MORE prominent Nigerians have continued to pay tributes to veteran entertainer, Moses Olaiya Adejuwon, popularly known as Baba Sala who died last Sunday.
Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and a delegation from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as other dignitaries paid condolence visits to the country home, Ilesa of Baba Sala last Thursday, R learnt.
Musical icon, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, who described the news as unfortunate, lamented that Nigeria had lost one of the greatest artiste/comedians.
“He started his life as a musician and translated to theatre arts; the alawada group prominently reigned for so many years, even after Hubert Ogunde; Ladipo and Ogunmola, among others. I am aware he was ill for some time, but we thank God that he lived a good life and left behind a landmark legacy. May his soul rest in peace. I condole with his children indeed, entire family and his fans. I pray God give us the fortitude to bear the loss,” he added.
In the same vein, veteran actor, Jimoh Aliu, lamented the industry had lost another pillar of acting adding, “Though man is powerless when He says it is time. God loves him than us. I sympathise with all members of the acting industry and his family in general.
“He was among the eight founding fathers of Yoruba acting theatre. Other pillars include: Ogunde, Oyin Adejobi, Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola, Ayinla Olumegbon, Adebayo Faleti and Akin Ogungbe. These are the ones ruling the industry before we surfaced to form the Association of Nigeria Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) in the University of Ibadan in 1976. I want to use this medium to charge the federal and state government; immortalise or do something tangible to celebrate these icons, because they are those that made theatre deep-rooted in the country to what it has become today.”
He noted that all the personalities who suffered to lay a solid foundation of Yoruba theatre acts, should be duly celebrated by government, because of their pioneering role and contributions to nation-building.
R also gathered that the family is currently making arrangements to hold the burial between on December 6 and 7 in Ilesa, while a concert in his celebration of life and time will hold in Lagos.
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