Rolling Dollar was the oldest musician still playing active music at the age of 86. He was one of the pioneers of Juju music genre in Nigeria. Years back, it seemed Pa Rolling Dollar was in the nightfall of his career, but he took many by surprise and the Nigerian scene as he stormed back with back with his hit song, ‘WON KERE SI NUMBER WA’, which became the anthem of young and old. Also, the song was used as signature tunes for some brand commercials. Pa Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju was born on the 22nd July 1926 to the family of late Chief Olagunju in Ede, Osun State. Juju music legend, Ebenezer Obey was among those trained by the late musician. As a pioneer Juju music player, Rolling Dollar clarified in an interview how juju music derived its name. “It was derived from the tambourine which is one of the key instruments used to play it. When they play it on the street, they would shout ‘Ju so ke’, they would then throw the tambourine up and shake it. … shukushuku. That was how juju got its name and not from bad medicine and all that. Even though in Saro land the word was taken to mean bad medicine but here in Lagos our juju meant music. In juju then, we had the guitar, agidigbo, samba, sekere and at times we used the bottle to give us that clave sound. In fact, white people invented the clave from our bottle sound. That is where they got the idea for it,” he said.
Pa Rolling Dollar had played music throughout his life time and travelled far and wide preaching the gospel of music.
Pa Rolling Dollar Dies Of Cancer
-The second wife of Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar
What is your name?
My name is Madam Sherifat Olagunju, I’m the second wife of Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar.
We were told that Baba was ill before he finally died?
Baba had been feeling sick before he travelled abroad. But we didn’t discover anything until he got to America. After two weeks in America, Samson, the promoter called me from America that Baba was sick that it was his wife that he was living with that told baba a sad news. I asked the guy that what was the sad news and he said the woman told baba that they were fighting at Abattoir, Agege; in fact they were shooting guns. With that, the guy told me that, he told the woman that she shouldn’t have said such thing to baba that is far away from home considering his age. I was just pleading to the guy on phone that he should just allow peace to reign till they come back. So, it was since that period that they’ve been complaining about baba’s health. But after two weeks that he was admitted into an hospital in America, they discovered that baba has cancer and they told the promoter. So, I advised the guy to bring baba home, he shouldn’t allow baba to die there and he agreed. Then after two weeks that we spoke with the guy, the guy made arrangement because they couldn’t finish the show they went there for but he had to bring him back to Nigeria for the family to know the next thing to do. Two days after he returned to Nigeria, baba fell sick and they started taking him to several places. He was taken to one hospital around Ahmadiyya in Agbado Ijaye in Lagos where he spent more than three weeks. When he returned the following day, I was told that, Dedion Group of Company came to pick baba for proper medical care, so they took him to their official hospital, Marritol Medical Centre at Lawanson Road, Surulere, Lagos. I went there yesterday (a day before he died), I spoke with the doctor and the doctor confirmed that it is exactly what the doctors in America discovered that he discovered too (Cancer). He asked me if I understand what cancer means and I told him I did. He said; hope I knew it can’t be operated; that we should just be praying for him to survive it. This was what I was told before I left the hospital yesterday (a day before he died) until this morning (the day he died) when the doctor called me that, he’s dead.
What time exactly?
The doctor was not specific but it was in the morning because I was called around 8AM.
How many kids do you have for Pa Rolling Dollar before he died?
We got married in 2007 and I have two kids for him.
Rumour has it that, his death was not ordinary, that it has spiritual backup?
The only thing I want to say here is that, God should help us especially when it comes to the circumstance that surrounds his death because the doctor had already confirmed that he has cancer and how can somebody that was confirmed to have cancer suffered spiritual attack. No one attacked baba spiritually. And it was not Samson, the promoter that killed baba. Baba had illness before he travelled. So, it was not a spiritual attack.
Should we say it was the bad news that killed him?
