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Edebo and Umola
Onoja are the key players behind the Sharon Rose Singers. Two years
ago, they presented their debut album, African Child, to the world. The
roll call of attendees at the launch, which was held the at Abuja’s
Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, included Charlie Boy, Tea Mac, Fatai
Rolling Dollar, Segun Arinze and Kenny Saint Brown, among others. There
was a good representation of people from political circles, the
entertainment industry, the diplomatic corps and the corporate world.

Twelve-years-old
Edebo Onoja, who is currently in JSS 2, started singing at the age of
six, encouraged by her parents who nurtured her talent by engaging a
music teacher to coached her. Already a talented songwriter, Edebo also
plays the clarinet and saxophone, and is grateful for the role played
by her parents in the development of her talent.

Umola Onoja, at ten
years old, is the younger of the duo. She plays the keyboard with the
kind of dexterity that would mark out a budding professional. Like her
older sibling, Umola says her role model is her mother.

Home and away

Since first making
their mark on the music scene, the Sharon Rose Sisters have been
performing across the country. Their very first public performance was
at an event of national significance, as part of the entertainment at
Aso Rock Villa during the inauguration of President Olusegun Obasanjo
in 1999. They have come a long way since, and have performed at other
forums in and outside Nigeria. One notable international gig was their
performance at a concert in Pretoria, South Africa. The Sharon Rose
Sisters have worked with many of the big names in the music industry,
ranging from Sound Sultan, to OJB, to ID Cabassa, to Kofi and Tuface
Idibia, to mention a few.

The sisters’ debut
album, African Child, is a medley of different music genres – Gospel,
R’n’B, Afro Hip Hop, Contemporary and Traditional/Folk music. The album
comprises 13 tracks, including the title song. Among the other tracks
are: ‘Celebrate’, ‘Obobo Alubasa’ and ‘Stella Obasanjo’ (a tribute

(for the late First
Lady, in recognition of her charity work for children). Edebo and
Umola’s rising profile has not gone without notice, and they have
received various awards in recognition of their talent. These include
an Award of Excellence by the Jos Chapter of Radio Television and
Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) and the Global Excellence Award given
to them on March 20, 2010.

The Sharon Rose African Child Foundation

Buoyed by their
successes so far, the music-making sisters are using their talents and
resources for the welfare less privileged children. The Sharon Rose
African Child Foundation has been set up for this purpose. Edebo, who
wants to be a gynecologist, has insisted that they would continue to
sing. She hopes that their music will change society and be positively
influence the younger generations of Nigerians. “We want to use our
music to encourage all our peers to start building their lives when
they are young and gradually walk the ladder of life to the top,” she
said.

Their father, James
Onoja, said he identified the sisters’ singing talents early, and so
decided to nurture and invest in them. Mr. Onoja said of his daughters,
“They are not singing for money. They are singing because they like to
sing. They are singing for fun.” He disclosed that the decision to
establish the foundation was borne out of the sisters’ desire to be an
example of what an African child should be. “They want to help the
poor. They [decided] on their own to commit resources from their
performances to providing for the need. Thirty percent of their album
launch and other commercial appearances [will be] given to charity.

In a press release,
National Coordinator of the foundation, Tony Ogunlana, revealed that
the non-profit organisation would initiate various performances and
charity-based shows and awards to celebrate this year’s Day of the
African Child, to be marked in June. Through this, the Sharon Rose
Sisters would reach out to other,less privileged children.

The girls’ mother,
Rose Onoja, is the Vice President of the Sharon Rose Foundation. She
said details of activities to mark the day will be announced in due
course. “We shall harness their talents, as a lasting legacy to put
smiles on the faces of the poorest-of-the-poor in Africa,” she

concluded.