The first thing anyone would notice about DJ Jimmy Jatt’s biography, Avant-Garde: The Cool DJ Jimmy Jatt story, is the large number of pictures in 72 of the 244-page book. That is aside the attractive cover of the book published this year by Radi8 Ltd., which carries the face of the subject in a collage of colours.
The pictures, like the story, written by Peju Akande and Toni Kan, but told with the voice of Oluwaforijimi Amu (which is Jimmy Jatt’s birth name), tells of a life lived completely and also of passion for a chosen career. In fact, the thread that runs through the entire story is that of Jimmy Jatt’s passion for music at a very tender age and his doggedness to stay true to it through laughter and tears.
Many instances in the book dedicated to the memory of the DJ’s late mother, Mrs. Oluremi Amu, will make the reader laugh out loud not just because of the situation in question but also due to the humour of the narrator. There is, for instance, the story of how he got his name, Oluwaforijimi, after his uncle, is vindicated from a crucial court case. Then there is his decision to start a band after he discovered that the band which performed at an event at Eko Hotel where he gets his biggest fee of N1,000 back then got 20 times that amount. Of course, when it dawns on him that it would mean setting up a band rather than paying the one apprentice that accompanied him, he remained a DJ. One who gave his all to disc jockeying, no doubt, has birthed a plethora of following.
But Avant-Garde, which is straight to the point, brilliant and a joy to read, is not just about Jimmy Jatt’s compelling story and the trials he surmounted to forge an illustrious 25-year career, it is also the story of Nigeria’s contemporary music, particularly hip-hop. It is not surprise then that when people think of a Nigerian DJ, the name that comes to mind is Jimmy Jatt’s. He couldn’t have been the best from day one, but the lesson in his story is that he immersed himself thoroughly in the disc jockeying tradition that was then only taking root, and over the years has improved on it, making it impossible for people not to take note.
His is a typical grass-to-grace story, with his eyes always fixed on the prize. It definitely wasn’t easy as can be gleaned from the story, but he always knew where he wanted to be and kept going there no matter what. The reason Avant-Garde is a must-read for young people on the verge of deciding what to do with their lives. This is because they will learn many a lesson from Jimmy Jatt’s 25-year-old career. Life is too short after all, to begin at the start when you can jumpstart your life with such a poignant manual.
Born in Obalende, Jimmy Jatt grew up in the Maroko area of Lagos. His father had three wives, the senior being his mother, and 10 children. There is no doubt that his love for music grew out of his father’s sound equipment dealer that also sprouted a music studio.
His siblings, Tunde and Tayo, helped nurture his music when, barely old enough to go to clubs, he was starting shows for them with the break dance he could do so well. No doubt, one of the reasons he is good at what he does is because he started very early, and by the time his mates were making up their minds about a career, he had already been earning his keep. Considering the army he has raised, and the penning of this book, DJ Jimmy Jatt’s name will be here for all time.