When Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister released Family Planning (SKOLP 011), many listeners saw it as another entertaining Fuji album. However, beneath the rhythm, Barrister delivered one of the most profound social commentaries of his career. The album is not merely about controlling family size; it is a complete manual on respect, reciprocity, child upbringing, education, and responsible parenting.
Barrister begins by laying the foundation of every successful family: respect for parents. He sings:
“Bọ̀wọ̀ fún bàbá pẹ̀lú màmá ó kọjọ́ ayé ẹ kó lé dún.”
According to him, no one can expect happiness, peace, or longevity while neglecting those who gave them life. He reinforces the Yoruba proverb that “what we sow is what we reap” when he says:
“Òwún tá bá gbìn silẹ̀ ún làá má ká.”
The message is clear. Life operates on the principle of cause and effect. Just as a farmer cannot plant onions and expect to harvest vegetables, a child who disregards parental guidance cannot expect blessings to flourish in life.
Having established the importance of respect, Barrister moves into the principle of reciprocity in the section titled One Good Turn Deserves Another. Here, he reminds listeners that today’s child will become tomorrow’s elder.
“Ọwọ́ ọmọde ò tó pẹpẹ, ti àgbàlagbà ò wọ àkérègbé rárá.”
The wisdom embedded in this line teaches mutual respect between generations. Barrister condemns impatience and promotes endurance, advising listeners to embrace patience because:
“Sùúrù lérè púpọ̀…”
To him, patience remains one of the greatest investments a human being can make. Wealth may disappear, strength may fade, but patience often preserves both relationships and opportunities.
The discussion then shifts naturally to children, which is the central focus of the album. Barrister addresses parents directly:
“Ẹyin bímọ bímọ óò, ẹ súnmọ́bí kẹ gbọ́ ọ̀rọ̀ kékeré kan.”
He argues that when people pray for children, they should not merely ask for offspring; they should ask for children of character, knowledge, and usefulness. His ideal child combines home training with education. He vividly paints the future of such children:
“Ọmọ tí ó kéwú kàwé, tí ó di doctor, tí ó di adájọ́, tí ó di lawyer….”
For Barrister, education is not simply a pathway to wealth; it is a pathway to dignity, self-reliance, and societal progress. He praises educated professionals while also acknowledging the dignity of skilled labour. Whether one becomes an engineer, an artisan, or even a musician, hard work remains the true measure of success.
Yet Barrister does not place all blame on children when they go astray. In one of the album’s most powerful observations, he declares:
“…..ọmọ búburú púpọ̀ lọ́wọ́ àwọn òbí tó bí wọn.”
This is a direct reminder that poor parenting often produces poor outcomes. Children are reflections of the values instilled in them from childhood.
The album reaches its climax when Barrister addresses the issue of excessive childbirth without adequate planning. He describes a man who fathers fourteen children but can barely cater for three. Such a parent, he argues, leaves confusion rather than inheritance.
“Ó sì bímọ silẹ bí ẹ̀dá, ó bí mẹ́rìnlá….”
When such a parent dies, the struggle over inheritance begins, leading to family conflict and suffering. The barrister’s argument is not against having children; it is against bringing children into the world without preparation, resources, or proper guidance.
The final lesson of Family Planning is therefore simple but timeless: respect your parents, treat people well, raise responsible children, educate them, and only bring into the world the number of children you can adequately nurture. Through powerful proverbs, social observations, and practical wisdom, Barrister transformed a Fuji album into a lifelong guide for family development. Decades after its release, the message remains as relevant as ever, reminding society that the quality of a nation begins with the quality of its homes.
