Orits Wiliki’s ‘Ten Commandments’ is poetry, pure and simple. That must be the reason the reggae song by the self-acclaimed Kole-man Revolutionaire is evergreen. Check out the lyrics in the first part of the song.
I see them falling, the works of Babylon/I see them falling by the way side yeah o/they came to school us in a brainwashed education/they came to teach us their ways…
We don’t need no Babylon laws/nor their madness/cause Babylon laws could be twisted anyways
Orits Wiliki came unto the Nigerian music scene in the mid-1980s with Tribulation an album still celebrated in and beyond reggae circles not just for the poetry and depth of the songs but also for successfully infusing African beats like the talking drums into his music. Once quoted to have said that his music stands the test of time because he is only a vessel who writes down what the spirit tells him to write. “And that is the reason my music is highly inspirational. It is not just about creating beats and that’s why my music has stood the test of time. I have written songs about 20 to 25 years ago and I am still collecting royalties from them,” he had added.
He went on to state that reggae music is about justice, truth and equality. And that when a reggae artiste writes a song without the right message and not containing the qualities of a reggae music then, it would be called Slack lyrics. “Bob Marley’s songs are good examples of solid reggae music,” he said. Of course, he was too modest to add that those looking to hear solid reggae music should listen to his songs.
Born Rassam Wiliki, Orits Wiliki has been married to Becky for over two decades and together they have kids.
These days he describes himself as a content, television and movie provider having produced several content for television including a soap opera. He is also very active in the administrative side of the industry where he is a top shot with the MCSN collective society. He has also written and sang gospel songs in the recent past. But he has not kissed reggae good bye as artistes feature at a reggae show he put together now and again.