rights group, Human Rights Writers’ Association Of Nigeria HURIWA, has joined other Nigerians to canvass the renaming of the National Theatre in Lagos, run by the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, after the legendary musician, Fatai Rolling Dollar, who died in a Lagos hospital last Wednesday, following a brief illness. The group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Zainab Yusuf, said, the late musician brought tremendous global honour to Nigeria and remained one of the best-known ambassadors of the indigenous Nigerian music genre until his death. Rolling Dollar, the group argued, deserves the best national recognition by the Federal Government, saying President Goodluck Jonathan, as a well-known lover of African indigenous creative arts and music should “not hesitate to take urgent measures to immortalize this great man of music”. HURIWA recalled media reports quoting the widow of the late musician, Zainab Olagunju, as saying her husband died Wednesday morning after a week of hospitalization following his return from the United States where he was also briefly treated and discharged upon completion of a musical performance. Fatai One of his most legendary and well-loved songs remains his single ‘Won Kere Si Number Wa’, which HURIWA described as having become a global brand in most social events attended by black people and even some caucasians. The group added, “As a human rights group, with strong bias for the promotion and protection of our revered African tradition and culture, we agree with the considered assessment of most music critics around the world that the late Music Legend Mr. Fatai The Rolling Dollar had paid his dues since he began his illustrious music career in the 1950s with Queen Mary Orchestra, Isa Jubril [the first and famous highlife musician from the conservative Northern Nigeria] who played in Ghana with the Black Beats and Ishola Willie Payne group where they established the music style of Palm wine music, in the words of the globally acclaimed music Critic Benson Idonije just as Juju Music originated from the style expertly delivered to world audience by Fatai the Rolling Dollar”. “Fatai Rolling Dollar defied conventional science and logic of old age as he remained one of the most sought after dance hall performers and musicians in Nigeria and across the world even in his very old age.” The remains of the octogenarian musician was laid to rest at his building site in Ikorodu area of Lagos last Thursday. He died last Wednesday at Marritol Hospital, Surulere, following a brief illness. …as Nigerians pay more tributes We lost a legend —Chief Odobeatu, “Its very sad to hear the news of the demise of the legend Pa Fatai Rolling Dollars. The O’jez family is still in shock because Rolling Dollars was very much part of the family for over 12 years now. He had been with us from inception at Iwaya Road outlet down to National Stadium outlet. He had been performing every Friday and every last Sunday of the month for over a decade now…its a big loss for us at O’jez and a bigger loss to the Nigerian entertainment industry and the entire country in general. He was a personal friend, a father and close confidant. This was a man with his fame and age, remained very humble till his demise. I feel pained but also seek solace in the fact that he came, made his mark (despite achieving fame at his old age) and left in a blaze of glory. The industry will surely miss him”, Chief Joseph Odobeatu, Chairman of O’jez Entertainment Limited, owners of O’jez Music and chain of celebrity restaurants, said in a statement signed by his Media Company, Media Image Managers, MIM I‘m shocked — Senator Florence Ita- Giwa Former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo and the political leader of the Bakassi people, Senator Florence Ita- Giwa also in her own tribute described the passing on of the late music icon, Fatai Olanrewaju Olagunju, A K A Fatai Rolling Dollars as a monumental loss. In a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, the Senator said that the Highlife maestro was too alive to be dead adding that on every encounter inspite of his age, he appeared vibrant and agile. Ita-Giwa expressed special fondness for the deceased while praying for the repose of his soul. The statement reads in part: “I am shocked at the news of the demise of Pa Fatai Rolling Dollars. He was too lively to be dead. He was a great man, a musical, cultural icon and an inspiration to all of us. “I am using this medium to commiserate with his family and the entertainment industry. They have lost a precious gem” The late Fatai was admitted to the hospital few days ago with a protracted illness and gave up the ghost at the Ahmadiyya Hospital at Agbado-Ijaiye area of Lagos. He lived to the fullest the last moment of his life and brought a lot of goodwill to the industry locally and internationally.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 06:49:16 +0000
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