Though death has stopped the beat of
highlife singer, Fatai Olagunju, popularly known as Rolling Dollar, his
family wants his fans to keep the tempo going, writes GBENGA ADENIJI
The
location was the Millennium Estate, Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos residence of
deceased highlife singer, Fatai Olagunju, otherwise called Rolling
Dollar. His two wives, Zainab and Serifat, some of his children
including Sikiru-who is the singer’s 50-year-old first son, wore a
pensive mood as our correspondent walked into their home.
It was
evident from their faces that they were yet to come to terms with the
reality of the death of the 86-year-old songbird, Rolling Dollar, who
breathed his last on June 12, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of
the acclaimed “fairest and freest” election in Nigeria. The musician
shot to stardom a few years back via a successful album, Won Kere si
Number Wa. But despite his fame, the family is worried about the
education of his younger children.
One of the children, Jamiu,
told our correspondent that he was still saddened by the death of his
father, expressing uncertainty over his future. He explained that he and
his other siblings would miss their father’s pieces of advice.
The young Olagunju regretted that his late father was unable to fulfil the promise he made to him concerning his education.
Jamiu
stated, “Anytime he was around, he used to advise us on things we
should do and the ones we should avoid. He promised me that he would
make sure I studied up to university level. It is unfortunate that when
my father was making the promise, he did not know that he would die this
year.”
He added that when the news of his father’s death was
broken to him, the first thing he remembered was the promise he made to
him, regarding his university education.
“When I was told about
his death, I remembered what he promised me. I also thought about my
education. It is my desire to ba singer like my father but I want to go
to school first. To honour my father, I will take to music someday. He
became popular as a highlife singer but I want to be a hip-hop artiste,”
he added.
Rolling Dollar might have arrived on the big stage late
in life but his works were recognised by highlife lovers, music buffs
and fellow musicians. After his death, President Goodluck Jonathan was
one of many notable individuals who praised the good work of the late
singer. Zainab, who had just finished saying her prayers, told SUNDAY
PUNCH that she was yet to believe that her husband had left her forever.
She recalled that she married the musician after her first marriage
failed, adding that Rolling Dollar was yet to hit the stardom when he
married her.
She said, “I was staying with an aunt at Olorunsogo,
Mushin area of Lagos about 13 years ago when I met him. I used to see
him pass by but I did not know that he had interest in me. I was a bit
sick when he called me on a Sunday. He jokingly asked me if I would not
mind preparing Ramadan food for him because it was the fasting period.
He later noticed some patches at both corners of my mouth, indicating
that I had been sick. I told him I had used some drugs but he insisted
on buying some more for me.”
Zainab said the musician did not even
stop at that. According to her, he also prepared rice and asked one of
his children to take some to her house.
She added, “I later learnt
that the year he met me was exactly three years after the death of his
wife, who left three children behind. We got married in 2001 and I
promised to take care of the children for him. His caring and honest
nature drew me to him.”
She further stated that the family was
apprehensive of how to cater for the children of the late artiste, who
she said, did not leave anything behind. Zainab appealed to his fans to
stand by them at their moment of grief.
Rolling Dollar’s younger
wife, Serifat, who said she bore a boy and a girl for the deceased
singer, also reiterated that their husband did not leave any money to
train their children.
When the highlife maestro was alive, Serifat
said he cared so much for the children and would do anything to make
them happy. But his death seemed to have caught her and the rest of the
family unawares.
“Our husband did not leave any money. We hope his
fans and government will stand by us. The major challenge we are facing
right now is how to ensure that our children continue their education. I
am a businesswoman and I only survive on the little profit I make,” she
stated.
Rolling Dollar’s eldest child, Sikiru, who said he left
the Nigerian Educational and Development Council in 1996, told SUNDAY
PUNCH that he left his father at seven.
He stated that he was
unhappy because of the inability to see his father before he died,
adding that he was also sick when he was informed about his ill-health.
Sikiru
said, “My father is one man that I like so much. I live at Ikenne in
Ogun State. I was so sad when I was told that he was ill because I was
also indisposed at the time. I thought that his sickness was not
something serious because he was a strong man until I was told of the
urgent need to see him. Apart from my sickness, I was also broke but I
pleaded that those around him, especially his wives, should take good
care of him. Immediately I was strong enough to move around, I set out
for Lagos to see him but it was unfortunate that he died before I could
reach him. I was on the road when I received the call about his death.”
