The man of organ

BY CHUKS NWANNE
The bungalow located on the quiet part of Surulere, Lagos, gives an insight into Lanre Delano’s taste: portable, but magnificent. From exterior to the interior, the whole apartment is just the way Delano wants it. And with his family abroad, you are sure of meeting the house in the same state years after. At the center of the sitting room reigns an old church organ, which looks more like an archival piece, while the LCD TV hung on the wall. Plaques and photos of award presentations he attended both home and abroad, dot different parts of the room. Meanwhile, his dining section is gradually turning into a mini-office; while his laptop and computer system are always active over there. Delano was at the verge of setting out to supervise the on-going installation of the biggest pipe organ in Nigeria at the Cathedral Church of Christ when I arrived. So, I decided to accompany him to see things for myself. We also had a brief stop at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Lagos to have a glance at the instrument that opened doors for Delano in organ business. A graduate of music from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Delano’s career in music started at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, before he got admission to Ife varsity to pursue same career. “Then, most of my colleagues and relations were in universities. So, after a year, I decided to pursue a degree as against diploma. Luckily, that was the beginning of the Music Department in Ife; we actually started it,” he said. “ There were two of us in the class from 1978 to 1982; we were privileged to be taught by the maestro,