Let us say it was the bad news and with that age. Though, one might have a hidden sickness you are battling with before but if you compound it with a sudden and bad news, it could lead to anything. For instance, we’ve seen people who are hypertensive but still live with it for more than 10 years. We’ve seen people living with HIV/AIDS for several years but it won’t appear on their bodies. But the bad news that the promoter said his wife sent to him was what ignited his sickness. And the guy confirmed that, it was from that moment that baba developed the sickness.
Do you know the wife that called him?
I don’t know her name but they called her Iya Jamiu.
Tell us your last discussion with baba?
As husband and wife, we talk a lot but what he said that pains me most was that, the America that he’s going, when he comes back, he would plan for me because he has a house that he was building in Ikorodu before he died and he has promised me that, when he returns from America, he would complete the building and I will move down with my children, this was our last discussion and while he was in America, he used to call me on phone, trying to calm me down and I should ignore what the other woman is doing to me. The way he threatens me and all that, I do tell baba. And he will ask me to come calm down and allow him to come back from his trip.
Have you been taken to that house before?
It has always been me and baba from day one. And I do go there often. The house is in Ikorodu around Maya, along Shagamu expressway. Everybody knows me there.
What is that significant thing you can’t forget about him?
I have many things that I cannot forget about him because he happened to be a loving and caring husband and God-fearing man. He’s the kind of man that doesn’t take people for granted, he is not selfish and despite his age, he happened to be a father to me since I married him. He did not make me regret marrying him. He doesn’t take me as his wife; he took me as his daughter. He talks to me, in fact there are some secrets that most of his children did not know that he revealed to me. Meanwhile, I can’t disclose them for now.
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Baba Is A Rare Gem In the Music Industry
-Segun Nabi
It’s so painful when we all got the news and immediately the news broke, my president Queen Ayo Balogun asked me to rush down to the place to sympathize with the family. In fact, I was working in studio very close to his house at Millennium Estate around Oko Oba but I had to leave the studio instantly because I was so shocked. Basically, I’m here to sympathize with the family because Pa Rolling Dollar has done tremendously well in this industry and his contribution cannot be quantified especially in the Juju genre of music. Another thing about baba is that, he’s a man who has always been there for the upcoming artistes. My very first time of meeting him was when we were having a show around Oshodi and we invited him; all he said was that, if we can come down with a taxi to pick him. When I said that, I drove down myself to pick him and the way this man was communicating with me in the car made me have another impression about him. Before then, I saw him as a great Icon that no one can just come close to him just like that but I was totally wrong, I never expected him to be that friendly and easy to be with. He was mature with his fame. I think he realized where he was coming from and he tried to create an atmosphere where he tried as much as he can to support the upcoming musicians. With that, I think he’s a great loss for the industry because he was a rare gem.
Is there anything that the AJUM is doing to immortalize him?
Yes! It’s going to happen. Not quite long, my President just spoke to me now that the man really needs a befitting burial. So, AJUM is there, we would still organize a concert to pay our last respect to him.
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Bantu
Dollar was a great friend and incredible mentor. I was honoured to have done one of his last recordings with him for documentary film that we were working on called Elders Corner. Over the years, we got to be very friendly and much close and were very supportive and open. I learnt a lot from him. His humility, patience, creativity and most importantly for me is the fact that he enjoyed life to the fullest. And towards the end of his life, people got to appreciate his greatness because very few old legends lived to be appreciated to their very last minute and Dollar was quite an exceptional in an industry or a nation where we forget very easily. So, I’m very honoured that I was able to cross path with him musically and also as a friend.
Lesson that upcoming musician can pick from his career
For me, the lesson is that, you make sure you have a long time goal because somebody like Dollar shouldn’t have been running around the world still trying to make ends meet. I’m not saying he was a poor musician but was always on stage, always rocking. And in a country where there is no socio-service, where pensioners are not respected. There are not given their dues. You have to make conscious of the fact that you need to insure yourself properly. You need to have proper health insurance, life insurance and make sure you invest wisely. And you have to make a long time plan because you are only as good as your last hit. And I think people like that reminds us of this fact. Despite his old age, Dollar was still touring. He just came back from the United States where he had tour. And at 86, you are not supposed to be running all over the world like you’re a 19-year old. Though, I quite agreed that, Dollar was a restless person but at the same time, he was trying to make an income to sustain his family. And it shouldn’t be like that. So, I think artistes have to prepare themselves for the long time.
