NET Exclusive: 10 distinct features of DJ Jimmy JATT’s biography

By Adedayo Odulaja

1. Titled Avant-Garde: The Cool DJ Jimmy Jatt Story, the book was written by two of Nigeria’s most gifted writers Toni Kan and Peju Akande.
2. The fantastic cover design, portraying DJ Jimmy Jatt in his trademark boyish look with his glasses and hat intact but in different shades of colour; was done by Michael Lawanson.
3. The book, with a foreword written by Obi Asika, founder of Storm Records, is dedicated to the loving memory of Mrs Oluremi Amu, Jimmy Jatt’s late mother who was the first wife in a polygamous family of 3 wives and ten children.
4. Written in simple language and packaged brilliantly, it is one of the best books in circulation published by Radi8 Limited and fitting publication for the story of Africa’s top DJ laid bare in 168 pages.
5. The book, released last weekend on the 25^th anniversary of the man raised at Obalende, Lagos State, contains family pictures of DJ Jimmy Jatt never before seen in public. The pictures include those of his parents, his wife, beautiful daughters and extended family members.
6. The book reveals a fact that many are lost on – the icon’s real name is Oluwaforijimi Amu which some who knew before now might as well have forgotten due to the popularity of the name we have all come to identify with the legend: Jimmy Jatt.
7. JATT was the name of the studio his elder brothers came up with when they decided to get a business name for their booming music and equipment business.
8. The primary school he attended, Ireti Primary School, where his mum, Mrs Oluremi Amu, used to teach; was also attended at a time by children of Nigeria’s former head of State, General Murtala Muhammed.
9. JATT is an acronym arrived at through a combination of the first letters of his name, Jimmy and that of his two brothers, Tunde and Tayo as well as their surname – Amu. Broken down, it comes off as J from Jimmy, A from Amu, T from Tunde and another T from Tayo – JATT. How prophetic! As if his brothers knew he was the future of the business.
10.  The first amount of money made from playing at an event as a DJ which was substantial enough to make him pinch severally was N1,000 during a show that held at Eko Hotel back in the day.