For Baba Sala, a book to the rescue

Efforts to rehabilitate ace comedian, Moses Olaiya Adejumo aka Baba Sala, stricken with stroke, continues next month with the presentation of his biography entitled ‘Triumph of Destiny’.

A biography of the mercurial comedian, Moses Olaiya Adejumo, popularly known as Baba Sala, will be presented on December 4 in Lagos.

A pioneer of the now very lucrative comedy trade and a toast of millions across the South-West from the 60s to the 90s, Baba Sala is also a rounded artist who made his marks in other areas of the performing arts, especially music. The King of World Beats, King Sunny Ade, for instance, had his skills honed under the tutelage of the Ile-sha, Osun State-born performer.

That Baba Sala is first among equals is indisputable and though many assume that they know all about the comedian, especially his travails brought about by pirates, the new book, entitled Triumph of Destiny reveals unknown facts about the artist.

Published by Sunshine Consults and written by Collins Oyedokun, Akinola Babatunde and Kunle Ajani, who not only want to document his life and achievements for posterity, but were also moved by the old man’s recent health challenges, the foreword is written by Professor Gbemisola Remi Adeoti, of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife,

“The book chronicles the pride of place that Baba Sala has in the Nigerian theatre industry as a comedian and consummate entertainer. It captures the antecedents and essence of the creative energies of a comical trailblazer,” Collins explained at a news briefing held at Lekki, Lagos during the week.

The alarming state of Baba Sala’s health, bankrupted by evil persons who pirated his Orun Mooru, curbed the enthusiasm of some of the journalists who had intended to obtain exclusive interviews from him.

Rumoured dead twice (two years ago and last August), the Baba Sala that attended the briefing was a stricken man ravaged by stroke. He needs urgent medical intervention, a luxury his family admitted they couldn’t afford alone anymore.

Dressed in a white buba and sokoto with a red cap to match, he was supported on both sides as he walked into the venue, grimacing in pain. He gritted his teeth when he accidentally hit his leg on a chair. He also had hearing difficulties as people had to speak directly into his ears before he could respond.  His hands were swollen and shaking; his breathing laboured. .

“I’m sick and need help. I am alive. But I’m sick. I am too weak to talk and I can’t walk. I don’t want to be confined by paralysis. I don’t want to die like this. Nigerians should please help me,” he pleaded in his brief remarks.

His eldest son, Reverend Dele Adejumo and one of his wives, Mrs. Funmilayo Adejumo, who addressed journalists alongside the biographers, joined the comedian in soliciting for help from Nigerians.

“We are in need of financial support to treat him and give him a decent life before his time ends,” Adejumo said, adding that though his father is old, his sickness is not age-related.   “He just turned 80 years on May 17 this year, having been born in 1937.  And his sickness is clearly not of old age. We have seen people live a healthy and better life up to 90, 100 and even more. They don’t die in pains. My father is in pains. He is dying. He needs help.”

Adejumo added that they haD solicited for help everywhere but have not been successful.

On why his father’s investments were not adequate to take care of him, Adejumo said Baba Sala never fully recovered from the piracy of Orun Mooru and poor management.

“He actually has investments but they have all been wrecked by mismanagement. His investments include a three-storey building in Mushin, Lagos which he had to sell to offset debt incurred when Orun Mooru was pirated. We still have some of his recorded works that have not been released but machines that will be used to transform them to an acceptable format are not easily available. We do not have the kind of money they are charging us.

“We have been told that Baba needs a lot of money for medical treatment abroad. He is suffering from stroke and other ailments. There are many people of his age who are not like this. We are trying our best as family members. We take him to the teaching hospital weekly but he needs proper medical attention,” Adejumo stated.

The Chief Executive Officer of Precision Edge Limited, facilitator of the news briefing, Mrs. Bidemi Ojoawo Oladoye, also requested young musicians to come to Baba Sala’s aid.  “A legend doesn’t deserve to die like this. People like Davido, Wizkid, 2Face Idibia, Kunle Afolayan among others can help and should help Baba Sala,” she said.

Proceeds from the sale of the book, which the family and writers hope will be well purchased, will be used in taking care of the inimitable trail-blazer.