Sikiru
however eulogised his father’s virtues, saying he was happy that God
gave the family a wonderful father who never maltreated his children
“My
father taught us never to misbehave, steal or look down on anybody.
These are some of the virtues I imbibed from him and I am happy to say
that the lessons are of great value to me. They have assisted my journey
in life.”
Although 50-year-old Sikiru left his father a long time
ago, he said that he once followed him to a music show in Port Novo,
Benin Republic. He also said he visited him at regular intervals and
that during some of the visits, he watched his rehearsals.
“He was
a great performer. He was lively on the stage despite his age and his
sense of humour during performances drew a large followership to him,”
said Sikiru.
Folk singer, Segun Akinlolu, otherwise known as
Beautiful Nubia, described the late entertainer as a colourful and
youthful character who was always full of joy and life. Nubia said each
time he met the deceased artiste, he would give him a big hug and pray
for him.
“He was full of appreciation for our music and called
himself my ‘Number One Fan.’ He loved playing music and each time he
climbed the stage, he thrilled fans in a special way. Nobody wanted
Rolling Dollar to leave the stage. The last time I spoke with him was a
couple of months back. He appeared more subdued than usual but we
discussed his participation in this year’s Eniobanke Music Festival.
It’s sad the he will not be there but we shall celebrate him at the
festival,” Nubia said.
The Oh! What A Feeling singer added that as
Rolling Dollar was being remembered by friends and fans, it was crucial
for his legacy to be protected and sustained. He stated that every
artist is a blessing to the society and their passing should always be
met with positive reflection and honest effort to continue their works
and times in the collective memory of all.
On Thursday, the
eight-day Fidau prayer was held for Rolling Dollar who was buried in his
house located in Imaya, Ikorodu area of Lagos State. As sympathisers
continue to call on the family to commiserate with them, how to secure
the future of the children the artiste left behind is now the major
concern.
The late singer was said to have been wrongly diagnosed
of malaria at the first hospital where he was taken to. Another hospital
in Surulere initially reportedly diagnosed him with pneumonia. But
after looking into his medical history, especially the record from a US
hospital where he was first treated before returning home from his last
trip a few weeks ago, further diagnoses revealed he had cancer of the
lungs.
Pa Dollar’s many wives and final wish
The musician
married five wives and had nine children. Two women who were with him
until his death gave birth to four of the children. The eldest of the
four children is aged 12 and he is in primary five. His first son said
the late singer pampered his children.
“My father would go to any
length to ensure the comfort of his children,” he said, recalling how he
showered him with gifts as the only child of his mother.
He added
that the late entertainer used to buy gifts from Domino stores in Lagos
whenever he was returning from a show a long time ago. He also created
time to take his children to his hometown in Ede, Osun State, before his
death. Sikiru said his father would fight any of his wives that beat
his children.
One of the wives, Zainab, said she could not fulfil
the final wish of the late singer. Narrating Rolling Dollar’s frantic
effort to see his children before his death, Zainab said he begged her
to bring the children to him when he was at a hospital in Surulere,
Lagos. She said she was taking the children to him the next day when she
was told that he had passed on.
SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that the
late singer never allowed women to cook his food till he died. One of
his wives said he took that decision to avoid being served a meal that
didn’t have the taste he wanted.
His two wives said he was not a
rich man in terms of monetary value, but he was wealthy when one
considers the name he left behind, his prestige and character. They said
he had no money in the bank but he was always happy when he began to
sing.
Two weeks before his death, our correspondent was at his
Oko-Oba residence to interview him. It was exactly three days after his
return from the music tour of the US and as he slept on a mat in his
sitting room, he told our correspondent that he was too sick to grant
the interview that was earlier scheduled for that day.
The
Controller of Immigration in the state, Hamisu Maishanu, told
journalists at a briefing in Kano that all those arrested would be
screened and those without relevant documents would be repatriated to
their countries.
Could you describe your dad?
Sunday
Vanguard was made to understand, yesterday, that they have not only
regrouped, they have also sacked at least two major towns in the state.
Several
media reports on Tuesday, quoted the President’s wife as asking the
people of Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state to support
President Goodluck Jonathan when he seeks re-election in 2015.
According
to the detainees, Nigerian authorities have insisted the Kenyans will
not be allowed to fly out without the three men Kenya kicked out on drug
trafficking claims.