INTERVIEW IN OWO DIALECT
GREAT MUSICIANS WHO DIED BEFORE THEIR PARENTS
BoN standing by Elvis Presley’s statue in Memphis, America
While parents pray that their children should bury them and never to have their children buried before their very eyes. But Man proposes , God disposes. It is unfortunate that some Musicians like Michael Jackson, Bob Marley , Peter Tosh , Michael Jackson, Dagrin, Orlando Owoh among others left behind their parents .
Elvis Presley King of Rock and Roll died on August 16, 1977 while his father, Vernon Presley died on June 26, 1979(two years after the death of his son).
James Brown
The World Reggae King Bob Marley died on May 11, 1981 leaving his mother, Cedella Booker who died on April 8,2008 , that is 27years after.
Bob Marley’s statue
Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his father on April 1, 1984 while his father died on October 10,1998.
Peter Tosh was shot dead on September 11, 1987 by some robbers in his house in Jamaica leaving his mother, Ms Coke behind who later died at the age of 96 on October 29,2013.
Luther Vandross the R & B legend died on July 1,2005 while his mother, Mary Ida Vadross died on April 15,2008. King of Pop Music, Michael Jackson died on June 25,2009 while his father, Joe Jackson died in June 27,2018.Wacko Jacko’s mother is still alive.
Teddy Pendagrass died on January 13,2010 and his mother Ida Geraldine Epps died at 92 on May 11,2018.
James Brown
Whitney Houston died on February 11,2012 while her mother Cissy Houston is still alive .
Afeni Shakur mother of TUPAC died on May 3, 2016.She lived 20 years after her son Tupac Shakur an American rapper was killed on September 13, 1996.
Back home
Gbenga Adeboye( aka Fun won tan) died on April 30, 2003, his mother Madam Rebeca Tinuola died in August 3, 2013, 10 years after her son died.
Roland Olubola (aka Baba Ara) died on September 10, 2004 leaving his parents behind .
Oladapo Olaitan Olaonipekun (aka Dagrin) died on the April 22, 2010 in an auto accident .The rapper’s parents are still alive kicking!
Orlando Owoh’s mother is still alive and she is around 110 years as many presumed while her son died on November 8, 2008.
Today, Michael Jackson ,Bob Marley, James Brown, Elvis Presley, Peter Tosh, and all other notable musicians have statues erected honouring them and in fact books are written about them in their respective countries and homes. Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s statue is erected at Ikeja.Where is Orlando Owoh’s statue?
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ORLANDO OWOH’S STATUE
Ojo Ibrahim complained bitterly that Orlando’s statue is becoming too late to be erected. He said ” What is wrong with our people ?. Are his friends bad or so poor or is it politics? It is a pity Orlando seems not to have any friends. Please don’t tell me these people are waiting for the family before they can do anything.I am sad”
Another fan of Orlando said ” my brother , so nobody in Owo can assist to erect his statue? It is a shame ”.
Apart from Orlando’s statue it is high time we honoured our Musicians like Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Epo Akara, Baba ‘Legba, Sony Okosun ,Kokoro, Ayinla Omowura among others by erecting their statues in their towns and naming centres and streets after them .
We are appealing to family members, fans and friends especially Die the Matter, Oba Francis Apata and other friends to rescue the situation. However hands are on deck as Adewuyi Folaranmi Adegbite is set to launch Orlando’s book soon.
I thought Orlando would bury me
According to Mama Morenike, her son was a bundle of talent before death took away her joy, she said ” I thought she would be the one to bury me but contrary is the case. It is painful , I now pray for his children to bury me”.
On Orlando’s friends, the centenarian praised his friends like Oba Ipe , His Royal Highness Oba Francis Apata and Die the Matter who have been of great help to her and faithful friends of her son since his exit. She said ” the two friends of Orlando are really taking care of me .If you had come earlier you would have seen him. I went to his house , he gave me money and he had just dropped me off here”.She also spoke about Oba Francis Apata of Ipesi , ” Oba Francis Apata used to come here and not with empty hand but always with foodstuff. That is where he used to sit with me (pointing) not minding that he is a royal father. I really thank both of them for taking care of me”, the old woman said.
ORLANDO’s WIVES ARE WONDERFUL
Mama spoke about the wives Orlando left behind, as she is full of praise for them she said ” the wives of Orlando are in their husband’s ( Orlando) house. They do come here to check on me ,they have been nice and good to me. I really thank them”.
Though Mama is not happy that Orlando was buried in Lagos contrary to his wish , but what could she do?. According to the wives of the deceased, Orlando was buried where he instructed them to bury him and investigation reveals that some of his friends and fans were not happy over this issue.
While his music is played everyday on radio, Mama said she cries anytime she listens to it , ” Yes, I used to cry while listening to Orlando’s music being played on raido.. and each time I listened to the track he dedicated to me… E ba mi ki Morenike , iye t’eja…iye mi a di b’imi (Greet my mother, Morenike the fish monger, if we reincarnate again she will be my mother ), I feel like crying .”
Ganja and Orlando
While the mother confirmed that her son smoked ganja, his wives too confirmed it and Mama said she was aware that her late son smoked Ganja which she never supported . ”What did she do to stop him?”, she replied “I used to advise him to stop smoking Igbo, I even went extra mile to prepare agbo (herbs/concotion ) for him to make him stop it but he did not take the concoction, he would argue that if he didn’t smoke it he would not have the energy to play and sing”.
When asked to guess her age , she shook her head and said it is difficult to know(since there was no record of birth during her time ) but she mentioned her friends like Caroline Oladoyin Abiodun, Mrs. Asagba, Madam Eunice. Adenike who have all gone , that is why I am saying I am willing to die .There is nothing more I am doing on the earth, she said.
On whether she knew her late son would be great , she replied with total humility that she never knew. ”I thank God thatt I had no intention to abort his pregnancy then , he became great in the end”.