Poor Copyright System In Our Environment
I think artistes need to go global, protect your right with global agencies that have experience when it comes to protecting their artistes’ right and integrity. Register with publishing society outside Nigeria. In Nigeria, there are too many societies and I’m yet to receive a cheque from them. I don’t know artistes that are actually living up to their copyright in Nigeria. With that, music is a global phenomenon both Nigerian and African music. So, within that context, protect your right because publishing is the future. That is how you are able to sustain yourself and you will be able to sustain your family. It is like investing in stock that is your bond, your publishing, your song writing, so you have to protect it well.
Building on his legacy
I suggest people should go and dig into the archives to discover the Dollar beyond ‘Won kere Si Number Wa’. Dollar had been releasing since the 50s, I have some incredible recording of his from the 50s and 60s. And it’s an incredible treasure from which you can sample, from which you can be inspired and gathered idea. Dollar was somebody that didn’t take music lightly; he was always rehearsing, always challenging himself. I saw in the hospital before he died, he was still rehearsing despite the fact that he had pain in his hands but he was still busy working his fingers, saying that he could still play guitar. Music meant everything to him. That was what kept him young and active. That was his life, he breathed and lived music. He was music, he embodied it.
What was the last interaction you had with him?
Visiting him at the hospital and he looked fragile but he was in the high spirit. And he was looking forward to be discharged, looking forward to touring. He was supposed to go to Germany, I had organized tour for him, so he was looking forward for that. And I am happy that I saw him in that mood. And we parted way with a smile and he went inside and said he was looking forward to be on stage again.
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I will miss his ebullience
-Sulaimon Adegbenro
Konsoligbadun
First of all, I’m not paying my last respect; I will continue to pay my respect to the man until I die. Secondly, my relationship with him actually started sometime in 2002 and since then we clicked right from the first time we saw. He has been hearing about me, of course even while I was a young boy, I’ve heard about him. He took me up immediately as his adopted son despite the fact that my father was still very much alive. And I accepted him too as my father. I used to joke about it too that I had two fathers, my father and baba Rolling Dollar. I had no regret or whatsoever because we have many years of very good working relationship. There was never a day for once that he was angry with me. Even if he had any problem with any other person, the moment Intervene, he seems to be at home with whatever I offer as advice. And I really enjoy the relationship that we shared. Up till when he was about to travel early this year, I was discussing with him and he said in our local dialect that ‘Je ki n de’ meaning let be arrive from travel then we would finish our work. Such was the kind of relationship that we shared. I was actually waiting and looking forward to his return. I didn’t know he was ill until a week for he died. And when I heard the news that he was ill and he has been discharge from the hospital, I was hoping that perhaps sometimes this week (the week he died) I will pay him a visit and see how he’s coping. Only to hear earlier that day that he had passed on. It’s so painful to me I must tell you.
What will you miss about him?
I will miss his ebullience. Anytime you see Pa Rolling Dollar, you will never have the feeling that, you’re interacting with an elderly person. You know how some elderly people carry themselves but Pa Rolling Dollar was not like that. Baba was always ready to mingle and mix with everybody regardless of your age. In fact, his happiest moments were when you take him like he was your mate. So, that is one thing I will miss about him and I’ve learnt a lot from him in that regard that, it is better you take life as simple as he did. Another thing that I will miss is his experience in life. I wrote in the book that, life is full of experiences.
What about your plan to be celebrating him on your programme every time he clocks a new age?
I resolved doing that almost seven years ago and I kept it up till last year. Every birthday he celebrated, I interviewed him live on my programme. We did the one of last year and we were hoping that we would do the next one by July but unfortunately he had gone. Now that he had gone, my hope is that, we will keep his legacy going. His songs are ever-green. Anytime we play his songs on air, there is always that relevance and I’m sure it will motivate quite a number of young people. Also, I will expect young artistes to study his life and take the positive side and build on it for a better future.
