Omawumi is a super-heroine! – The Lasso of Truth [Album Review]

Album- The Lasso of Truth
Artiste- Omawumi
Guest features – Timaya, Wizkid, Flavour, 2Face Idibia and Afay
Producers – Cobhams Asuquo, Don Jazzy, Sizzle-Pro, Oscar Herman Acker, Young D, Sarz and Soso Soberekon
Record Label- Oma Records (2013)
Running Time- 46.5 minutes

The Lasso of Truth is a weapon used by comic book heroine Wonder Woman to make people tell and comply with the truth. What does this have to do with Omawumi? Nothing much, apart from the fact that she is a fan of the DC Comics character. Her 2009 debut was titled Wonder Woman.

What truth does Omawumi want us to know and obey on her 12 track sophomore? Who is the villain, who needs to be rescued? On the Sizzle-Pro produced ‘When The Boss Is Coming (Actor Sef Dey Run)’ our wonder woman tells us that life will undoubtedly knock us down but we must learn from the defeat and come back stronger. With a slight macabre EDM beat she uses Nigerian cinematic terms (actor and boss) to teach on the benefits of being patient in life. On paper it should sound corny but Omawumi’s mainstream appeal makes the song work. If this track isn’t your cup of tea then ‘Stay Alive (Jeje Laye) should be. Omawumi with South African House music encourages you to be patient and reminds you that you only live once (shout out to Drake!).

The Lasso of Truth is a pot-pourri of sounds. ‘I Go Go’ is a reggae song about love gone wrong. ‘My love you don dismiss. We know plan am like this…my food you no wan chop, body sef you know touch. I am tired tired of the pain that I feel inside’ our super-heroine sings. Weary of fading love, Omawumi says she is ready to move on. It isn’t though as our wonder woman still believes in love and hopes that her love is reciprocated on ‘You Must Love Me’. We don’t know if the object of her affection loves her back but on the next song ‘Warn Yourself’ featuring Wizkid, Omawumi struts her sexiness on the track and warns guys that she is so sweet she can give you a running stomach- ‘Stop! Wait a minute! Although you want some sugar in it but the jedi jedi wey go catch you e no go finish.’ Wizzy’s verse is largely uninspiring, rehashing parts of his verse on Iyanya’s ‘Sexy Mama’. A super woman doesn’t need a star boy so ‘Warn Yourself’ is good by itself without the help of Wizkid.

Omawumi has a gift of making what should be corny into a sweet song. I mean when you feature Timaya on your song, you shouldn’t expect the song to be rated as high art. ‘Personal Race’ is an inspiring Afrobeat tune from Omawumi. She’s really into teaching life’s lessons on this album and she does so on this song too albeit with more local ‘bounce’. Timaya’s verse is standard Timaya-nothingness but you can’t hate on his adlibs. Even with some shaky features, Omawumi succeeds because she doesn’t use them as a crutch but as supporting acts. She leads and they follow.

Omawumi’s mainstream appeal is because of two things- her command of Pidgin English and her humour. These two assets are displayed best on her hit single ‘Belle’ featuring Flavour. Really it is a nonsensical, groovy and funny song that you can’t do but love. It is a local lullaby. The version of this song on the album features Omawumi’s baby singing the song. ‘The Best You Can Be’ is another song for her daughter. Omawumi thanks her mother for the strict upbringing she went through and tells her own daughter that she will be appreciative of her upbringing when she becomes a woman.

Our heroine seeks justice on ‘What A Bang Bang’ featuring 2face Idibia. She uses 2’s simple effective rhyme pattern ‘dem dey claim political immunity/ on top all the civil, political ingenuity and dem people using spirituality like a mask to dey hide their anxiety’ to sing about political oppression in the country.

So what truth does Omawumi show us with The Lasso of Truth? The wonder woman lets us know that life is not a bed of roses, never give up on love, have fun, fight for what is right and if you’ve got it flaunt it. Oh yeah she also lets us know that she is a bloody good singer. The Lasso of Truth is a well thought out album derive of the gimmickry and half-assed effort by many singers in the country. This makes Omawumi a hero in my book, a wonder woman and that is the truth.