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Marcus Aurelius once said: “It is not death that a man should fear, he should fear never beginning to live”.
Moses Olaiya Adejumo popularly known by his stage name, Baba Sala, will forever be remembered in the annals of theatre arts in Nigeria as man who impacted the entertainment industry with his God given talent.
Baba Sala who passed on Sunday, October 7, at the age of 81 can be referred to as one of the foremost comedians in Nigeria.
THE BEGINNING
Born on May 18, 1936, Baba Sala began his journey into stardom as a civil servant, a sanitary inspector. He combined his job as a sanitary inspector with a part-time teaching work and the daily thrift collection. Baba Sala’s unique selling points were his enormous bow tie, gigantic spectacles, over-size shoes, alarm clock and pipe.
Activities of Baba Sala’s theatre group had seen him making his mark in the 60s, 70s and the early 80s alongside Hubert Ogunde, Adeyemi Afolayan, Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola, Ishola Ogunshola and Oyin Adejobi.
While his comic and drama series are viewed typecast in terms of delivery, it was widely accepted by fans who couldn’t communicate in Yoruba language.
These achievements and contribution towards the Nigerian entertainment industry, earned Baba Sala a national honour.
In 1978, Nigeria’s military head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo conferred the Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, on Baba Sala.
THE GIANT LEAP
Following the conception of the first television station in Nigeria, Western Nigeria Television, WNTV, Baba Sala’s career witnessed a giant leap.
On the instruction of the Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who had at some occasions seen the performances of Baba Sala, the comedian got a one-year contract of drama sketches at the WNTV.
He collaborated with Alawada Series on WNTV and later NTA Ibadan every Wednesday between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM and his fame knew no bound.
The talented comedian wrote all episodes of his drama series in which more often than not he was the lead character.
THE STORM
He was nudged him to make a film because of his growing fame gained through amazing work in theatre and television. In 1982 Orun Mooru was released. He put up his houses for sale so he could return a bank loan that piracy had ensured he would not be able to pay on the basis of proceeds of the film. Pirates were the ones smiling to the bank after a brother-in-law allegedly stole the master tape of the work originally made on celluloid.
This affected his health, he lost his wives and he almost got paralyzed.
THE KSA CONNECTION
The revered King Sunny Ade owes his success to the years he spent under the tutelage of Baba Sala.
In 1964, Baba Sala, who had honed his skills in high-life and Juju music, led a group known as the Federal Rhythm Dandies.
Federal Rhythm Dandies launched the Moses Adejumo’s musical career – and ultimately a career in entertainment – himself into stardom.Unknown to many, Baba Sala’s band had Sunday Adegeye – now known as King Sunny Ade – as his lead guitarist.
“Drama was in my blood. I was a drummer. Sunny Ade likes playing guitar. I taught him how to play guitar and he is very good at it. I am proud of him. Sunny Ade’s ambition was to play drums. He said that it was not in him to act. I felt that I should concentrate on acting and leave Sunny Ade to drumming and playing guitar. That was why I gave him my drum and musical instruments,” Baba Sala had said in an interview “.
“Baba Sala is my boss and he would continue to be my boss for life. I owe him that gratitude for life. I was playing percussion in his band and he was playing guitar and a couple of instruments. I was in charge of the music in the drama section, playing conga. He actually prompted me to go into music with a proviso that I should go and if after nine months, I found it tough, I should come back. He told me, go and try and that if does not work, come back,” King Sunny Ade said in an interview.
HIS LEGACY
In his biography written by Tosin Ajirire and Wale Alabi, Baba Sala declared how he would love to be remembered.
“I want to be remembered for all the good things I’ve done for this country. I want to be remembered for the joys I’ve brought to many homes, the souls I’ve lifted out of sorrows”.