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On Journalists, Family Members And the Promoter
For several hours, there was a rancor between the journalists, family members and the promoter that took baba to America. He was basically trying not to allow journalists to take Baba’s picture just for him to be able to recoup his money after the whole burial arrangement. But the entire journalists present especially the photo-journalists gave him several reasons why they must take the picture and stop dictating for them on what to do because the man’s body belongs to the entire Nigerians especially the government. With that, the argument persisted for several hours but at the end of the day, the family members succumbed to journalists’ view before they were allowed to take baba’s body inside.
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The Body of the demise
Pa Rolling Dollar’s body was brought back home from the hospital around 5pm in gold colour Murano Jeep owned by a veteran journalist, Biodun Kupoluyi, the publisher of E24/7 Magazine. Mr. Biodun as he’s fondly called drove the jeep while one of the family members was sitting beside baba just to make sure he’s well positioned.
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No! My Husband Did Not Die Of Cancer But Pneumonia
Mrs. Zainab Aduke Olagunju but popularly known as Iya Jamiu Spoke on her relationship with Baba.
I’ve been with Baba since 2000 when he was living in one room apartment in Mushin, Ile Ile beside May Flower. Baba was selling a 20 naira Indian hemp when I married him. We were both suffering together before he was given this house at Millennium Estate; we were there together to collect the key. It was in poverty that I met baba. He didn’t have a dime when I married him. It was when I was carrying the pregnancy of my first born that God showed baba mercy. It was when I was five-month pregnant that Baba first travelled to Morocco. It was when my pregnancy was nine-month old that God opened the door for Baba. His glory started booming again because Baba spent over 25years at home jobless. It was just as if I was the one holding the key to the door of greatness of Baba because immediately I married him and I got pregnant, things started changing from worst to better. We went to Tinubu to get the key to this apartment. And I pray God should continue to bless and enrich him too. When we packed into the house, his glory was still soaring high. I’m his wife that he married, I’m not aware whether he has a wife outside or not, that’s not my business. All I know is that, I’m his wife and I had two children for him, Jamiu and Mojid Olagunju.
His Last American Trip
When I went to America, this is not his first time of touring America. This particular one will make it the 19th country that he will be touring. When he wanted to travel to America, nothing happened to him, he was healthy and agile. But after he spent one month over there, he called me that he was sick and he was admitted. I was very worried here and I asked him what was wrong with him, he just said, he’s sick. So, he spent two weeks there before returning. Before he returned, he called me to inform me that, by Friday in May, he will return to Nigeria. When my husband returned, he got into the country around 3pm. But when he’ got to America, I was actually praying inside the room when I saw the taxi in front of our apartment. I said to my son, Jamiu this is your father. When I got outside, the condition that I met my husband was critical. He had lost weight without blood. Although, the promoter that took him there tried his best but I wasn’t pleased with his condition. We have our own private hospital in Mushin but that place is too far from here, so, I took him to Ahmadiyya. When the Whiteman saw him, he asked whether he has returned because he went there to collect injection before travelling to America. Immediately, the doctor told me that, Baba cannot follow me home because his condition was critical. That was how he was admitted and I couldn’t go home, I was sleeping at the hospital with him when there was no helping hand. In fact, it affected my children school because I was so engrossed with baba’s safety and no one to prepare children for school. But when I realized it was getting beyond my power, I quickly called his immediate younger sister. We were both there together but what he was complaining was that he cannot walk with his left leg. But I was told that, he was walking when he was in America. But the day he returned, I knew something strange was about to happen. When he came back, he wanted to step inside and it took him time looking depressed. We spent more than nine days at Ahmadiyya. It was when the Oyinbo (Whiteman) realized the man was agile and healthy, he asked us to discharge him. He was just treated for malaria. We didn’t do scan for him. They just did blood test and urine for him and after some treatment, he was discharged. When we got home, we realized that his condition was getting worst on a daily basis, he was still having problem with his left leg. When I found out that, all my effort was proving abortive; I quickly called his younger brother before the whole problems choked me. On Saturday (the Saturday