tunde & Wunmi Obe

By David Ajiboye
Tunde & Wunmi Obe

TUNDE and Wunmi Obe a.k.a TWO, are much more than a tag team of exceptionally-creative talents. They represent versatility and consistence, accessibility, style and that warm wholesomeness a lot of people have grown to admire and love. It is the combination of these qualities that ignites and sustains the magic they conjure each and every time they give a performance.

As Nigeria's foremost showbiz couple, TWO brings an exciting uniqueness that cannot be duplicated to the stage, vocal booth, video set or screen. They started out as lead singers in the wildly popular campus band, Turning Point in the late 80's and have developed their other talents and consistently improved their stage performance through hard work, dynamism and flexibility. Only TWO can play like they do.

THEIR ACT
Though they are recognised all over the country for their popular weekly television performances on the Charly Boy Show and Zoom Time which Tunde co-anchors with Charly Boy, the couples’ music remains their first love. TWO is a versatile pop act whose range is astonishing. The veterans are totally at home playing everything from classic African tunes to R&B, reggae, soca-calypso to soft rock and have earned the reputation of the act of choice for those who want to enjoy old school tunes in exquisite cover renditions blended with popular new materials from the classy and entertaining duo.

THE BAND
Deja vu is a 12-piece band that provides music exciting and sublime enough to perfectly compliment the ability of the lead duo, TWO. The band is made up of experienced musicians, singers and dancers some of whom have earned a good measure of recognition as solo performers and recording artistes. Among them are respected names like Ben Bamidele and Olaitan Adebowale.

IN THE BEGINNING...
Both born in Lagos, in the late 1960s into successful families, Tunde and Wunmi Obe met and began their music careers as struggling young undergraduates, long after Tunde lost his Ambassador father (Emmanuel O. Obe) and Wunmi, her Chartered Accountant Dad (J. Olu Aboderin).

The third child of four siblings, Tunde met Wunmi in 1988 when she joined the Unilag Band, Turning Point, in which he was already lead singer.

Formerly a bass guitarist with 80s’ all-female teenage singing sensation, S.W.A.L.K., Wunmi dropped the bass for the ‘mic’ as lead singer with Tunde in Turning Point.

When both graduated - Tunde from LASU (B.Ed. History Education) and Wunmi from, UNILAG (B.A Hons Philosophy), the band split up, but the lovebirds stuck together and sealed their union permanently on the June 26 1998, just before the release of their debut album, Sealed in 1999. The album, Sealed ,which was released under the Zmirage Music label and produced by Albert Kalu, included the hit tracks, Tomorrow, The Way and Jafunmi, a remake of Juju Maestro, KSA’s hit song.

After Sealed, came two children - Roxanne (2000) and Ricardo (2002) - hence a four-year lapse between Sealed and the follow-up album.

The self-titled album, TWO (Tunde and Wunmi Obe) produced by Omololu Ogunleye, which was released in 2003 under the couple’s label, Kopykats Entertainment, contained tracks like Show Luv, Voice Mail, Ope Mi and a remix of late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s monster hit, Palava.

Two years and one more child (Andre – 2004), TWO signed up with Alec’s Music record label and hit the studios again – this time with multiple producers, Rymzo (Adupe, Like A Fool, Let Be The One, Tribute 2 Jay, I Need Someone, And What U Give), Puffy T (Mo Gbo Mo Ya; It’s About Us) Charles Duke (Mo Gbo Mo Ya remix) and Olaitan Adebowale ( I Need Someone).

The album also featured collaborations for the first time with other artistes which included Rymzo, Segun Obe, Mode 9, Ruggedman and Freestyle.

TWO are currently basking in the success of the album, especially their monster hit songs Mo Gbo Mo Ya and A dupe- whilst they prepare to hit the studios once more.

When not recording, the duo are constantly rehearsing and performing with their 10-man band, Déjà vu, reputed to be one of the hottest bands in the country today, when it comes to playing popular hit tunes of any genre.

Tunde, who has featured in several Nigerian movies including the popular The Gardener in which he played the title character; Day Break and Goodbye Tomorrow currently presents the wave – making interview programme, Zoom Time alongside his bosom pal, Charly Boy Oputa.

Wunmi, who also presented the ‘Woman to Woman’ segment and featured alongside Tunde in the Mr. & Mrs. segment of the rested ‘Charly Boy Show’, currently co-stars in the running Amaka Igwe TV soap opera, Tempest – A Tale Of 2 Women.

TWO are also committed to their annual Valentine show CUPID’S BALL with TWO, which was first held in February 2007.

And to top it all off, they expect to begin work on pilots for their own television show, in the very near future.