The July 2023 edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – features an article by Dr Olasunkanmi Onifade, Oral Medicine Consultant, Nigeria.

On the 6th of May 1980, Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State in South West Nigeria, lost an illustrious son and iconic musician. Ayinla Wahidi Yusuf, popularly known as Ayinla Omowura, was a talented man who dominated the music scene in the 70s with his brand of apala – a genre of indigenous Yoruba music – much to the admiration of his fans and admirers. To date, his unmistakable voice is a radio favourite. Ayinla, a film about his life and untimely death in a bar brawl, currently streams on Netflix. 

Back then, like now, musicians were locked in a bitter rivalry. They marked territory and established superiority by relying on caustic lyrics waxed on records. In one such instance, Fatai Olowonyo, an arch-rival of Omowura, derided his discoloured dentition and flabby lips. This prompted Omowura’s visit to the dentist.

Omowura’s dental visit was justified at face value – he was a celebrity, and vanity often accompanies celebrity status. He was a frequent smoker who once posed with a cigarette on an album cover. On a deeper level, could he have suffered anxiety about his appearance? Was he compelled by this jab to appraise his body image? Did body dysmorphic disorder set in at any time? 

Omowura was a tough man- mentally and physically- and lyrical jabs were not new to him. He had dished out a sizeable amount to his traducers and anyone he perceived as an enemy. Paranoia was a recurrent theme in his music, often decorated with metaphors about the animal kingdom. In life, he was insecure, particularly suspicious of Western education and ways, perhaps because he was not literate. 

For such a man, the compelling motivation to seek dental care must have been beyond aesthetic reasons. Health-seeking behaviour can be motivated by appearance, bullying or body negativity, and poor oral health conditions can lead to social stigma and a decline in mental health.

Many oral diseases and conditions are preventable, and where prevention is missed or impossible, advancements in knowledge, techniques, and technology provide solutions with satisfactory outcomes. 

As a practising dental surgeon and a music lover, Ayinla Omowura sitting in a dental chair, mouth wide open, is an indelible image in my mind.

Welcome to Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International. Launched in March 2022, this new blog aims to highlight international art and artists, particularly from low-and-middle-income countries, with a focus on mental health. We welcome submissions for consideration, such as, comments on artwork, visual arts, literature, drama, films, podcasts, and videos. Do have a look at the instructions for blog authors for details on how to submit. General enquiries about the blog: BJPInternational@rcpsych.ac.uk

Professor David Skuse, Editor-in-Chief, BJPsych International