before Baba died) there was this group of people that came to advertise Dedion. When they saw baba, they asked what happened and I explained to them that he has been complaining of his leg since he arrived from USA. After we were discharged from hospital in Ahmadiyya, the guy that took them to America came around to check how he was doing but when he saw that it was getting critical, he suggested we should try their own hospital. Then we took him there. The doctor asked me whether I know his nature of sickness but I said no that it was in America that he developed the sickness. And when he returned, he told me he has pneumonia which I was helping him to mob his body with hot water. We took him there on Saturday and I couldn’t go back there on Sunday because of the stress I was exposed to and also to take care of my children. So, on Monday I went back there but the condition I met him was very bad and I was too happy about it. Immediately, I went to the doctor to ask what was going on and he said he had explained to the younger brother that baba has pneumonia which had affected some critical part of his body. On Tuesday 11th of June I wanted to enter into his ward to see him but I was not allowed. Those nurses in charge said I cannot see him that if I know the stress they went through the previous night that they couldn’t sleep. And when I saw him too, I confirmed that, maybe it was not yet time but his spirit had already gone because when I was asking him to look at my eyes and his children, I didn’t hear what he was saying clearly again until you bring your ear close to his mouth before you could understand what he was saying. When he had the opportunity to talk, what he said to me was to go and bring his children. I was surprised because when we were in Ahmadiyya, you didn’t ask me to come with the children, why now? But he insisted. After our last conversation, the doctor asked me to stay outside for them to be able to treat him. From that moment, I wasn’t allowed to see him again, so I had to quickly dash home because I didn’t prepare anything for my children to eat. So, I left the hospital to see my children. I was about to step inside when one of his younger ones called me to come over that they needed to buy a particular drug. When I said that, I was already feeling suspicious that something serious had happened. It was when I got there that they broke the news to me.
According to you, you said pneumonia while the other wife said cancer?
I don’t know about that one.
Your last discussion with Baba
Baba was not sick before he traveled. The day he was meant to travel, he still went for two shows. When he came back from the second show around 6pm he met us where we were celebrating one of my younger ones. So, on the 18th that he was supposed to rest was when he traveled. He was healthy before he left. It was when he was in America that he called me that he was sick.
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Wale Thompson
Mr Lalale Friday
Pa Rolling Dollar is a man that God really loved. I pray we can see his kind of person on this earth. No doubt, he was someone that God loves so much. He was very close to the young ones and he was able to achieve greater things that people thought he wouldn’t be able to achieve before he died. As one of Baba’s adopted sons, his memory will continue to linger on. All through his life, he lived a very remarkable life. The most important period in this life is when one is aged and you will agree with me that he truly enjoys his old age. And there is no one on earth that will not want his old age to be better than his early life. So, we must celebrate him. My lesson from baba’s life is that we shouldn’t lose hope in life because what will be will surely be. In any condition that you may find yourself in this life, God is the only one that gives joy, happiness and greatness. We’ve read about Sarah in the bible that was barren for several years before God answered her prayer.
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Titi Oguntoyinbo
It was a shocking news to me because 10years to this time, I was expecting him to go because he was a very strong and agile man. We thank God for Baba’s life and our prayer to God is to watch over us and make us surpass his achievements. Baba was among the pioneer Juju musicians; he needs to be remembered for his greatness in the music industry. He was the one that trained those we now look up in the Juju genre of music. He was a father of the fathers and should be celebrated.
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Tunde Samson
My name is Tunde Samson, a Juju musician who is one of Baba adopted sons. I’m one of those that looked up to baba as a mentor and role model. It was in the morning that I saw the news on facebook; I didn’t believe the news on the first sight till I got to the house where I confirmed it was true. After I confirmed, all I said was that, we have lost another great musician. As for the lesson that I’ve learnt from him, I’ve learnt several things from his character and the way he related with people around him most especially when it comes to his music dexterity. Apart from that, he was able to mix well with the old, young and new generation artistes.
