In a recent interview with PUNCH, Waka queen, Salawa Abeni,
cleared the air on the challenges she faced during her ill
health and also talked about her family, her children, her
career and her affair with Kollington Ayinla.
See excerpts below:
Was it because of your health issues that you titled your latest
album ‘Recovery’?
Oh yes. It was basically because of it. Thank God I am very
okay now.
We learnt you had stroke. How true is that?
I don’t know where people got the stroke story from. My father
didn’t die of stroke. My mother is still alive even at 96 years.
People are just peddling rumours.
But what was the problem with you, what were you diagnosed
with?
My blood pressure was very high. I think it started when I lost
my son 13 years ago. He wasn’t my only son. But then, no
matter what, if you have 10 fingers and you lose one, you will
feel the pain.
Were you not aware that your blood pressure was rising?
No. I wasn’t aware. It was five years ago that I found out. But
this particular sickness that got me down, I wouldn’t know
where it came from because I performed that Friday. I went to
meet colleagues at Fantasy Land (Lagos). We wanted to do a
collaboration for (Barrack) Obama’s inauguration. I was
dressing up for the show. I was about to tie my gele
(headgear). The person that ties my headgear was doing it. I
wanted to tell her that the scarf was too tight for me. I raised
my hand and suddenly, I found out that I couldn’t make use of
my right hand again.
Did it get better?
No. So I had go to my mother’s place. She called a local
masseur to massage the hand for me. They used candle to rub
on the hand. Thereafter, I still went back for the show.
Oh, you did? Even with the hand like that?
Oh yes. In order to exercise the hand, I told my driver to sit
beside me so that I could drive. I drove from Ijebu Ode to
Lagos. Eventually, I went to the hospital. My doctor checked
my BP and said it was a little bit high. He told me I needed to
rest. The late Dr. Ayinde Barrister, my dad (that was what I
used to call him), came to my house. But that was after I had
called him. I saw him and I started crying.
Why did you start crying when you saw him?
It was simply because I couldn’t stand to welcome him. He
spent so many hours with me. He told me I shouldn’t worry
that I would be fine. I knew I wasn’t feeling fine. From my neck
down to my legs were dead. My brain was functioning very
well. I didn’t sound sick on the phone.
Why didn’t you travel abroad?
I did. But before then, my aunt took me to a hospital in Lagos.
They couldn’t find out what was wrong with me. I did so many
tests. But I wasn’t getting better. That was when I had to go
to London with my daughter.
Did you get any better in London?
Not really. I left London for Paris.
Were you able to pay for your hospital bills on your own or
did you get help from the public?
I had a lot of money in my account. But I spent all my money. I
got the phone numbers of some high personalities in the
country. They were able to render their assistance. The Lagos
State government helped me as well. Some people started
dodging my calls. Some people said I was lying concerning my
ill health. Some would give you excuses. Some would say they
gave me money the other day so I shouldn’t expect another. I
know when I get my career back, I would be okay.
Are you fully recovered now?
I am okay. But I really want my career to bounce back. That
will make me happy.
But don’t you think you should leave your career and rest for
a while?
I am okay. Even my doctor in Paris still told me that I needed
to rest. The last time I saw him, he asked me, ‘Salawa, you are
still singing?’ I told him that my country is not like his
country. If you don’t work, you won’t feed. Who will I call
again? Some people will give me once, then will give me the
second time reluctantly and then, the third time, they would
tell you in black and white that they are not giving you again.
Kollington Ayinla is the father of your kids. Did you reach out
to him when you were ill?
He heard. Our son told him. He called me immediately and
asked me why I was sick.
Did he eventually come to see you?
Four months later, during Ramadan, I was
in my aunty’s house, he called. He said
he just saw it in the papers. I asked him
why he couldn’t even call his son to ask how I was. Two
months after, he came. He also called a couple of times.
But did he render any form of financial assistance?
Hmmmm. No comment.
You always say you trained your kids all the while you were
separated from him. Was it your choice to train them or he
didn’t bother helping out?
That is the way God wanted it. It is difficult to train one child
let alone four of them. Then, I could wear one particular attire
to perform at 10 or more events. I never owed their school
fees.
Would you say you have lived a happy life?
Life is about ups and downs. At times, people will be happy
and at times, they will be sad. I only thank God for my life. I
am happy with my kids and fans. I am happy that I was sick
and I came out of it. If you had seen me then, I am sure you
would also thank God for my life. I love singing. That is my
talent. Nobody taught me to sing. This is all I know how to
do.
You started singing in 1974…
Yes. I released my first album in 1977. I titled it In Memoriam.
It was in memory of our head of state, Murtala Muhammed,
who was killed. I didn’t grow up with my mother. I grew up
with my guardian. My mother was seriously sick for 15 years.
My dad didn’t want me to sing. He noticed that I was different
from all his other children. Later on, he gave his consent.
Was it because of music that made you not to go higher than
primary education or was it financial constraints?
During my own time, my dad didn’t believe in women going to
school. It was my guardian and my headmaster that made sure
I schooled up to Primary Six. They wanted me to at least get
to that level so that I could be able to write my name in future.
But what I cannot do, my children can do now. I cherish
education. At times, I feel bad that my father didn’t allow me
to further my education but then again, I also remind myself
that you might read all the ‘Cambridge’ and you would still be
nothing.
Were you able to get your master tapes from the family of the
late Lati Adepoju, the music promoter you had a son for?
No. Lati died in January 2000 while my son died in October
2000. Demola (Lati’s second son) told me that his daddy said
that anytime I asked for my master tapes, he should give them
to me because they are my property. Before Lanre died, they
brought five tapes.
Were they just five?
No. they brought five out of 15. I travelled to Canada and I saw
Demola. I asked him about my master tapes. He told me that I
should open an account.
For what?
He said their father left a flat for Lanre. He said he would be
paying in the rent of Lanre’s flat into the account. I told him I
didn’t need it and it was my master tapes that I needed most.
He said I would need the money. He told me I could give the
money to the motherless.
Did you eventually open the account?
When I wanted to open the account, he said the tenants
weren’t paying the rents. The more I remember Lanre’s death,
the more I feel so pained.
How did he die?
He died in a motor accident. He wasn’t the one driving. I had
a driver who had been driving me for seven years. They went
to Ilorin. The accident happened on their way back from Ilorin.
How was Lanre’s relationship with his step siblings?
The remaining children are Kollington’s. I didn’t give any room
for division. They loved one another. There was never a
problem. The other three saw Lanre as their brother.
Was it your fault that you broke up with Kollington?
If I open up the chapter of my relationship with him, I am not
sure it would take less than three pages.
Why didn’t you remarry after you broke up with Kollington?
I tried but it didn’t work out. I wanted to. I love children. I had
the intention of having more children.
Did you encourage them to have cordial relationship with their
fathers?
I never turned the children against their fathers. Anytime they
had to go to Kollington’s house, four of them would go there.
When they had to go to Lanre’s father’s house, all of them
would go as well.
How easy was it while you were married?
I came from a polygamous family and God took me to a
polygamous family. Where would I start from? Is it the day we
ate or the days we didn’t eat? I would use my iro and buba to
make the clothes for them and tell them not to let their step
siblings know that the clothes weren’t new. But in all, I thank
God.
No comments:
Post a Comment