Wally Bastian

Who was Wally Bastian?

"'Ogustus Martheneus Bastiansz'", better known as Wally Bastiansz was a Sri Lankan singer who developed the style of chorus baila in the 1940s.

Bastianz was a police officer attached to the traffic division, who also played in the marching band when he began his music career. He was an also an experienced guitarist, banjo player, and violinist. Drawing from his orchestral roots, he transformed the tunes of standards like "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Inky Pinky Parlez Vous" into classic baila songs.

There has always been some controversy over his name "Wally". It is very customary in Sri Lanka, even to day, for children to have nicknames. Although he was baptized OGUSTUS MARTHENEUS after his grandfather Wilhelmus Martheneus,in the family, amongst close relatives, and even amongst his old neighbours, Ogustus was only known as either "Olie, or Olinton". Young Ogustus was not very comfortable with his name and mostly went by his initials O.M. Bastiansz rather than Ogustus or Martheneus. After embarking on his musical adventure he aptly adapted his nickname "Olie" to be "Wally", his well known stage name and, for all official purposes presented himself as Olinton Mervyn Bastianz maintaining his original initials O.M.