Fatai Rolling Dollar
| credits: jideodukoya.com
The death of veteran musician, Fatai Rolling Dollar, on Wednesday, signifies the end of a persevering era,
At over 80, on stage he was as agile as a
young panther. Many people could not resist dancing to his music, but
only a few people could beat him in the game, as he was fond of rocking
along to his own beat, occasionally clapping his legs like the fronds of
a wind-driven palm tree.
While his voice remained as piercing as
it was when he was a young adult, his fingers never faltered on the
guitar. That is why, unlike some old guitarists, whose fingers retire
ahead of them, he often went round with the instrument, even when he was
not billed to perform.
He also defied ageing based on his
regular appearances at many events. The same never-say-old man, who
could be sighted mixing freely with young frolickers at an O’Jez Club on
a Sunday, would have been at the National Theatre on Friday and
probably Freedom Park, Lagos on Saturday. And he was likely to have
mounted the stage at all of such centres.
In spite of such an unusual agility,
coupled with artistry excellence, nature asserted itself on Wednesday
when death snatched away Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju, the juju/highlife
songbird popularly known as Rolling Dollar. Although some members of the
entertainment community had, for some days, nursed some anxiety,
following reports that he was hospitalised, the fear became real when
the artiste proverbially speaking, eventually laid down his guitar.
What could also be taken as his last
words exuded hope and a determination to sing on. For instance, in a
recent reaction to reports that he might have slipped into a coma, the
musician had noted that he had survived the illness scare and that he
would soon bounce back on stage.
Signs that all was not well with him,
however, became apparent when he returned from the US trip. One of our
correspondents had visited him in his house in Abattoir, Agege area of
Lagos. Quite unlike him, he could not grant him an interview, despite
the fact that the reporter waited for the artiste – who was lying in bed
– for about four hours.
Yet four days ago, he had managed to
declare, “I’m ready for my shows and I also want to assure my fans that
I am doing fine right now, though I was told to always visit the
hospital for further check-up.”
Although details of his death were
initially scanty on Wednesday, information from the management of Daily
Needs Industries Limited indicated that he died at Maritol Medical
Centre, Surulere, Lagos. The company, for which Rolling Dollar was an
ambassador, advertising its De-Deon’s Syrup, had intervened when he
became indisposed about two weeks ago.
The Marketing Manager, Daily Needs
Industries Limited, Mr. Sola Adeyi, noted in a statement on Wednesday,
“The deceased had just returned from a musical tour of the United States
of America where he took ill and was diagnosed of cancer. On his return
to Nigeria, we took up his medical case with all the importance it
deserved. We took him to Maritol Medical Centre in Surulere for proper
medical care where further checks confirmed that he had cancer of the
lungs. But medical doctor cares, God determines who survives. He
received the best of medical care and comfort until he passed on
peacefully on Wednesday.
“The death of Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar is
a painful loss to the staff and management of our company. Our prayer
is that may God grant his soul eternal rest and may his legacies
continue to thrive forever.”
One of Rolling Dollar’s former
associates, Mr. Kunle Tejuosho, who is the Chief Executive Officer of
Jazzhole Records, which produced the artiste’s most successful album – Won Kere si Number Wa
- corroborated this account. He said that the musician did not go
through any protracted illness as it was only a few weeks ago he
returned from the US.
Tejuosho said, “Baba was a great musician. He lived a life of music. He was always ready to perform.”
Among the Ede, Osun State-born artiste’s
other feats, he trained reputed juju icon, Chief Ebenezer Obey and the
late Orlando Owoh, while he was also said to have been a part of King
Sunny Ade’s evolution. But his acolytes also noted that the biggest
lesson he bequeathed to the industry is that of professional
perseverance.
According to juju musician-turned
evangelist, Rev. Idowu Animasahun, who spoke from his Badeku, Ibadan
base on Wednesday, Rolling Dollar’s transition symbolises the end of an
era. He recalled that even after the deceased’s contemporaries had
passed on, and he (Rolling Dollar) went through a trying period, he
later bounced back because he persevered.
Animasahun added, “Fatai Rolling
Dollar’s death is the end of an era. He represented an old generation
that defines the best of music from the country. He was with J. O. Araba
when he got the nickname, Rolling Dollar. He used to play agidigbo
with an object that looked like a dollar. So, whenever Araba and other
members of the group wanted him to play, they would say, ‘Fatai, roll
the dollar.”
Younger artistes, including Ade Bantu
and Segun Adefila, also stressed that beyond professionalism, emerging
acts should learn from the deceased the act of staying loyal to one’s
talent.
