AND THE MAN DIED- 13th Years remembrance commemoration publication for GBENGA ADEBOYE

AND THE MAN DIED

It takes only a minutes to get a crush,
An hour to like,
A whole day to love,
And a lifetime to forget.................... Anonymous

I met Prince Olugbenga Adeboye Abefe in Flesh and blood for the first time in the year 2002 (I had it in my diary) He stood there gracefully and majestically in the midst of his F.I.B.A.N members talking and gesticulating like a lecturer to his students. I stood there rooted to the spot forgetting what I came into the Lagos Television and Radio house to do. Totally lost and opened mouthed in my admiration for the man. To me, he cut a picture of a proud peacock, very stubborn, stern and arrogant. He looks so handsome and healthy in his well starched dry lace materials, blue in colour with black shoe & cap to match.

So, this is the man at last. The man with that lovely voice behind the microphone on radio, the man behind those straight to the point, real fact and body pinching advice on audio tapes. The funniest man I have ever encounter Nigeria's answer to the American Eddie Murphy and a man I could even give my right arm to meet. God, what  a blessed day the day was. Just then, he noticed me, standing open mouthed in awed of him, he stop talking and waved in my direction. I smiled and waved back and this brought me out of my reverie before I continue my journey into the radio wing of the vast communication house to fulfill my mission.

Unknown to me, I should have looked at him very well that day, though, I hope to see him again but to propose is manly and disposing is Godly. I was shocked to my bone marrow when I heard of his death due to a liver problem on 30th of April, 2003, at an unripe age of 43. Even at that age, Abefe came saw and conquered the world with proper utilization of God's gift to him, kindness, truthful, straight forwardness and above all his trust in God and hard working.

Abefe, I learnt start radio programme in 1980 at the age of 20 years, an age when many of his peers were still bound to their mother apron string. Even, that is after his resignation from Nigeria Airways where he works as a clerk. Mr. Funwontan Jengbetiele has many elpee to his credit and many radio programmes running concurrently in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun to mention but a few. Many peoples can't forget him in a hurry yours truly inclusive, for he has brought – joy to many houses through his jokes and soul lifting music and advice. Many peoples among the freelance Broadcasters can never forget his help to lift them to their present status. He was a musician extraordinary, an Ewi exponent, a composer, a film producer, script writer, an adviser, a scholar both in Christianity and Islamic way, a very funny man and above all a seer well know within and beyond the continent.

At 43 years old, Olugbenga did not die young as geniuses like him died in their prime, check this list, Rev. Martin Luther King, the great human right fighter in the U.S.A. was assassinated at 39, Srinivasa – Ramanujan, the first Inidian Mathematician to be elected in to the highest – Scientific body in great Britain, the royal society of mathematician and scientist died at 39. Amadeus – Mozart, whom was believe to be the greatest music composer of all time, though an invalid from childhood lost the battle at 35. The greatest reggae Musician, Bob-Nester Marley died at 36, Jimmy Hendrix the greatest guitarist ever lived died in 1970 at the age of 27. Alexander, the great revolutionist (323-356 B.C) died of fever at 33, Christopher-Malowe was killed in a free for all fight at 29, he was a 16th century English poet and playwright.

I can go on and on, but I can only add that the man Gbenga Adeboye is gone. I know the angels and those that have died before him will be rolling on the floor of heaven by now, with laughter from the jokes, "oduology" and the tales of Itu-Baba Ita and Lasis Abesupinle what the earth lost, heaven reaped in bountiful. Rest in peace Alhaji Pastor Oluwo and woe unto you Mr. Death as we still enjoys the work, Oluaye of general entertainment left behind. ADIEU!!!


(May 01, 2004)
By: Mustapha Adeola Asoremashika
(Member Lagos FIBAN)