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Biodun Kupoluyi
Baba died at a very old age but like it happens to everybody that we love, we don’t want them to die. So, when I heard about his illness, I went to the hospital to see how he was doing. It was quite painful that he died but he left a big legacy. His legacy cannot be rivalled because if you know his history, he was a man who was on top of his game before he crashed and later he rose to fame again before he died. So, baba will be remembered for so long. In fact, he died on a day that is very significant to every Nigerian June 12, 2013. Definitely, his exit will be in our hearts forever.
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Sikiratu Shittu
My name is Sikiratu Olagunju Shittu, both I and baba are blood brothers. I’m his immediate younger sister and I love him till the day he died. So, I pray God should forgive him and make him rest in peace. And all the loads that he left behind should not over power me. God should help me protect his children and his departure should not bring sorrow into the family.
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My name is Comrade Balogun Muri Taiwo, the Education Secretary Ifako of Ijaye Local Government Education Authority.
I’m one of baba closest associates. My flat is directly opposite baba’s house. It was surprising that some newspapers are writing series of stories that baba had pneumonia and cancer. Baba did not die of any ailment. Baba died of old age. By July, baba will be 87. Baba lived a fulfilled life not until he came back from America and he fell sick. Baba was hail and healthy. Even at his leisure time, he was always sitting outside the gate discussing with us, to tell you how close we were before he died. And one thing I observe about him is that he didn’t miss his five times prayer. Baba was a prayerful man and he was very close to everyone in the estate. He was the elder statesman in this community. As a result of this, I want to suggest that this Estate should be named after him as Late Fatai Rolling Dollar Millennium Estate. If somebody has been smoking from age 16 to 87 and they did not discover cancer. That’s a medical fraud. Basically, the man died of old age.
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Baba Younger Brother, Ganiu Balogun
My eleder brother was a nice man to me before he died. And then he was a hard working man. I was one of his band boys and we always attended every gig together. I know all his characters; he’s not a bad person. He didn’t like to be disturbed while working. He didn’t mix work with pleasure.
What killed baba exactly as his younger brother?
There is this popular belief that, there is no way one will die without attaching it to one particular ailment of attack. When he came back from America, I heard he was sick and came down to check his health and after the third time I came to check but I found out that he had already given up the ghost.
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He’s my brother and he grew up in Lagos before he started music. His real name was Fatai Olagunju but his nickname that was given to him by friends was the Rolling Dollar that everyone called him. He’s from Ede and he was also a Prince in Ede before he died. So, he’s my elder brother. My own name is Alhaji Moshood Olagunju.
What do you know about Baba?
One thing that I can really say about him was his love for music before he died. Even when he was very young, no one knew whether he’s going to become a musician or not. His love for music cannot be measured. Above all, he was a very religious person.
What was your last discussion with him?
Before he travelled, I was accusing him of not coming to greet us and he said he was very busy that when he returned from America that he would surely come and pay us visit.
What will you miss about him?
We are going to miss a lot. Though, he was my elder brother, we are going to miss him.
What actually killed him?
It was neither spiritual nor cancer that killed him, it was old age. By July 8, baba will clock 87; you know he’s an old man. I don’t believe it was somebody that killed him. It was ordinary sickness.
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Baba’s Son Jamiu
Jamiu, a 12-year old baba’s son spoke about his father
I will miss his character and his fatherly advice. He always told us to make sure we become useful children in future and face our studies.
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Samson Raji is the promoter that took baba to America.
