Interview

How fellow artistes abandoned me in my moment of need – Salawa Abeni

 

After more than four decades as a performing artiste, Queen of Waka
music, Salawa Abeni, is not a pushover in the Nigerian entertainment
scene.
Her debut album titled ’Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed released
in 1976, on Leader Records, was a commercial success. It was the first
recording by a Yoruba female musician to sell over a million copies in
Nigeria.
With 42 albums in her kitty, the Nigerian music legend has said she is
not slowing down just yet.
In this interview, the Queen of Waka Music speaks about her humble
beginnings, six-year-haitus and her future plans. Excerpts:
It’s almost impossible to figure out the number of albums you have. I
attempted to and lost count as some point.
I get that a lot and it’s understandable because I have countless hit
songs. I recorded my first two songs in 1976 and so I have I 42 albums
to my credit. My debut album Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, was
released in 1976,
Is singing and music all you have always wanted to do?
As a teenager (13), it dawned on me that I was born to do music. While
living with my guardian in Igbogun, I developed a liking for the music
of the likes Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade and many others while
listening to a radio programme.
It was called ‘E je ka lo sun’ and aired on Radio Lagos. I recall that
I would leave my friends and go to listen to the programme.
One day it struck me that I wanted to be famous. I wanted to be a
star. I thank God because he chose the best career for me. Music has
opened doors for me and my family.
How did you handle stigmatisation of female entertainers at the onset
of your career?
People who know me know that I don’t give a hoot about negative
comments and I think this is one of the qualities that has helped
shape my career and mindset. Some people have labelled me a prostitute
but I don’t pay attention to them.
I have my children, my career and God is proving Himself in my life.
It’s my career and I have chosen my life’s path.
You have had your own share of big scandals. Do you mean they never got to you?
Not everyone will love you even if you are a star. My critics have
said many things, I refused to be moved because there is nothing new
to talk about.
Every woman is called a prostitute. If you want to succeed in life,
you don’t have to listen to negative comments. God has blessed me with
a rare favour of having friends that are more educated and richer than
me.
So I consider myself blessed and favoured to be who I am and where I am today.
What was responsible for your hiatus from the entertainment scene?
I fell ill for the first time around 2008 and it lasted for about five
to six years. I can’t even explain how it began.
I just suddenly fell terribly ill and couldn’t go out. I could not
perform or sing at events because I could not walk. I was paralysed. I
kept praying to Allah to have mercy on me and help me recover the lost
years.
What was the nature of the illness?
I wish I could explain what happened but it was paralysed and was
really bad. I’m grateful to Almighty Allah because not everyone could
go through what I went through and still survive.
Thank God for my siblings, my children, my band boys, former Governors
of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and Akinwummi Ambode,
who came to my aid during the recovery phase.
I was out of the scene for six years and you know what that means for
any entertainer. My band boys never abandoned for a day even while I
was ill and you know that it’s a rare among entertainers.
What fears did you have at the time?
I doubted I would ever be able to walk again and all I could remember
asking God if it was going to ever be a possibility. How and when
would I recover? Would I ever walk again?
It was a trying time for me because I sold all; houses, cars,
jewellery etc and I even started reaching out to my friends.
It was a challenging time for me. I was down, I was out, I was
pauperised but God saw me through. but thank God, I’m fully back and
restored now.
Some people said your son’s death triggered your illness.
I prayed to Almighty Allah that after the death of my son, Idris
Olanrewaju, God should never allow me see the death of any child
again.
My late son, Lanre, was the only bond between his late father, Lati
Adepoju, and I. I can say the problem started when I lost him.
Even the volumes 1- 15 of my LPs are still with his late father’s
recording company and they are not ready to release them to me.
My son, Lanre, died October 2, 2000 but I pray the wound heals
permanently. It’s not good for a child to die before the parents. May
that evil be averted in all homes by God’s grace.
What kept you going during such a trying time?
God sent me helpers. The late Alhaji Ayinde Barrister, was a pillar of
support for me. The father-daughter love between us has extended to
his children, who love me so much. He was a good father.
Also, (ex-governor) Bola Tinubu and his mum, Mama Abibatu Mogaji were
very concerned and helped me out.
I performed at mama’s 70, 75 and 80th birthday parties respectively.
Mama would cook and send stews and soup to me. Mama would give me
money. She treated me like a child. As old as Mama was when she saw
that I could not walk again, she would send people to pray for me and
always checked on me.
Did your colleagues reach out to you?
No they didn’t. Some ran away and others didn’t even pick my calls.
After my recovery, some told me that they didn’t know where I was and
could not locate me.
During my illness, I learnt that it’s foolish to wait for a fellow
artiste to die before donating money for burial or to give to the
family. But then, I never took offence in anyone.
What is your relationship with Ayinla Kollington?
No comment, please. I would rather not talk about this because our
marriage produced children.
Have you had any gigs since your recovery?
Yes, I have. I’m grateful to God that and I can now dance and stand
throughout any performance. Since I returned fully to entertainment,
my weekends are always busy but I still take time to pray.
It’s been a great time and as a grandma, I have my hands full too. I
welcomed twins from my children abroad last year and another grandson
four months ago.
Any plans to collaborate with younger contemporary musicians?
Yes, that is in the works as soon as I am well settled. This is why
I’m currently mentoring a lot of young musicians in my industry
including women. Thankfully, my son, Big Sheff took up music as a
profession. My children are lucky because their father and I are into
music.
What is the next phase for Salawa?
I pray to be a legend in this industry. I desire to be old and be a
legend, whose music would outlive her. I am still a young woman, my
children are still young but I want my career to soar and make impact
in the lives of younger generations.
I know Salawa Abeni is a talent that can’t be wasted.
Culled from: PREMIUM TIMES

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