On Sunday,17th March,1985,my family,on his invitation,visited the late Basorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola,GCFR,better known as MKO,at his Ikeja,Lagos State home.
MKO,my mentor,who preferred introducing my humble self as his “friend from Ibadan,”to the public had hardly welcomed us into his home,when he said,”Lekan and Tokunbo(my wife),you and the children will escort me to a programme holding at the National Theatre this afternoon”.My response was in the affirmative.
After lunch and some banters,MKO requested that we join him for the aforesaid programme at the National Theatre,Iganmu,Lagos.
We arrived the venue and took our seats in the Hall,beside MKO,the special guest of the ceremony.
As can be seen in the phograph/illustration below,the management of the Punch newspapers had organised the first OLU ABODERIN MEMORIAL VARIETY SHOW,to commemorate the first anniversary rememberance of the co-founder,Chief Olu Aboderin,a chartered accountant,who was born to the famous Aboderin Family of Ibadan,Oyo State of Nigeria,on 3rd September,1934 and died at the Princess Grace Hospital,London,United Kingdom,on 28th February,1984.
Last Wednesday,17th March,this year,was the 36th anniversary of the OLU ABODERIN MEMORIAL VARIETY SHOW,in honour of the late Chief Olu Aboderin.May his noble and creative soul continue to rest in perfect peace.Amen.
On my return to Ibadan that evening of Sunday,17th March,1985,I wrote a fitting tribute to the debonair publisher,titled THE OLU ABODERIN MEMORIAL SHOW,which was published in The Punch newspaper issue of Saturday,23rd March,1985.
I wrote,inter alia,that “the variety show,to all intent and purpose,was a show of gratitude to a man of varied callings,who supported and loved music,dance,sports,paintings,among others.
“To talk of the standard of the show would amount to an understatement,as it was directed by our own great motivator and gem in the entertainment business,Mr Steve Rhodes of the gold-winning Estedd-Fodd fame in 1975 and the director of the first PUNCH ROCK FESTIVAL in Lagos in 1978.
“First on last Sunday show was the University of Ife Karate Group,in martial arts displays.Comprising many black belt holders,the group had finesse and, by their sleek displays, made arms/legs-throwing scenes in oriental films look ‘crude’.
“Songs in jazz idiom by Potia Ogbu was fantastic and the audience appreciated her mastery of stage and voice control,especially when she rendered Tina Turner’s Grammy Award-winning song,”Who Needs a Heart”.
“The Bata dance group from Chief Aboderin’s alma mater,Government College,Ibadan disproved the rumour that our model schools are grooming minds alien to our culture and tradition.
“It was after the brilliant performance of the duet of Folake Munis and Michael Adesanya from the University of Ife in “Tonight I celebrate my love”,that the special guest of honour for the evening,Chief(as he was then titled) Abiola,delivered a short,but incisive speech about his late friend.
“Recalling how he had to force himself out of bed,where he had been for at least 24 hours before the show,Chief Abiola,also a chartered accountant cum newspaper baron,described Chief Aboderin as a benevolent person,who gave others,including artistes the chance to live and be known.
“In announcing his donation to the Olu Aboderin Foundation,Chief Abiola told the audience that since he had not made his calculations,he was donating the sum of N20,000.00,as his first instalment.
“Chief Abiola,thus opened a floodgate of donations.First from the late Olu’s older brother,Olola Moyo Aboderin – N10,000.00,
Chief Bayo Akande – N10,000.00,Dr Lekan Are,Mr Lolu Foresyeth,Mr Ajibola Ogunshola and,the eldest son of the deceased,Mr Wale Aboderin,N1,000.00 each.
Other donors were Mr Labanji Bolaji,MD Punch – N555.00,Mr Ade Aboderin,Mr Sunday Dankaro,Mr Edwin Igbokwe and Chief R.Ogunbanjo,N500.00 each.
“And when it was time to go,Mrs Lola Akintola(nee Aboderin)thanked Chief Olu Aboderin’s friends and admirers for coming.(contd.)
The cover and programme page of the brochure of the Sunday,17th March,1985 Olu Aboderin Memorial Variety Show in Lagos.
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