Baba was sick before he came to United State. It is just that, baba kept saying he was okay. So, when Baba got to the United States, after the first show in Maryland (Nigeria Carnival 2013), second show was in New York, the same Nigeria Carnival 2013. So, after the third show, Baba started complaining about headache and before he started complaining, his wife called him that they were fighting in Agege that people were shooting. Baba was like where in Agege and the woman said around Abattoir, and since that call, baba started giving different kinds of signs. Sometimes headache, pain here and there, so I took baba to the hospital. It is called Ragin laurel Hospital in Maryland in USA. So, when I took baba to the hospital, they diagnosed exactly what was wrong with Baba. They found out that there is a sign like pneumonia but they were not 100 percent sure, they said they were going to call a specialist on the issue. So, after calling a specialist on the issue, they finally found out that baba had lung cancer. So, after that, I asked baba that, do you want to stay here and take the treatment but baba said he can’t, that there is a herb that he normally used. And I said this is not an issue of herbs. All you just need is to stay and take the treatment. Baba started saying, he wants to go home and I said no problem. We had other shows that we were supposed to perform before we returned to Nigeria but we couldn’t do them since baba had made up his mind that he would be going back to Nigeria. After some days, I took baba to another hospital where he started complaining. When we got to another hospital, they diagnosed baba and they confirmed it was cancer too. So, baba spent some days in the hospital. After 12days, they discharged baba and he said he’s okay. But when he left hospital, he said he wanted to return to Nigeria and said okay. If that’s the case, we had to pay for penalty to change the ticket which we did. Some people said I should just take baba to airport and allow him to find his way but I said No! With his age, I can’t just allow him to come to Nigeria by himself; I had to come with him. We came in two weeks ago and baba was feeling good, and nothing was wrong with baba not until I realized that they started saying all sorts of things that he needed 29,000 naira to discharge himself from the hospital. I was surprised when I heard the news, immediately I called baba and he said there was nothing like that. I started calling those that are close to most media houses to confirm what was wrong but I was told that they just wanted to sell their papers that I shouldn’t bother myself.
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Queen Ayo Balogun Spoke On Baba
It was a shock for me when I got the news. Though, we thank God for Baba’s life because he lived a fulfilled life and he wasn’t too young before he died. Secondly, he did not die miserably. Seeing the likes of Ayo Balogun singing juju music and others, it is obvious that baba left a good legacy before he died.
What will you miss about him?
We are going to miss a lot of things because baba was answerable to the entire AJUM members whether you are upcoming or established artiste, baba would surely give his support. He didn’t discriminate. He always attended our events irrespective of the location. With that, we are going to miss him a lot. And also, we are going to miss his unique voice.
As the President of AJUM, what are you going to do to immortalize him?
Right now, we are still in shock and we just received the news not quite long and no one will wish him dead this time. No matter how old we are, we still don’t wish anyone dead. So, we cannot state anything at the moment. As we are going now, we’re going to call for a meeting and think of something special.
Has the family disclosed the burial arrangement?
Yes they did but I cannot announce anything for the family. They are in the best position to say it.
What lesson did you learn from his death?
The lesson I learnt from his death is that, nobody should think he or she is too old to achieve anything in life. Baba struggled throughout his life that he must achieve and he achieved. So, I want to be an achiever like him. I still believe my effort is not enough, if he can still be that active at that age, I don’t have any reason to rest.
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Evangelist Ebenezer Obey
Well, to start with, Fatai Rolling Dollar happens to be my boss, my friend and I know him to be a very multi-talented instrumentalist. He can play so many instruments. He can play every part of sound. He can handle the guitar and he’s talented with a very good voice. By his death, we have lost a very talented and gifted musician. And we shall continue to remember him for all his works and for all the good things that he did before death took him away.
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King Sunny Ade Also Spoke On The Deceased
I wish God can bring him back to give us more as he does before. But we love him but God loves him more than we do. But definitely, I have the belief that by making people happy on this planet, God will put him to his special place in heaven.
How did you feel when you heard the news?
I just heard it not quite long. I arrived from tour and immediately I came, I had a meeting with Ebenezer Obey today. It was when I got to him that he now broke the news to me.
What will you miss about him?
Everything he has. I will miss him as gentleman, as a great artiste, as a father and as a man who is really taking care of other children in music and outside the music.
What will you forever remember about him?
