As KSA celebrates his 76th birthday today, Oloye Lekan Alabi writes on the rise to stardom of the renowned music giant who has been described as the greatest gift from Nigeria to the entertainment world.
From the little acorn has grown the mighty oak.Today is KSA’s 76th birthday. Happy birthday to the icon of music and stagecraft.
In order to capture the authentic (life) journey of Otunba (Dr)Sunday Isola Adeniyi Adegeye, MFR, better known and called King Sunny Ade (KSA), you will need to get a copy of his autobiography, “MY LIFE, MY MUSIC”.
It was launched 16 years ago, on his 60th birthday at the premises of the Lagos Television (LTV), Ikeja, Lagos State.
I chaired the ceremony.
Let me quote from the book. “When I dropped out of secondary school (Saint Charles Grammar School,Osogbo,Osun State), after just one term, the popular opinion was that an evil spell had been cast on me.
“I had no difficulties with my studies and my mother was not incapable of seeing me through school. Yet I walked away.”
The book reveals the man behind the world-famous mask of KSA, the King of Juju, the Golden Mercury of Africa, the King of World Beats etc.
As they say, a lot of rainwater has fallen from the sky, which the ground has soaked in.
We thank God for His mercies on the brilliant, talented, inspired, dedicated, loyal, humble young man who today is 76, but is still full of energy and skills.
Long live KSA.
Let’s go through the KSA almanac in order to capture his exciting story.
Pic 1:Sunny Ade, the young leader of the Sunny Adex and His Green Spot Band, at a gig in Lagos in the 1960’s.
The band’s name was fashioned after that of his role model and mentor, the late I.K Dairo,MBE and the Blue Spot Band, while the style of play was that of the creator of the O WA MBE Juju genre, the late Alex Tunde Nightingale;
Pic -2 : The emerging star on the guitar;
Pic 3 – KSA on a courtesy visit to me at the Group Headquarters of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Cocoa House, Dugbe, Ibadan, where I was the General Manager, Corporate Affairs;
Pic 4 – KSA and my humble self on a condolence visit to the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, when part of his palace in Oyo was gutted;
Pic 5 -The flier of the KSA FESTIVAL 2012, chaired by me.
•Oloye Alabi is the Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadanland.