“Baba’s life or experience teaches us
that we should learn to wait for our time. If you are an artiste all you
need to do is to always put in your best. One day, time will reward
you,” Adefila said.
An undisquished polygamist, Fatai
Rolling Dollar was born 86 years ago into the family of late Chief
Olagunju of Ede in Osun State.
The artiste, held the record as the
oldest but active Nigerian musician. He was one of the pioneers of juju
music genre in Nigeria.
Years back, it seemed like Pa Rolling
Dollar was in the nightfall of his career, but he took the Nigerian
scene by surprise as he stormed back with his hit song, ‘Won Kere si Number wa.’ The song has become the anthem of music lovers and a signature tune for some brand commercials.
An enduring influence on African music –Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan, on
Wednesday, joined other Nigerians and music lovers in all parts of the
world in mourning the late Fatai Rolling Dollar.
In a statement by his spokesman, Reuben
Abati, the President described the deceased as an accomplished and
multi-talented musician who would remain an enduring influence on
African music even in death.
The statement read in part, “President
Jonathan shares the grief of all lovers of music over the death of the
illustrious entertainer, master singer, guitarist and exponent of the
native thumb piano, who continued to perform and exhibit his unqualified
love for the music profession at an age when most of his contemporaries
had long retired.
“The President believes that the late
Fatai Rolling Dollar, who enthralled his teeming followers throughout
his career of over 64 years will, even in death, remain an enduring
influence on African music and that the vacuum his death has created in
the Nigerian entertainment industry will be hard to fill.”
Aregbesola mourns
Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, described his death as a huge loss to the entertainment sector in Nigeria.
Aregbesola, in a statement by the
Director of Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon,
described the octogenarian high-life maestro as a testimony in
perseverance and hope.
The governor said Rolling Dollar’s life sojourn demonstrated that no time is too late for man to have a breakthrough in life.
He stressed that the star of the old
artiste shone at his old age when nobody ever taught of a musical
success for him again after his initial popularity at the beginning of
his career.
Aregbesola said, “The ace musician’s ultimate comeback is a testimony that no time is late in the life of human being.
“Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar’s story of a meteoric rise to fame is a confirmation that success can come at any time in a man’s life.
“Rolling Dollar was a force to reckon
with in high life music and he would stand tall in the nation’s music
hall of fame and counted among musical genii like Cardinal Rex Lawson,
Bobby Benson, Adeolu Akinsanya among others.
“The government and people of the State
of Osun, where the music legend hailed from, send our heartfelt
condolences to the immediate and extended families of late musician, his
band members, fans and the government of Lagos.”
He was a first rate guitarist –Fashola
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde
Fashola, has expressed sadness on the passage of the highlife icon.
According to him, the loss of the “musical innovator” would reverberate
around the musical world and beyond.
In a condolence letter to Mrs. Funmilayo
Olagunju, the widow of the late musician, Fashola said he was a first
rate guitarist under whose tutelage several other musical legends learnt
to play the instrument.
According to the governor, Rolling Dollar is assured of his place in the pantheon of Nigerian musical greats with hits like ‘Won Kere si Number Wa’ and ‘Saworo’ enduring in the memory of generations to come.
“Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, it
was impossible to escape the presence of this iconic genius across
Lagos. I am pleased and gratified that in the latter part of his life
Lagos State was able to reacquaint itself once again with his singular
talents,’’ he said.
He was an authentic artiste –Culture Minister
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and
National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has also said the death of the
veteran musician has severed an important link between the old and new
generations of musicians in Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja.
The minister stated, “Pa Fatai Rolling
Dollar was a copious symbol of authentic creative talent. His exploits
as a musician before and after Nigeria’s independence constitute a great
legacy and a reference point for musicians, performers, policy makers
and researchers. His resurgence on the nation’s music scene with several
hits and memorable numbers is a demonstration of the vitality,
resilience and authenticity of the Nigerian creative energy.”
‘COSON will ensure he is immortalised’
Expressing his shock at the news of the
death of Rolling Dollar, who was the oldest member of the Copyright
Society of Nigeria,COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, also noted, “He
was a legend, a fantastic person with a very positive attitude to life
who treated everyone with courtesy. I believe that his attitude to life
was responsible for the long life he lived and that should be a lesson
for all us. He was committed to the unity of the Nigerian music industry
and never missed any meeting of COSON. He will be missed by a lot of
people whom he inspired. COSON will ensure that Fatai Rolling Dollar is
immortalised.”