I will forever remember him as Fatai Rolling Dollar because I’ve always had a greater time with him but the one that is so special was when we invited him as special guest to our Oleku Show last year. So, when I saw him on the bed now, I was visualizing how he behaved and how he danced especially when we were dancing together. But definitely, I will miss him a lot.
He has an uncompleted building that he called the Music Studio in Ikorodu, what is the music industry doing to complete the project?
Don’t let me speak for the industry because my president is here, Queen Ayo Balogun and also PMAN. We shall do our best.
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Limota Olagunju
I’m going to remember him for several things and especially today June 12 that marks a significant day in Nigeria. He’s the only one I have and God because my mother is late also. But I anytime I need anything, he always provides for me. My father was a good father that usually wants us to be happy. When he was alive, he usually told me that, when he died, I shouldn’t cry because it’s going to be a government burial. But I’m happy that he was able to enjoy his old age and lived a fulfilled life before he died. My elder sister is Halimot Olagunju while my younger sister is Tawa Olagunju.
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Mrs. Jumoke Badmus Baba’s third Born
I want to plead to all the musicians to join hands and help us finish the project and the state government and Asiwaju. And they should recognize baba as one of the top musicians. As for what the government should do to immortalize him, well I don’t know because they have so many things on their head. At least, if they can create Music Village and name it after him, it will be a great honour.
What was your last discussion with Baba?
My last discussion with baba, he said, I should take care of the house that maybe I will soon go. I was like, baba where are you going; we won’t allow you to go now. He just smiled and we ended it there.
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My name is Adewunmi Olagunju, I’m the second born of the family. I’m also an engineer. My father was a caring father, he loved his children and he’s somebody that I will miss a lot. We don’t live together but he always called me. There was a time that I travelled to France; my children are in Cameron, I have three children there. In fact, I was proposing to go before he died. The last time that I came to visit him, that was when he just came back from the USA, and I told him of my intention to travel to Cameroon to see my children and he said maybe before I go, we would need to sit-down and talk not knowing that would be our last discussion.
What will you remember most?
I will remember a lot especially when he was still struggling to survive. I could remember when things were extremely hard but we thank God for his fulfilled life. And he’s coming back to the limelight was just glory not by anyone’s power. That is destiny, it has been written and no one can change that.
What about the house he’s building in Ikorodu, what do you want the government to do for you?
That is where we buried him and I think that place is supposed to serve as a special place to remember his goodwill.
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My name is Babatunde Olagunju, the first born of Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar. My father was a great man and we are very close. Though, I’m not living close to him but we usually talk on phone. I’m based in Ekene but I usually come often time to see him. I came to visit him last year December and we discussed a lot of things. In fact, he was planning to take me to his site (the house he was building) in Ikorodu. The sickness has been in his body for long but I guess he has his way of managing it. The traveling was just a coincidence. He had one ailment that he usually complained about and that was his left leg. It was because of the leg that they transferred them from the Ahmadiyya Hospital to the one at Surulere. He had been complaining of the leg since I was young.
Like how much did you spend at the hospital before the man finally died?
I can’t state specifically because we were just buying different drugs and different bills. So, I don’t really know the total amount. I was surprised when I heard that people were speculating that Baba needed 29,000 naira to be discharged. It was not true; it was my younger brother that paid the total bill to discharge him. We didn’t beg anyone to support us for the hospital bill.
The belief is that, whenever the head of a family died, there is always fight on how to share his property?
God will never let that happen. Baba had already built and planned his life well before he died. As for me, nothing entices me. I won’t say I’m rich and I won’t say I’m poor. If I say I have money, time will come that the money will finish and if I say I don’t have money, that means I’m not ready to take care of my younger ones and his wives.
How old are you?
I’m now 50years.
What do you want the government to do for the family?
They should help us. All these we are doing since morning now, it was all about money.
What do you do for a living?
I’m a pensioner with Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council in Lagos.
How many children did baba have?
He had nine in Nigeria and one in Germany, making 10 children.