Saving Lives with Rhythm: Femi Oladele’s Civic Engagement through Talking Drums

Across Nigeria, motorcycles have become an indispensable means of transportation, especially in rural and semi urban areas where alternatives are scarce. Yet behind the convenience lies a sobering reality: countless accidents, injuries, and deaths. Reckless riding, alcohol use, poor traffic education, inadequate signage, and bad roads have all combined to make motorcycling one of the most dangerous occupations. For many families, the loss of a motorcyclist breadwinner means not just grief, but also economic devastation.

Government bans on commercial motorcycles in some urban areas have done little to curb the risks, and despite the presence of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), accident statistics remain staggering. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, motorcycle crashes continue to claim lives and destroy livelihoods across the country.

For Femi Oladele, a Public Policy Enthusiast and 2025 Fellow of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship (EPLF) of The Bridge Leadership Foundation, this was not just a crisis, it was a call for civic engagement. He saw the need to communicate safety in a way that was not only memorable but also culturally rooted. This vision gave birth to Bàbá Olókadà, a radio jingle driven by Yoruba talking drumbeats, a sound deeply familiar to motorcyclists in Iwo and its environs.

Key Outcomes

The jingle, titled “Bàbá Olókadà”, aired on Akorede Radio 98.9FM from Tuesday 9th to Monday 15th September 2025 and is scheduled to air again on Bowen Radio 101.9FM in the last week of September. Both stations enjoy rich listenership in Iwo (with a population of over 191,000 by the 2006 census) and surrounding communities. With semi urban radio listenership rates estimated at 10 percent or higher, more than 19,000 people likely heard the message.

The jingle’s structure was intentional. It combined entertainment with education, blending Yoruba drumbeats with a powerful warning chorus:

“Bàbá Olókadà, E rántí o! E rántí o!! E rántí o!!!”

(“Dear Motorcyclist, Remember! Remember! Remember!!!”)

Its core messages included:

• “Èmí yín ye kó gun ju èmí Òkadà yín lo”: “Your life is worth more than your motorcycle.”

• A plea to avoid riding under the influence: “E má se mu tajú tajú gun Òkadà o. E má mu Ògógóró gun Òkadà o.”

• A reminder of family responsibilities: “E rántí pé Ìyàwó, Omo, Ègbón, Alájogbé ńbe nlé o.” (“Remember that your wife, children, and community members are at home waiting for you.”)

These culturally rooted reminders resonated far beyond what a generic safety message could achieve.

Importantly, the initiative did not stop at the airwaves. On Monday 15th September 2025, Femi visited the Iwo Ikire Gbongan Motorcycle Park, engaging riders who had heard the jingle on Akorede FM. Many admitted that the drumbeat caught their attention and made them think about their riding habits. What began as a broadcast became a direct dialogue with those most affected.

Behind the scenes, Bàbá Olókadà was a collaborative effort. Femi worked with Mrs. Adeyoola Ojemola (Media Strategist), Mr. Samuel and Mrs. Sarah Oladoja (Song Enthusiasts and Vocalists), Mr. Sola Dada (Talking Drummer), Mr. Moses Adewale (IT Expert), and Mr. Kayode Adebayo (Sound Expert) to bring the idea to life. Originally composed by Femi in 2019, the jingle finally found its way to the public airwaves through his civic engagement activity.

Lessons Learnt

Several important insights emerged from this initiative:

Cultural Messaging Works Best: The use of Yoruba talking drumbeats transformed a safety message into something unforgettable. Riders not only listened but internalized the message. This demonstrated that local media strategies are highly effective in driving civic education.

• Engagement Extends Beyond Broadcasting: While radio helped spread the message widely, direct engagement at motorcycle parks reinforced it. Riders appreciated the personal touch of someone taking the time to discuss the issue face to face.

• Sustainability Requires Collaboration: The project highlighted the financial strain of producing and airing jingles as a fellow led civic engagement activity. Without external partnerships, scaling such initiatives becomes difficult. Agencies like the National Orientation Agency (NOA) could play a pivotal role in sustaining and expanding similar campaigns nationwide.

• Public Service Initiatives Demand Creativity:Tackling road safety through entertainment proved that innovation in messaging can inspire reflection and action. Civic engagement, when tailored to the audience’s preferences, yields better results than top down instruction.

Next Steps

The impact of Bàbá Olókadà has inspired Femi to expand the initiative:

• Produce higher quality versions of the jingle in Nigeria’s three major languages, Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, to extend the message across regions.
• Address other civic issues through localized messaging campaigns, including hate speech, women’s health, and youth political participation.

• Strengthen partnerships with organizations like NOA, FRSC, and local radio stations to achieve